Friends beyond the camp: two young refugees take their first steps into work

At a construction site in Prachinburi, eastern Thailand, Sakaliya and Ah Rapat carefully guide heavy steel panels into place. The work is physically demanding, but they move in sync, exchanging quick glances and quiet words of encouragement.

The two first met more than a decade ago, when they were both around ten years old, at school in Mae La camp, near Thailand’s border with Myanmar. Over the years, they stayed in touch, sharing the experience of growing up in the camp. Today, their paths have crossed again: this time as co-workers and neighbors, living together in temporary dormitories built inside the busy high rise construction site.

Their new situation follows a major policy shift. In 2025, Thailand granted refugees from long-standing camps the right to work legally outside the shelters, opening new opportunities for self-reliance after decades of restrictions. The change follows sustained advocacy by Thai civil society and UNHCR and partners to extend access to legal employment to refugees in Thailand.

For Sakaliya, 21, and Ah Rapat who has just turned 18, the change has come at a decisive moment, allowing them to enter formal work for the first time.

Sakaliya arrived in Thailand when he was five years old. After hearing about a job fair in Mae La through community leaders, he applied and was hired. Just weeks later, he moved to Prachinburi.

Before, he earned around 100 Thai baht (about US$3) a day doing occasional jobs. Now he earns 375 baht (around US$10).

“I want to have a better life, and for my sisters too,” he said. “I want them to have access to education and later on good jobs.”

His four younger sisters are still in school in Mae La. Sakaliya sends money home to help support them. His father also works at the same site, and they share a room in the workers’ dormitory, a small comfort in an otherwise unfamiliar environment.

Adjusting has not been easy. Sakaliya does not speak Thai and is still learning workplace routines and rules outside the camp.

Ah Rapat’s transition has been even more daunting. He has lived in Thailand since he was one year old but arrived at the construction site without family members. His parents remain in Mae La. His father has a physical disability and his mother lives with mental health challenges. With seven siblings, the family depends primarily on those who are able to work. While he works outside the camp, child protection services supported by UNHCR and its partners, with funding from the European Union, continue to assist families and children who remain in Mae La.

“When I first arrived, I had only 500 baht,” Ah Rapat said. “I had to borrow money from my friend and relied on him for food and support.”

That friend was Sakaliya.

“I think it would have been very difficult without him,” he added.

Living and working on site, the two support each other every day, helping interpret instructions, sharing meals, and learning how to manage their first steady income. On Sundays, their day off, they spend time together close to the compound, keeping a low profile while enjoying a welcome break from the week’s routine.

For many refugees who have spent their entire lives in camps, entering formal employment can feel overwhelming. Language barriers, unfamiliar systems and distance from family all weigh heavily. But the opportunity also brings dignity, stability, and hope.

Thailand’s 2025 decision has allowed refugees to contribute legally to the economy, including in sectors such as construction. Early implementation shows strong demand, with more than 2,000 refugees already matched with jobs across multiple provinces. For young people like Sakaliya and Ah Rapat, it also offers something important: a chance to move beyond years of waiting for an opportunity to shape their own future.

After long shifts, they often sit outside their dormitory, talking together about the day. Their friendship, shaped by years in the camp, has become their anchor in a new world, giving them reassurance as they adjust to each new challenge.

Originally published by UNHCR Thailand