The Bamboo School: Momo Cat’s Mission
A Frontier Humanity Documentary Project
Nurturing Hope in the Shadow of War
At the Bamboo School, sanctuary and education are the ultimate acts of resilience against regional instability. Located just kilometres from active conflict, this haven provides far more than survival—it gives displaced, orphaned, and abandoned children the safety to heal, learn, and reclaim their childhood. Against the backdrop of a forgotten crisis, every day here is a tireless investment in a safer, brighter tomorrow.
One kilometre from the Myanmar border lies a sanctuary.
In the shadow of a forgotten conflict, New Zealander Catherine Riley-Bryan—known affectionately as 'Momo Cat'—has spent years building a refuge for children fleeing the civil war.
Catherine’s life is a study in contrasts. A former international equestrian who once competed in Osaka, she now spends her days as an educator and her nights as a frontline ambulance driver for the Karen community. At 70 years old, she remains the primary shield between these children and the instability of the borderlands.
Life on the Border: A Visual Essay
Daily Life: Every Day Brings New Challenges
Running a sanctuary and school just one kilometre from the border comes with unexpected daily hurdles. Beyond the larger regional instability, the day-to-day survival of the Bamboo School relies on overcoming immediate, practical challenges to keep the children safe, healthy, and moving forward.
The Challenges of a Jungle School: Securing Futures
While daily life inside the sanctuary is filled with community spirit and resilience, the financial reality of providing for everyone is incredibly fragile.
Following the tragic passing of a long-term financial sponsor, a bright young student named Soi Fah recently lost the baseline support keeping her secure.
The sanctuary’s running costs are completely transparent, showing exactly how far precise, direct funding goes:
Annual Child Sponsorship: £230 / $300 (10,000 Baht) completely covers a child’s comprehensive care, food, and education at the sanctuary for an entire year.
Emergency Ambulance Fuel: £45 / $55 (2,000 Baht) per week keeps the free community ambulance fueled for critical, 24/7 life-saving medical runs.
Community Spirit: £11 / $14 (500 Baht) funds the shared ice cream for the children's collective monthly birthday celebrations.
The Challenges of a Jungle School: Safe Transit
Navigating the dense border terrain requires more than just endurance; it demands reliable machinery. The daily route to school involves traversing challenging, unpaved roads that degrade rapidly during the monsoon season, heavily straining the community's limited mechanical resources.
The current transport infrastructure has reached its absolute limit, turning what should be a routine school drop-off into a demanding community logistics effort.
Vehicle Replacement Initiative: We are actively seeking automotive partners, corporate donors, or independent sponsors to fund a robust, mechanically sound multi-passenger vehicle suited for frontier roads.
Emergency Maintenance Fund: Immediate contributions help secure heavy-duty tyres, essential replacement parts, and fuel to keep the existing transport safe and moving day-to-day.
Essential Health Defences: Alongside transit infrastructure, direct funding helps secure immediate community health defences, including vital mosquito nets to protect the children from malaria outbreaks.
The Reality on the Ground
As foreign aid decreases and regional conflict intensifies, the number of people seeking refuge across the border continues to grow. The Bamboo School is more than a school; it is a prototype for survival and compassion in the 21st century.
Follow the Return
Having documented life at the Bamboo School across three immersive visits, I am preparing for a fourth journey to the Thai-Myanmar border. This ongoing assignment is a commitment to capturing the evolving story of Momo Cat’s sanctuary and the resilience of those it protects in the shadow of ongoing regional conflict.
The Bamboo School: Dispatches from the Field
An ongoing documentary series of photographic dispatches and behind-the-lens insights from my assignments on the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Media & Project Enquiries
Broadcast-ready video packages, raw overlay clips, and a high-resolution photo archive are fully compiled and available for exclusive media distribution. To discuss campaign partnerships or to interview project storyteller Scott Ramsey regarding Momo Cat's mission, please contact the London Bureau directly.
Former student turned professional barber Ahmorthay returns to The Bamboo School sanctuary on the volatile Thailand-Myanmar border to give back to the community that raised him. Explore this moving documentary photography dispatch by Scott Ramsey, capturing quiet resilience, frontline dignity, and the power of independent storytelling.