Since my time here, I have taught two different English classes to kids of Myanmar hill-tribe ethnicity. The government of Myanmar considers these people ethnic minorities since they are born in poor communities in the hills of Myanmar and not in urban cities. The government refuses to consider them citizens of Myanmar, making them stateless people. They have little to no rights in their own country and in any other country in the region. Many flee from the corrupt military government of Myanmar – who steals hill-tribe boys as young as 10 years old from their families and forces them to serve in the army for the remainder of their lives. Hill-tribe girls are stolen as well and forced to serve as prostitutes to the army or are forced to marry the soldiers. Girls belonging to one particular hill-tribe race are stolen the most as they are considered the most beautiful of all the ethnic minority tribes – light skin and more pronounced facial features sort of resembling western women. These stateless people flee from this persecution and many illegally cross the borders into Thailand and build communities in the mountains. The Thai government refuses to grant these stateless immigrants citizenship and even refuses to grant citizenship to their children who are born in Thailand. The evil circle of statelessness and the loss of human rights continues. These people are considered ethnic minorities in Thailand as well and only children born Thai cities to parents who have citizenship can apply for an ID card and attend Thai schools and can receive healthcare.
I first volunteered at the Freedom House – a grassroots NGO with the mission of providing free education to the Shan people (a state in Myanmar where most hill-tribes originate from). Both kids and adults attend English classes, Thai classes, and art classes. English and Thai classes help the kids and adults with their self-confidence and also will help them to get better jobs. The art created by the Freedom House students is quite extraordinary. The students tell their stories of how they escaped to Thailand and the difficulties they have faced in their lives, but they never forget to mention what they are thankful for and how much they love their families and friends. During my time volunteering at the Freedom House, I learned that some of the kids and adults were sold to Thai construction companies by the people paid to help them escape from Myanmar. These people will live and work on construction sites for the remainder of their lives, moving from construction site to construction site – as directed by the construction company. Living in the concrete skeletons of buildings with tarps protecting them from the rain. Modern day slavery exists.
Currently, I volunteer at DEPDC – Daughters Education Program and Development Center – located in Northern Thailand. This center offers many services to stateless people and to Thai people including free schooling during the day and at night, child rights and people’s rights education, and rescue services for victims of labor exploitation and sex exploitation. I teach an English class during the evenings and my class currently consists of 6 monks all originating from Myanmar but have left their families to become monks. Currently, the government of Myanmar acts like a communist military dictatorship – where religion is frowned upon. Two years ago the armies of Myanmar raided many temples around the country murdering monks and other innocent people. Boys who wish to flee from being recruited into the army and who wish to become monks come to Thailand to live and to practice freely. The monks in my class range from ages 16 to 28, and they are the most patient and gentle people I have ever met – might also be because I speak a little Thai and they speak a little English :). They are very interested in learning about Western culture and love to see pictures of major landmarks, cities, works of art, architecture, and national monuments from around the world. We have discussed Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, the US, and learned where the countries in South East Asia are located. Next up on the list are famous artists and famous musicians and composers from around the world – any recommendations? :)
I first volunteered at the Freedom House – a grassroots NGO with the mission of providing free education to the Shan people (a state in Myanmar where most hill-tribes originate from). Both kids and adults attend English classes, Thai classes, and art classes. English and Thai classes help the kids and adults with their self-confidence and also will help them to get better jobs. The art created by the Freedom House students is quite extraordinary. The students tell their stories of how they escaped to Thailand and the difficulties they have faced in their lives, but they never forget to mention what they are thankful for and how much they love their families and friends. During my time volunteering at the Freedom House, I learned that some of the kids and adults were sold to Thai construction companies by the people paid to help them escape from Myanmar. These people will live and work on construction sites for the remainder of their lives, moving from construction site to construction site – as directed by the construction company. Living in the concrete skeletons of buildings with tarps protecting them from the rain. Modern day slavery exists.
Currently, I volunteer at DEPDC – Daughters Education Program and Development Center – located in Northern Thailand. This center offers many services to stateless people and to Thai people including free schooling during the day and at night, child rights and people’s rights education, and rescue services for victims of labor exploitation and sex exploitation. I teach an English class during the evenings and my class currently consists of 6 monks all originating from Myanmar but have left their families to become monks. Currently, the government of Myanmar acts like a communist military dictatorship – where religion is frowned upon. Two years ago the armies of Myanmar raided many temples around the country murdering monks and other innocent people. Boys who wish to flee from being recruited into the army and who wish to become monks come to Thailand to live and to practice freely. The monks in my class range from ages 16 to 28, and they are the most patient and gentle people I have ever met – might also be because I speak a little Thai and they speak a little English :). They are very interested in learning about Western culture and love to see pictures of major landmarks, cities, works of art, architecture, and national monuments from around the world. We have discussed Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, the US, and learned where the countries in South East Asia are located. Next up on the list are famous artists and famous musicians and composers from around the world – any recommendations? :)
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