A Blue Tarp and a Glimmer of Hope: Pa Ae Tu’s Story

In his dreams, Pa Ae Tu’s hope looks like a school.

But in his reality, this four-year-old’s hope came in the shape of a blue, water-resistant tarp.

Pa Ae Tu is a refugee.

After a deadly bombing at a school in Myanmar/Burma, he and his family had no choice but to flee. Their home was damaged, their lives turned upside down, and they had to act fast. Together with his three siblings, Pa Ae Tu walked two hours through challenging terrain, searching for safety.

Some survivors took shelter deep in the forest. Others hid in caves. But no one was safe from the storms. When the heavy rains came, Pa Ae Tu didn’t know where his family would sleep—or how they would stay dry.

That’s when hope arrived.

And it looked like a blue tarp.

Thanks to your support, our incredible field team in Thailand was able to distribute tarps to refugee families like Pa Ae Tu’s. These simple but powerful gifts kept families dry as they slept, shielded them from strong winds, and even covered their cooking areas so they could prepare food without getting drenched.

And the tarp was for each family to keep if they wanted to, knowing it could protect them again if they were forced to flee once more.

That blue tarp meant safety. It meant comfort. It meant someone cared.

A light in the darkness...

Even in the chaos, Pa Ae Tu’s joy shined through. He felt the love behind the kindness his family received. And though he still dreams of going to school, he holds onto hope—because of people like you.

Thank you for opening your heart to children like Pa Ae Tu. The fact that you’ve read this far shows something powerful: your heart led you here. And that kind of compassion can save lives.

In emergencies like this, timing is everything. When families are running for their lives, there’s no warning. No time to plan. But with your help, we can be ready to act.

Your gift to the Emergency Response and Refugee Relief Fund can mean the difference between life and death—between shelter or exposure, food or hunger, help or helplessness.

Please, will you give today, so the next child in crisis doesn’t have to wait for hope?

100% of your gift goes to where you designate.

Thank you for opening your heart to even the littlest refugee.

Written with Zack, one of our field team members in Thailand.