MOEI Thailand operates in and around the border town of Mae Sot in Tak Province, northern Thailand. It works with refugees and migrants from Burma (officially renamed Myanmar by the military junta in 1989). Because MOEI is based in Mae Sot, many of the people participants meet are from the Karen ethnic group. However, participants also come into contact with migrants from other ethnic groups in Burma, including the majority Burmans.

Mae Sot is a very special place providing an unusual window on the Burma problem. Because of its border with Karen State in Burma, Mae Sot is dominated by the 60-year struggle of the Karen people against their Burman oppressors. While this is an important part of the Burma story, it is by no means the core theme. Also, while the Karen perspective rightly highlights the might of the military machine that rules Burma, it offers few insights into ways forward for an ethnically diverse nation once the army is no longer in charge.