Read on to hear about projects with Karen children in the refugee camps and villages near Mae Sot. Written by Kerrine Olson – Karen Projects Children’s Projects Coordinator

News
These past few months saw graduations and celebrations. Students finishing their basic education and some continuing on to further education. As we joined some of them during their celebrations, we couldn’t help but be proud of them and the things they have accomplished. In completeing this step they are drawing nearer to their hopes and dreams, many of which are to get an education so they are better able to help their people. Also during this time we saw some students return to their villages and help others with the education they have received thus far, some go on to study at Bible college or other post 10 schools, and some to learn a trade they can later use as a means of income. Prior to the 2010-2011 school year beginning we had new students come and join our hostels. This next year we look forward to getting to know these new students as well as getting to know the old ones better. I believe all of the students had a good school holiday but I’m sure many of them were ready to get back to their studies which resumed in May.

Stories 

 Saw Mu Htaw 

Saw Mu Htaw is one of our newest caregivers in our hostels. He is 24 years old and is at Mae La Oon Camp. He decided to be a caregiver there because one of the former caregivers resettled to a third country. Previously he was a student at that same hostel. He stayed there while studing in high school. After graduating he went to Mae Ra Moe camp to continue his post 10 studies. He did this for three years and is now returning to help other students in the hostel. One of his concerns is that the children won’t listen to him because he is so young, and he is also concerned about not knowing how to care for them at times as they all come from different places and different backgrouds, with different upbringings and different opinions. He attended our health care training and appreciated the opportunity to come and learn about that. He said he would also like more trainings for caregivers. We know he will make a great caregiver and we are blessed to have him looking after and caring for our children within our hostel. We look forward to helping him and other caregivers in future trainings. 

Paw Mu Wah 

Paw Mu Wah is a 15 year old girl who has been at Mae Ra Moe camp for 3 years. She has two older brothers and four younger brothers, one of which is also at the camp. She left her village of Ler Wah because there was no school and she wanted to study, so her parents sent her to the camp. She hasn’t been back to visit her village because she doesn’t know the way, if she did she would go back to visit. But she has received a letter from her family who stay at the village. She is glad to be able to be in the camp and get education. She enjoys it there except sometimes she sees people who are in gangs and she never saw that in her village. Paw Mu Wah likes to read and she wants to study to be a doctor and after she is finished she plans to go back to her village so she can help her people.

Prayer Requests:

• Health and safety of the children’s families who are still in Burma
• That the children would be able to study well and be able to follow the rules of the dorm and school
• Health of all the children and caregivers
• That one day the children and caregivers will be able to go back to Burma safely and be reunited with their families
• The new students that have come to join the hostels
• That access to the refugee camps would still be relativily easy

Jesus said, “Let the lttle children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” – Matthew 19:14