Our Children are our Future
For many internally displaced Karen children, education is a distant dream. The reality of a life on the run and hiding in makeshift jungle village has robbed them of a basic human right. Understandably parents are desperate to give their children an education but many can’t. Saw Mud Na Po, from Hkeh Doe village says, “There is no school in my village. My three elder children are now nearly adults. They don’t know how to read and write the Karen Language even if you write the Karen alphabet as big as an elephant. I just can’t afford to send them to far away schools.”
Saw Mu Na Po says he depends on his children. “They help me to support our family to find food and to farm. But I want our village to have a school so that our children will have an education. It is important. Unfortunately, we cannot establish a school because the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) troops live close by our village and we are constantly fleeing. Many children in the village including my children haven’t had a chance to stay in school. Their lives are pitiful because they lack an education.”
Many adults who don’t get a chance to get an education feel like they have disappointed their parents as well as their children. A young Karen woman named Hken- der who is living in a refugee camp on the Thai and Burma border says, “ The differences for the children who live in secure countries and the Karen children who live in Burma is enormous. Children who grow up in a secure country are lucky. They have a bright future but the Karen children who live in Burma have no future. Instead of learning and going to school, they are hiding in the jungle without food, clothing and shelter. They have lost their rights to get an education. People who live in developing countries take human rights for granted. They cannot image how difficult it is for the Karen children who lose all human rights”.
The Karen children don’t ask for much. All they want is an education and to feel safe, but they’re punished by the Burmese military. They want to study but they have to struggle daily to find food and to survive.
Internally Displaced People News
Teacher Builds School of Hope
Naw Norin stands among the charred remains of a bamboo jungle, as she stretches her arms and says, “This is where we will build our school. We don’t have building materials yet. We need posts, floors, walls and a roof. We also need pens, books and reading materials. But we do have plenty of students, lots of enthusiasm and hope.”
Naw Norin, 21, came to the border to further her education and to try to secure a better future for herself. She said, “When I arrived at Law Thi Hta, I saw my people were facing many difficulties. The Children had no school. It created pressure inside of me so I decided to become a school teacher and help them.”
Until the new school is built at Law Thi Hta, Naw Norin will continue to teach at an IDP primary school which was located nearby Thay-Ka-Ya. “We have 75 students in school and I am one of the six teachers. Each teacher receives a wage of 600 bahts a month (US$ 15) from Christian Freedom International (CFI). They also assist us with some teaching materials.”
According to the Naw Norin, the school needs more funds and assistance. “We can only teach the students to the Fourth grade. After they finish the fourth grade, they cannot continue their study in this school because we couldn’t establish more grades for the students to further their education. They either stop studying or they try to go to a refugee camp at Thailand and Burma border.”
Naw Norin said, “It is very difficult for the IDP (Internally Displace People) students to further their education. Since many IDP parents are not educated and have had to struggle for their daily lives, they want to encourage their children to study and get an education. They have only a few ways to make an income. In order to support their children, many parents make charcoal when some of them grow tobacco and sell it in Thailand. However, they cannot afford to support their children to get an education because they have to spend money to buy food, mainly rice and salt.” Many students, who graduate from the fourth grade, want to further their education. However, they have to stop going to school and help their parents to make money to buy food.
Naw Norin is excited about the prospect of building and running a new school at Law Thi Hta. “In the first year of school, we will only have First grade, but we will increase more grades each year. I hope the plan will be successful and we will save the children to travel a long way to go to the Thay- Ka Ya school. Although I know I have to face many difficulties, I will try my best to educate the children. I hope that I will be a person who can lead them to a better future, said Naw Norin.”
Naw Norin will not have to work alone. She will be supported and work under the guidance of Naw Htoo Lar who is the head mistress at Thay-Ka Ya. The school does not receive assistance from any organization. It will be built on the enthusiasm of parents and teachers. Parents from Law Thi Hta are concerned about the education and future development of their children. Naw Htoo Lar said, “It will be difficult for us because we don’t get any outside support, but we are not discouraged. These children need a foundation in their lives. They have been scattered from many different places. We all have to work to feed our families, including me. So I am grateful for the support of my niece Naw Norin, who will do most of the teaching. Naw Htoo Lar becomes an inspiration to both Naw Norin and to the parents of Law Thi Hta village. “She brings us hope.” Naw Norin said.
IDP News
We need school, teacher, and education
In 2002, Burmese troops burnt Htee Tha Blu village to the ground. But, unbowed by the soldiers destruction, the villagers regrouped and started rebuilding the village. School teacher Naw Wah says, “We have build about 10 houses so far and as the villagers are Christian, they’ve built a bamboo church that doubles as a school. Our lives are filled with instability, but our villagers want to teach their children to be able to read and write. We have no special building for a school. We do not have enough books for the students, but we try our best to give some education to our children. This school is only up to 1st standard and we have 17 students. The subjects we teach are Karen, Burmese, English and mathematics.
According to Naw Wah the school receives some materials through a refugee camp. “We need help. The school doesn’t receive any help from any organization. Teachers get no salary. We depend on each other help. I dedicate my life to help my people. Naw Wah says, the remoteness of Htee Tha Blu village means people have to work hard to earn a living and many children who finish elementary school are not encouraged to continue further studies. An eleven years old student Saw Kaw Doe nodes his head showing that he agrees with Naw Wah.
The Burmese army burned down my school. I finished 1st grade and I want to further second grade but, I don’t have time to stay in school. I have to look after our cattle and many of my friends have to do the same thing.”
IDP News
Soldiers, Jungles, Mosquitoes Can’t Kill Student’s Hopes
Naw Sa Mya Hch, 18, says all she has ever wanted was the chance to go to school and learn to write and read. “I started learning when I was six and because of Burmese army attacks, I had to attend school in many places. My parents are poor farmers who earn their living from raising chickens and pigs. They have no other income. So they cannot afford to support my senior schooling.”
-School of Hard Knocks-
Naw Sa Mya Hch, from Hko Khee village in Tangoo district says, “ Even when I go to school, I still have many chores to do at home. I have to help my mother feed pigs, chickens, and pound rice. On Saturday, there is no school so I go to our paddy field to clear weeds.” Naw Sa Mya Hech says she’s tired of doing many things besides school, but she still looks forward to school. “I love school, but I can’t afford to buy exercise books, pens or textbooks. To keep up with school, I have to copy from other students’ books. I have to be economical at everything I do.”
Naw Sa Mya Hch says Burmese soldiers make life difficult. “I always have to be on the alert, both at school or staying at home. Whenever troops come, all villagers including farmers, students and teachers have to leave everything behind and run into the jungle. We hide in rivers’ banks and on the hills. Sometimes we stay there for weeks.” In spite of the harsh life and living on the run, Naw Sa Mya Hch is determined to get her education. “In order to pass each standard, sometimes I have had to attend school under a tree and sometimes in the rain, when I’m being bit by mosquitoes. It’s very hard living conditions. Once I got anemia and had to leave school for three years. Although we are just only ordinary villagers, students, teachers or farmers the army has no pity on us.”
-Education Pays-
Naw Sa Mya Heh’s hard work has paid off. “In February 2004, I passed the seventh grade in Hko Khee village. This year I will study at Ho Kay middle school and after I finish middle school, I will attend medical training. I want to become a medic and help my people who are facing difficulties. As longs as I am alive, my hopes will not fade away.
