BVP Thailad commits itself to assisting all organisations, both ethnic and student
groups throughout Thailand, who are working to achieve development, democracy and
national reconciliation in Burma.
The program is growing rapidly and currently includes organizations in:
- Mae Hong Song
- Chiang Mai
- Mae Sariang
- Mae Sot
Mae Sot
Mae Sot, the home of the Burma Volunteer Program (BVP) is a small Thai trading town
on the western border with Burma. It has a mixed population of Thai, Karen, Burmese
and Chinese. Bangkok and Chiang Mai can be reached within an hour by air, and bus
services run regularly to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and all major cities in Thailand.
Mae Sot is the closest point in Thailand to the Burmese capital Rangoon and has become
a major gateway to Burma. It has recently developed into a tourist location, complete
with Internet cafes and budget guesthouses. Mae Sot is also opposite Burma's Karen State.
The Karen are one of the ethnic groups currently embroiled in conflict with the Burmese
Junta, SPDC State Peace and Development Council, in order to achieve greater autonomy.