To meet Say and Htoo Christer, two cheerful and courteous Karen twins from Myanmar (formerly Burma), you would never guess they spent the first eleven years of their lives in a refugee camp in Thailand.

Or that they were forbidden to step foot out of their camp. Or that they never had enough food to eat. Or that their homes and lives and friends were obliterated in ethnic and religious cleansing that displaced millions of people.

Sat and Htoo are seniors now at Bishop Maginn High School, which took them several years ago.

Like many refugee families, the Christer family has nothing in the way of resources and has not been able to pay a dollar in tuition.

The school has stood by them, offering them safety, refuge, and an education. For all of its troubles, the Catholic Church has remained true to its long-standing commitment to help and support refugees.

Say and Htoo both say Bishop Maginn is the first safe place they have known in their lives – they were born in the refugee camp. The teachers and students are kind they feel safe there, have good friends, and they are learning.

The school has given them a kind of life raft, a place they can heal and grow in peace. And where they can finally learn.

“They are just as sweet as they look,” one of their teachers told me. They wanted me to take the video above so they could thank you themselves.

I am hoping we can help pay the school something in support of their tuition. I want to be transparent and honest about this: very few students at Bishop Maginn High School pay full tuition.

The school’s tuition and other deficits are beyond the ability of the good-hearted people of the Army of Good to erase or eradicate. We raised about $40,000 in tuition support last year, and that has helped at least a dozen refugee children get into the school and stay there.

Principal Mike Tolan says he doesn’t need to pay all of their tuition, just something. I think we can do that. Tuition donations are tax-deductible.

Contributions in any amount are welcome. The donations go directly to the school, not to me or my fund.

If you wish to help, you can send a check to Principal Mike Tolan, Christer Tuition, Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202.

The school’s financial situation is dire, and that is something only the Catholic Archdiocese of Albany can address. All we can do is help where we can. The school has been a lifesaver for these two enthusiastic, kind, and hard-working students.

I’m not expecting we can fully pay for both of their tuitions, which would be about $8,000. I’m hoping we can contribute something for their education; any amount would help them and help the school.

The girls are much loved at the school; they are kind and compassionate and are eager to move forward with their lives so they can repay their parents for the sacrifices they have made for them.

We can help a bitl

It is painful to witness our country abandon these and other refugee children; there is no longer any government support for them as they work day and night to rebuild their lives. For all that, these children and their parents are nothing but grateful to be here.

Again, the address: Mike Tolan, Principal, Bishop Maginn High School, Christer Tuition, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202. All contributions are tax-deductible.

P.S. Tomorrow I’m going to Bishop Maginn to meet with and watch the new Cheer Squad practice. We’ll be putting up an Amazon Wish List tomorrow night or Thursday to support them. Thanks.