Local teacher to help create Thai school for at-risk kids
By KRISTI PIHL Staff Reporter
Michelle Brekhus It was a dream that Michelle Brekhus didn't even know she had.
Brekhus, formerly of Stanwood, is scheduled to depart for Thailand on Oct. 20, where she will help set up a school for elementaryage children who are in danger of being sold into sexual slavery.
The school is part of ZOE Children's Homes' project in Thailand. The international Christian nonprofit rescues children who have been sold or are at risk of being sold into slavery.
Rescued children are provided with shelter, education, medical care and basic needs, according to the organization's Web site. Zoe is the Greek word for life.
Brekhus felt like she was supposed to be a part of ZOE's work with children after visiting the organization two years ago. ZOE needed someone with formal experience in education to help start an elementary school. It was a task that Brekhus accepted.
"It's going to be a big job, but I'm excited about it," she said.
Brekhus taught at Utsalady Elementary for seven years, and Church Creek Elementary for five before returning to school to get a master's degree in human services counseling. She is one class away from finishing the human services degree. She already has a master's in education.
Human trafficking is a huge problem in Thailand, Brekhus said. The hill tribes in Thailand are poor, and have a high incidence of AIDS. Orphaned children are at risk of being sold.
ZOE has already rescued about 60 at-risk children. They are living in a rented mansion in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand while a home and school are built.
Recently, the organization purchased 20 acres of land about 20 miles from Chiang Mai, Brekhus said. When the dorms are finished, the home will have capacity for 2,500 children. However, the new location is far from any of the government elementary schools, so a school is also part of the plan. That is where Brekhus comes in.
The school will be on the same property, about 100 yards from the dorms. At most, there will be about 500 elementary-age students.
Setting up the school will be a two-year project, including building, choosing the curriculum and making sure the school meets the Thai government requirements. In addition, Brekhus said she will hire Thai teachers and train them.
The language itself will be a challenge, since Brekhus doesn't speak Thai. She will start taking lessons once she arrives in Thailand.
Being out of a classroom will be hard, Brekhus said. She loves working with children. However, she hopes she will still get a chance to do some of that along with all of the other tasks involved in creating a school.
Getting to help set up the school was like receiving a paid trip to Disneyland, Brekhus said.
"I couldn't even dream of doing something like that," she said.
After setting up the home and school in Thailand, the organization plans to duplicate the set-up in other nations that deal with human trafficking.
Once the school is ready, Brekhus said her part will be finished. Afterward, Brekhus sees herself working on a similar project, whether it is with ZOE or another organization.
For more information about ZOE Children's Homes, visit www.zoechildrenshomes. org/ or email Michelle Brekhus at mbrekhus@hotmail.com.
Brekus will speak about ZOE and the Thai school project Sun., Sept. 27, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Stanwood during the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. services, Sun., Oct. 4, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Marysville during and between the 8:30, 10 and 11:15 a.m. services and Sun., Oct. 11, at noon at Camano Lutheran Church.
Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.
