KSDP History:
Stephanie's Story:
During the Summer of 1999, Stephanie Lee spent part of her gap year living and teaching in a Karenni Refugee Camp on the Thai/Burma border just outside Mae Hong Son in N.W.Thailand. She witnessed first hand the urgent need for educational support and subsequently founded KSDP on her return to the UK.
Stephanie also built and funded boarding units in the Karenni Camps called The Future Stars Boarders to provide housing and support for a total of 120 orphans and needy students who had no family to provide for them. They would probably have been unable to attend school in the camps without this help.
Stephanie returned to the UK in September 1999 to start her degree but continued to support the Karenni financially and practically by returning to teach in the refugee camps each University vacation.
She raised funds in the UK by giving talks on her work with the Karenni and seeking donations to support them. She also sold woven items made by the Karenni women in the camps, with 100% of the proceeds going to the refugees.
Within two years Stephanie had raised a total of £30,000 for the Karenni with every single penny going to them; she covered travel and other administrative costs by working during term time.
Tragically in November 2001, during an extended stay in the refugee camps, she died in a motor bike accident near the Karenni refugee camp. She was just 21 years old. Her funeral was held by the Karenni and attended by over 4,000 people.
Stephanie's family immediately took over the running of KSDP, and with much support from the general public they have been able to expand the range of projects that KSDP funds.