Journey to Burma and Thailand*
*Not sponsored by any agency or group, voluntary trip
January 2014, Karen Guide: Saw Marner
Sara Chute, Tonya Cook
Jennifer Dunbar, Ken Severson
Trip “itinerary”
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Bangkok
Mae Sot
Karen New Year in Burma
Chiang Mai
Refugee Camps
– Mae La – Karen Wedding
– Mae La Oon – birthday party
– Mae Ra Moo – stayed with Pastor
Expectations going in to the trip
Realizations along the way
Key Political Takeaways
• No pipeline (refugee pathway) to US anymore
– Besides US Citizen immediate family contacts
• Still not safe to return to Burma
Issues: Land rights, land mines, presence of Burmese
soldiers
Daily Life – Karen style
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Sit on floor
Sleep on floor
Bathroom
Shower
Cooking/food
Cooking
Sleeping
Bathroom and Shower
Transportation
Karen New Year in Shwe Kokko
Sunrise on January 1, 2014
Camp Life
Economy
Education
L
library
Health care
Epidemiology and Infectious Disease
Many Karen organizations and
NGOs doing terrific work
– Karen Women Organization
• Young Women Leaders Academy
• 1% campaign
– Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity
• $30/month pays a teachers salary in the camp
– Land Rights Committee
– Villa supporting land mine victims (Handicap
International or Karen Baptist Bible School)
– Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot
Dr. Cynthia Maung
– Other individuals making a difference (Ex: Paw Gay)
Mae Tao Clinic
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Acupuncture
Child Inpatient
Child Outpatient
Dental Clinic
Eye Clinic
Inpatient
Department
Mental Health
Outpatient
Department
Surgery and
Trauma
Reproductive
Health
Lodging for
families
Meals prepared
Daycare
http://maetaoclinic.org
• Free health care
for migrant
workers in
Thailand and
people who lack
access to health
care inside Burma
• Advocate for
education for
people living
along the border
• Advocate for
social and legal
services
• Community center
• Center for
advocacy with
respect to issues
related to Burma
and the migrant
community.
Karen Women Organization
*Developing a Karen sign language *11 Safe Houses in the camps for victims of
SGBV *SGBV Case Management Manual & Training *Representatives to
regional and int’l meetings on peace and refugee return *Emergency assistance
(e.g. Umpiem fire) *Nursery School Project *Dormitory Project and
Unaccompanied Children Project *Special Education *Leadership training
*Human rights documentation & Reporting *Women’s health *Income generation
*Elder Care *1% Pledge
Karen Women Organization (KWO)
• ”Even I Am a Refugee, Listen to My Voice” –
KWO theme for WRD 2012
• On this World Refugee Day, as women and as
refugees, KWO would like to call on all those
sitting at the tables and making decisions
about the lives of refugees to listen to our
voices, and to genuinely include us.
• http://womenofburma.org/karen-women-organisation-statement-onworld-refugee-day-even-though-i-am-a-refugee-listen-to-my-voice/
Karen Women’s Organization
(KOM)
Aspiring Artist
Mae La Bible School
Young Women’s Leadership
Academy
Handicap International
Extending the Link
St John’s documentary
• Debuts April 30, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhnOkRfsMRQ&list=UU0
AuM3eB-Pjw2dH81tgSBpg
Photos to follow from the eyes of
Saw Marner
Thai/Burma border
Following local traffic laws 
Karenni women
Burma
Karen Women’s Organization
With Mae Ra Moo camp leader
Karen New Year
With young Karen women leaders
With pastor’s family and others in
Mae Ra Moo camp
Bridge in Mae
Ra Moo camp
Prayer Mountain, Burma
Ta Blut (thank you)!
Questions?