On the remote and rugged border between Shan and Karenni (Kayah) States, displaced families from the Metta Yaung Chi refugee camp in Pai Khun (Pekon) Township are defying adversity, and constructing a school with their bare hands to ensure their children’s education survives war and displacement.

Three years after fleeing violence following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, education remains out of reach for most children in the camp. With no alternatives, parents and volunteer teachers, many from the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), have united to create a fragile yet determined learning space.

“Last year, our children trekked through mud or rode motorbikes to reach a school in Bikin village,” said a displaced mother. “When the rains came, the roads became impassable. We couldn’t afford fuel, and the journey was too dangerous. We had no choice but to build our own school.”

Now, more than 40 children attend classes in an unfinished structure, no roof, no proper walls, no clean water, and no protection from the elements. Essential supplies, from rainwater tanks to textbooks, remain critically scarce.

“We want a safe place for our children to learn, but resources are nonexistent,” said another mother. “Some families struggle to afford even rice, how can they pay for education?”

For CDM teachers, educating in a conflict zone means risking their lives. Military airstrikes frequently target civilian areas, turning classrooms into potential battlegrounds.

“Fear is the military’s weapon,” said a CDM teacher. “Every school year begins with the same question: Will our children survive? Safety is our first priority, not lessons.”

Prolonged displacement has pushed families deeper into poverty, forcing many to prioritize survival over schooling. Older children are pulled from class to work in fields or labor jobs, while unpaid teachers face impossible choices.

“Most of us receive no salary, maybe a small stipend of 30,000 to 50,000 kyats ($6–$11) if we’re lucky,” said another teacher. “But teachers have families too. Without support, we can’t keep going.”

The Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) had pledged teacher stipends until March 2024, but funds have since vanished. Without urgent intervention, an entire generation risks losing their education, or their lives, to the conflict.

Yet, amid the devastation, the families of Metta Yaung Chi are doing more than building a school. They are fighting, brick by brick, for their children’s future.