Christmas at remote Burmese Refugee Camp Nu Po

Another wonderful Blog report from Team member Lisa McCoy. We are still reeling from this trip in the most positive of ways. We will catch up on our Blog reports...promise...presently swamped!
Respect.
Asad

By Lisa McCoy
Five miles away from the Burma border under the watchful eye of the Burmese military junta is Refugee Camp Nu Po; not a place many would consider spending Christmas. But for almost 14,000 Burmese refugees, this remote Thai-controlled jungle encampment has been their home for 10 years. Astoundingly, this is where ‘Project Enlighten’ founders Asad Rahman, Olivia Lorge and I spent one of the most heartfelt Christmas’ ever. Their gift of friendship and hospitality is one that will never leave our hearts and souls.

The residents of Camp Nu Po rarely see western volunteers because the arduous 7-hour journey to this camp must be made in the back of a ‘songthaew’ - the Thai rural pick-up truck that acts as a bus by conveniently placing bench seats along either side of the box.

The 140km trip to Camp Nu Po is spent mostly winding round border hills which resulted in even the hardiest of locals pitching up their stomach contents over the side of the truck. The first photo on the left clearly displays the misery experienced by young local man on our journey. Every half hour someone, usually a child, succumbed to vomiting, which in turn nauseated others. At one point, my elbow which was placed foolishly outside of the truck received a spray of vomit from a young child sitting upwind from me.

To make matters worse, the songthaew picked up everybody at every stop until the every inch of the canopy, and box was covered with passengers. This cramped and nauseating trip is one that the three of us will never ever forget. A map of Thailand’s Burmese Refugee Camps can be found at this link which clearly details the remote location of this camp: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SHIG-7L9HLA?OpenDocument . We clearly viewed Burmese armed military en route as we traveled along Burma’s border.

Our visit to the camp had to be Okayed by the Thai Camp Commander previous to our arrival. The Camp Commander is a Ministry of Thailand Thai official who is specifically trained for camp control. Refugee camps experience domestic violence, child abuse, drinking and fights on a continuous basis. It’s up to the Camp Commander and the delegated Burmese refugees in specific roles underneath him to keep peace in the camp – not an easy job when you have 14,000 people living in small bamboo houses set 4 feet apart from one another.

Camp Nu Po began as most refugee camps did, when a group of Burmese IDP (Internally Displaced People) fled across the Burma border and built the first few houses 10 years ago. It wasn’t long until the population grew to its present 14,000. Nu Po isn’t the biggest camp in Tak province either – Mae La Refugee Camp has over 37,000! Refugees from Tak province are resettled in the United States, while refugees from other provincial camps are chosen for resettlement in other countries.

We were able to meet with the Camp Commander on Christmas morning, and through an interpreter we were able to ask many questions which helped unravel for us some of the mysteries that surround the whole refugee process. Why do some refugees get chosen for resettlement in a third country and others seem to wait for years in camps? Why are some refugees issued identity cards and others not? From what I learned, it is the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and the Thai government who make many of these decisions, but their criteria stills remains somewhat clouded to me.

We arrived at the camp about 4pm on Christmas Eve. We were taken to the main office where we were required to turn in our passports for the duration of our stay – a normal requirement for security purposes. We were promptly escorted to one home and given a glass of water. After 10 minutes we were taken to one of the few camp ‘restaurants’, where we happily gobbled down the meal that was cooked up for us – we had not eaten since 7am! From there we were taken back to the first house for some after dinner treats. Then we were taken to the camps two schools, where we were served fruits and beverages again! So few westerners visit this camp – our visit was considered one of the highlights of the year for them – three foreign visitors at once, and at Christmas! We were also treated to a special musical rehearsal for the Karen New Year celebrations that were taking place in a few days.

Yes – it all sounds so fine and wonderful how we were treated at this camp – but don’t get me wrong; the need in this camp is great. This camp lacks the many projects by NGO’s that many of the less remote camps benefit from. Nu Po has a serious lack of drinking water. The Burmese were so proud of their one water purification system, but it does not suffice for the camp’s population. There is no electricity and few generators to charge the few batteries in the camp. One organization has installed a solar power panel, but more is needed.

Another great need is in the schools. The one school which teaches kindergarten through grade eleven curriculum has 600 students. It has no textbooks. The students have to copy lessons into exercise books. There is no loose-leaf paper for the teachers to make tests or exams with. There is no photocopier. There are no computers for the school. There is no library. We visited the nursery school on Christmas morning where 13 small children eagerly gleaned through the handful of tattered childrens picture books it possessed. Those small children treated us to a chorus of 4 nursery songs perfectly performed in English. It’s amazing what they have done with so little, but the eagerness these children display for education overcomes their lack of materials. It should not have to be so. The second school is in just as bad shape. We had brought with us enough exercise books, pencils, sharpeners and rulers for about 100 children.

It was at the second school that we were treated to a special Christmas Eve celebration put on by some of the adult students who were eager to be able to spend some time with us practicing conversation in English. The room was decorated with a hand-colored life-size Santa, Christmas tree and hand-lettered banners. Again, many treats were served to us! It was one of the most joyous times of comradeship that we had ever experienced.

I happened to have brought along a recent edition of a Bangkok newspaper. When I gave it to one of the teachers, he could not contain his excitement, as they rarely see any publications from ‘outside’ in English. I made a mental note to bring along some more upon my return; maybe some National Geographic magazines as well. Oh yes – I am coming back! Along with the many other needs, the teachers emphasized to me that along with books their other biggest desire is to see more volunteer teachers coming in to help teach English. They would be happy for whatever time a volunteer could commit to this. So, at our meeting with the Camp Commander, I told him that I would return in a few weeks to volunteer for a week or two. I would be living with one of the families in the camp. As I had on Christmas Eve; I would be sleeping on a mat on the floor with some blankets. Because of its high elevation, Camp Nu Po evenings can be quite cold. We have made some wonderful friendships at the camp, I’m eager to return to spend some more time with my new-found friends.

My dear friend Kipp!

Through the years there are very few things to me that stay constant in my life. That is not necessarily a bad thing, I enjoy change and all the opportunities it can bring, and this is the yin. The constants in my life have been less pronounced but alas rarely change, like the 49ers and their lack of a Playoff appearance. One constant in my life that I truly count my blessings for are my strong and valued friendships. One of these friendships sprung a new branch on our apple tree! This new branch of our tree will bare a bountiful fruit for many more years to come. Allow me to explain.

I first met Kipp Morrill in the mid 80’s. We both started on the Organized Fire Crews in Chico California. Young and enthusiastic firefighters ready to take on the world, boy we were young! Through the years we have grown and matured in our lives and our profession’s. We have a fostered a friendship based on humility and respect in and around our circle of friends. We have gone years without seeing one another, as our jobs have taken us across this wonderful landscape we call America. We made time to stay in contact via email or phone, even if it was once every six months, the fact remained the friendship was based with solid roots and this tree was growing!

Over the last two years Kipp and his lovely and amazing wife Miriam had began to ask a few questions on our work in Cambodia, then a few more questions, then a donation, then a laptop for Mr. Togh, then more questions. A most gracious fundraiser dinner spearheaded by Brad and Sandy Azevedo at the Morrill’s home turned into one of my proudest moments. Kipp and Miriam joining us in Cambodia. To share our passion and work for all things Cambodian was a true treat. Many questions were asked about their role here and how they can help. My answer was always the same, “once you get here and meet the people and immerse yourself in the culture, you will know how to help, once you spend little time here, you will know, you will know”.

So Kipp and Miriam spent two weeks with us in Cambodia. They visited Mr. Sao’s village and played with children and learned how to harvest rice. They walked the proposed ground of the future home of Bakong Technical College. They shared with us our first visit to Mr. Togh’s completed school and we watched in amazement as our PE scholarship recipient Mr. Chumno was teaching with a passion and grace. Kipp and Miriam got to spend lots of quality time with Mrs. Chantrea and Mrs. Naret, our two wonderful and extremely gifted female scholarship recipients. They took all three out shopping for books and book bags, calculators and dictionaries. They shared the love and warmth of our wonderful hosts Yarann and Sa Eng and children.

At the end of the day as Kipp and Miriam have now left back home for the cold and rain of Northern California, many things remain the same. As I call from Thailand to check in with Mr. Sao or Mr. Togh, the questions are the same. “If you talk to brother Kipp, please say hello and high-five from us”.

Thank you Kipp and Miriam for allowing Olivia and I to share a little bit of what we love so much about Cambodia with you. I venture to say there is a new branch growing on our tree, it will thrive and grow like our friendship! We love and respect you both immensely!

Early December 2008
As we walk the streets of Siem Reap it is noticeably quieter these days. The economic crisis has left not one stone unturned, even here in Southeast Asia. The massive rush of tuk-tuks, trucks, bicycles and pedestrians that packed the roads in previous years has ebbed. To an untrained eye, it would seem as if everything is normal. Our eyes see empty Tuk-tuks line the streets as their drivers meekly ask the small but steady stream of tourists if they need rides as they meander by. It seems as if there is a quiet desperation in voices and tearful longing in their eyes. Of all places traveled, my heart hurts the most for those who live in poverty here, in this beautiful part of the world. I know there are many who are suffering back home in the United States, but for whatever reason I don’t feel that the desperation runs as deep as it does in the souls of the people here in Southeast Asia.

There is a part of me that knows, as many in the U.S. know, that if all else fails and we hit rock bottom financially, we have social assistance in the form of many government programs. If we become unemployed, the government will give us a small stipend to help us get back on our feet. If we need shelter or go hungry, there are supplemental Welfare Programs for qualifying individuals. There are even programs that will give families basic food supplies to keep bellies full, I know this all too well, as I was a child who grew up in this system for several years. I remember standing in long welfare lines with my mother, to receive blocks of cheddar cheese, loaves of bread and powdered non-fat milk. We were modern America’s beggars, 21st Century survivors of the unpleasant circumstances of third-rate poverty. We lived on re-hydrated dried canned foods and the basic sundries that could be afforded. When I was younger, I couldn’t imagine anyone poorer, though my soul felt rich with my mother’s optimism. She utilized the government support while getting her Associates Degree, so she could better provide for her five children. She was able to rise above adversity. I feel most of the world is doubtful of poverty being so extreme in the United States but witnessing it, first hand, the dire poverty left me bewildered.

There are rural places all over the United States in which people live on hardly anything, Gary District Number Nine was one of these places in 1996. It was just outside of Welch, West Virginia in which I saw one of the most extreme forms of poverty, in the U.S. Small shacks and simply built homes lined the creek-side, simple trenches between the dwellings wreaked of raw sewage that spewed from the bowels of the structures and ran down to the creek. It was the same creek that the children swam in and families fished from for food. Those who were considered “better off” occupied nicer homes; many homes were left abandoned after the collapse of the coal mining industry. At that point in my life I had never seen the happiness and beauty of poverty before, nor such harsh conditions. Despite the odds delivered, people were inherently happy with the little they had, not wanting for more but extremely grateful for what was received. The community rallied together to support those who were worst off by providing vegetables, fruit, canned goods and boxed food. I was working with AmeriCorps*NCCC during this time, helping in many ways. One of our projects was to make improvements on homes that needed insulation for the winter…I remember there being basic shacks with nothing more than carpet covered hearth floors, thin boards for walls and tin roofs. These are homes I didn’t expect to be in Modern day America, but there they were. The children ran around covered in dirt, half-naked and unsupervised. Their parents sat waiting for whatever help they could receive, oblivious or living in fear of opportunities that lay elsewhere. We were there to help; we were a volunteer organization that was there to serve the community with compassion and respect. Americans helping poverty ridden America.

Sound familiar? Poverty has no defining lines. It is everywhere. Extremes are found in every reach of the planet, though many do not have the support that we have in the U.S.A. Project Enlighten is trying to help build this kind of support for communities around the world. Our purpose is to stimulate a self-help process in communities that have hardship without changing cultural identities. We want to change an ethos of receiving simple charity by inspiring others to become more involved in education, community volunteerism and to encourage them to learn to stand on their own. It's about more than just education, it's about finding a way to survive and prosper beyond education. As the economic crisis comes to a great crescendo, I wonder what the impact will be on the countries that have become so reliant on international support. There are so many that are in an even more fragile state than most western countries. Perhaps there will be a much different story to share next year.

Arriving in Pakse, Laos was done with more ease than I imagined it would be. For $35 dollars, a passport photo and a properly filled out visa form, an American can obtain a 30 day Visa on arrival at the international airports in Laos. Pakse was an even quieter place than Siem Reap and as we made our way to the taxi counter, it was evident that our stay would be much different in this sister country. We set out for the Pakse Hotel in the central part of town where we enjoyed sticky rice, laap (meat cooked and served minced with lime juice, an arrangement of herbs, peppers and local spices) and Beer Lao dark. As we settled in to the slower pace of the country, we contemplated what the countryside would be like. We were anxious for our bus-ride north to the Khammouane Province. We were looking forward to exploring a part of Lao we had yet to travel to.

Our friend, Phouva, a fellow Forest Service Firefighter grew up in Navangthai Village in Central Laos. It was in his early teens that he immigrated to the United States of America in search of better education and greater opportunities. In a short period of time, he was able to take command of the English language and move on to graduate from Humboldt University. He seeks to help his home country in whatever way possible, starting with investment in the local education system that he grew up in. His wonderful village is in need of improvements on the school facilities. They have three schools in the area that are in dire need of repair. In one of our meetings, one teacher innocently asked if the schools in America were like theirs. Our honest reply was no, that we hadn’t seen schools so exposed to the elements and lacking libraries in the U.S. We, however, did explain that many countries we have visited in SE Asia had similar problems with their schools. Upon collecting all necessary information and presenting it to our board of directors, we will share more information on this wonderful and hopeful project! What I can tell you now, is that the people of Laos are amazing, caring and generous human beings. Phouva’s family, friends, villagers, the local police and the educators within the community took great care of us. I will let Asad expand upon that whole notion in our next blog.

Until then, I encourage everyone to get out & take a daring chance in traveling the world. You will see and experience so much of humanity and extraordinary beauty within each country, culture and religion. Open your heart to the differences that make each continent a bountiful and glorious adventure. Feel the hearth of foreign lands under your feet, breath the air that some of the worlds greatest humans beings have breathed, your life will be forever changed.

Love and gratitude to all,
Olivia

Like a proud father.

Like a proud father I share this update!

To watch a seed blossom to a beautiful and robust flower, to watch a wave tower above the surf and crash into the sand as the passerby’s gaze in wonderment. This has been my day, my journey.

We took a familiar ride with our top man and Project Coordinator Mr. Sim Sao to visit our old friends at Mr. Togh’s school just outside the hustle and frantic pace of Siem Reap. It had almost been exactly 365 days since Olivia, a few hundred school children and I had spent a weekend carrying rocks by worn hand and weaved basket to set the foundation for their new school. A foundation set in belief and immense optimism for the future.
As we sputtered up the dusty side road to the school it was becoming evident in the distance there was new flag of Cambodia amongst the sun worn prayer flags. As we turned right it proudly shimmered before us… Mr. Togh’s school stood proud just like our greeting from Mr. Togh himself. Purposeful, confident, focused! Olivia and I were gushing with exuberance. But this moment is only half the moment…..
As Sao parked the Tuk Tuk and we walked through the iron gate into the center of the school, I heard a voice commanding the attention of his young students in the distance. As I walked towards the voice it became clearer before me who commanded the attention of the future leaders and spirit of Cambodia. Mr. Chumno! Yes Mr. Chumno, Project Enlighten 2008 University Scholarship recipient. I froze in amazement as Mr. Chumno worked the young class with precision and vigor. I had always respect an instructor that projected with passion! His passion was more than evident. I refrained from grabbing my camera or camcorder, I wanted to savoir this organic moment!

It is treasured moments like these that make the whole experience and process to get to this point worth the journey!

Moments like these cannot come to fruition without a great cast of TEAM members. Ronnie and Thavy Yimsut, Chann Noun, Lisa McCoy, Matt Keys, Riva Duncan, Mike Caroll, Mr. Sim Sao and so important in this process is our Education Coordinator in Cambodia Mrs. Gail Anderson, who has shined bright with hope and optimism with our first 3 scholarship recipients, Ms. Chantrea, Mr. Chumno, Ms. Narett.


A few more updates:

We were very excited to share almost 100 new books for Mr. Togh’s new library generously donated from Jenny Bennett from Quincy, California. It was an exciting moment watching the teacher’s tear into the well-wrapped box. Smiles and wonderment surfaced as one of the teachers asked about the local Quincy newspapers that were used for packing material. As he scanned the adverts for automobiles and asked, “Can everyone in America afford this”? It was an ad for a Ford F-350 at over $30,000.
Thank you so much Jenny, the books were one of the most precious gifts!

Travels to South East Asia 2008/2009: Part One

Project Enlighten: Cambodia, Part One
(Contributed by Olivia)

Our travels to Southeast Asia had tumultuous beginnings. Civil unrest in Thailand and terrorist attacks in India has left the on-looking world frozen in fear and international travel in an upheaval. We, of course, were not immune to the affect of the chaos that rippled out. In checking our baggage from Oregon through to Siem Reap, we were told there were problems checking it all of the way through to Siem Reap (our connecting flight was through Thailand). Upon arriving to San Francisco we learned of the political unrest occurring in Bangkok. We had an AMAZING woman from Cathay Pacific who assisted us in getting our flights rerouted to Cambodia via Vietnam. We would humbly like to thank Julie and her flight crew from Cathay Pacific Flight CX 873 for the hours of work they did to get us to our final destination. We are grateful for all you did for us. Our flight into Cambodia went very smooth.

Chaos in Thailand interrupts international travel:
The Prime Minister of the country was returning from a Summit in Peru, protestors of Thailand’s elite took this as an opportunity to oust him from office. Protestors had taken over the international airport in hopes of preventing him from landing back in the country. For many unaware, a select group within Thailand feels that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and the government that supports him are not working for the people. They are encouraging him to resign through, what were supposed to be, peaceful protests. The tourism industry in Thailand has been greatly affected by the turmoil as the world sits watching, but even more so, the livelihood and safety of many people has been compromised. Over-shadowing Thailand’s political challenges are the attacks made on westerners in India where over 160 people are dead and over 300 are injured. A militant terrorist group has staked its’ claim on curbing western presence in India.

My personal perspective on violence in the world:
In a world where all suffer so greatly it is hard to imagine why people choose violence to settle differences. It is saddening that hate and anger is taken out on innocent people. Not one person asks to be born into the world in the circumstances of which they are. I did not ask to be born a woman to a western country, just as much as many have not ask to be born to many other countries under the conditions of which they were. Those who travel the world, do so to learn of the differences we all have and to expose the similarities all humankind share. We want to understand how others live, what cultural differences we have, what is appropriate in any given community and learn of social differences we must overcome. How can one learn they are wronging someone, if they are recipients of violence instead of peaceful education? When will the step forward be the correct one?
Show us what your right is
We will show you ours
Tell us of our wrong
We will amend it.
Teach us how to be mindfully present in your world
We will share with you our mindfulness
We will help you understand it
Help us understand yours
Change can be bad or equally good
If change is not what you seek
We will not try to change you

Day one, Landing in Cambodia:
We were greeted by our good friend, Sao, and quickly rushed to the Yimsut suite just outside of the center of town. Lisa, our Project Enlighten Burma Education Coordinator, arrived the day before us and was very happy to see us again, as were little Thavy, Sa Eng, Yarann, Chen & family. We got to visit for a while before heading off to town for a quick bite and an Angkor beer. As we were winding down for the night, we received a surprise visit from Mr. Togh. “Oh my Buddha!” Asad exclaimed as we heard a voice outside our door….
”Mr. Asad, Mr. Asad!”

Mr. Togh is the Director for Volunteer Poverty Children’s School. Over the course of a couple of years, we have helped fund, raise funds and have made working visits to his school site to help provide educational opportunities to the children within his community. Our next phase of help is the construction of a computer room for the school. Money that our supporters have raised is making the project happen! We will make a visit out to the school early this week and give more updates later!

Exhausted by our flight, we visited for just a little while before the heavy weight of our eyelids put us off to sleep.

Day Two, Sao’s Village:
We took a trip out to Bangro Village for a visit with friends. It was a trip we had been looking forward to, as it is the fourth year that Asad & I have traveled to this particular village. Over the course of the years, we have watched the children grow and have developed friendships with their families. They have come accustom to our visits and look forward to playing and looking at the funny foreigners that we are.

It was Lisa McCoy’s first visit out to Bangro and as we ventured out to the countryside she gazed across the horizon at the people we passed. She was in for a great treat, in meeting this community! We came bearing gifts, shoes, clothing and bread. A wonderful church in Lisa’s hometown donated flip-flop shoes and Croc style shoes for her to distribute to the various communities she would be visiting during her trip to S.E. Asia this year. Asad and I brought clothing that had been donated by Peg Boland, a friend and fellow Forest Service family member from Northern California and as we passed by one of the markets, Asad and our good friend Sao purchased some bread.

Upon arriving in the village, we were greeted with squeals from the children. Their smiles lit up our hearts, like fire. We were given fresh coconuts and bottled water and were introduced to the Village Chief, which was a great honor. We have been in discussion of building a free education school within this village, to compliment the education the children get at the government schools, and meeting the Chief was one of the more critical components of this potential project. It seems we have his support for the school but need to come to an agreement on the location of the school and how the community will support it in the future. There are 3 possible locations for the school. Over the course of our visit, we will analyze the possibilities and decide which would be the best benefit for the community and Project Enlighten.

Our visit went off without a hitch! The kids loved the shoes and hair-ties that Lisa passed out, the clothing was a hit with the ladies and of course the bread filled hungry bellies of the children and made many smiles. The photos and video footage share more than any words can, enjoy!

Day three in Cambodia & Thoughts on Foreign Influence:
As I look around the café Asad & I are sitting in, I see many people who are trying to change trying to help those who do welcome change within Cambodia. Children are taught English and Japanese and health…in hopes that it will create a better opportunity for all. I see hope for the future, I see the birth and mentorship Khmer Leaders of tomorrow. It makes me happy. It makes me think of Ronnie’s BETC project.

I like the idea of the Bekong Ecotourism Technical College, because we are not trying to change the people of Cambodia, we are helping enhance the beauty already possessed countryside. It seems to be the better path, to help Cambodia regain the strength and confidence that was taken from them over three decades ago, so it can stand independently again. In learning more about Cambodia through our friend’s eyes and through our travels, we will better help those who need help to improve their state of being. We are excited to get out to the BETC site and help move this vision for a greater Cambodia forward!

In due time, we will share more until then, the greatest respect from the Project Enlighten family-

Nargis Still Taking a Toll on Children in the Delta.

By AUNG THET WINE



Many children in the Irrawaddy delta are still suffering from the psychological effects of Cyclone Nargis nearly six months after the disaster struck, according to local and international aid workers.

The failure to restore a sense of normalcy to the region has severely impacted on children’s ability to recover from the trauma of living through Burma’s worst recorded natural disaster, said relief workers, who observed disturbing signs that continuing neglect was causing lasting damage to children’s emotional and educational development, as well as endangering their physical health.

In some of the hardest-hit areas of the delta, children still have difficulty sleeping at night, and many react to strong wind and overcast skies with evident fear, said Burmese staff working with UNICEF. They said it was not unusual to see children crying when the weather turned stormy, reminding them of the cyclone that struck on the night of May 2-3.

“Children in cyclone-affected areas are not like normal kids,” said a volunteer relief worker involved in an education project for children in Laputta Township. “They are not so playful. They seem to be living in constant fear.”

The relief worker said that many children showed a lack of interest in their education, and some simply stared into space, completely withdrawn from their surroundings.

“The psychological trauma and fear caused by the cyclone is having a significant impact on their ability to learn,” said an official from the Bogalay Township Red Cross Association. “They feel insecure, and for that reason they can’t enjoy learning. Moreover, many are physically weak, and this is causing health problems.”

Most observers said that the key reason children haven’t been able to return to their normal lives is that they are still living in an environment that bears the scars of the disaster. They note that the military authorities have done little or nothing to improve living conditions, leaving the work of rebuilding to local or international non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

“UN agencies and local and international NGOs are doing as much as they can, but the government isn’t moving at all,” said a schoolteacher from a village primary school in Laputta. “They stopped doing anything three months after the cyclone.”

Volunteers from a Rangoon-based NGO working for childcare and development said more projects were needed to help children recover from their psychological problems, and that these projects would require cooperation between the government and NGOs.

At least at the ground level, some officials appeared to appreciate the need to do more to get children back on track.

“To help the children recover, we need more gardens and places for them to play. Above all, we should create more enjoyable spaces for them. And we need more trained teachers who understand their psychological problems,” said an official from the central government’s Basic Education Department.

But it looks like the task of actually creating such spaces will be met primarily by international NGOs such as Save the Children, which plans to construct 20 child-friendly centers in villages around Laputta Township. These centers will be stocked with games, storybooks and drawing materials, and staffed with teachers specially trained to help children overcome their lingering insecurity.

Save the Children has also officially announced that it will give monthly funding to the centers so that they can provide nutritious food to the children.

But local residents say that boosting children’s morale is not enough—that more needs to be done to meet their basic need for secure places to live and study.

“The primary schools in Laputta Township can’t give children a sense of security,” said one resident. “Their temporary learning centers are just tarpaulin walls covered with sheets of zinc. There are no chairs, so they just sit on the floors.”

According to official figures, there are now 365 primary schools in 500 villages in Laputta Township, operated jointly by the government and local communities. Most, however, are flimsy constructions built by private companies close to the ruling military regime.


“The private companies assigned for reconstruction of schools repaired some schools, but they did it superficially and minimally,” said one official from the Laputta Education Department, adding that there was also a shortage of books, stationery, teaching aids and qualified teachers.

The official said that children in cyclone-hit areas should receive free education, and that their families should receive additional assistance to help them meet their daily living expenses—a view that others working in the area shared.

“Now that the UN agencies and international NGOs are gradually stopping their food assistance programs, it will surely have a negative effect on their kids’ education,” said a 27-year-old volunteer relief worker from Rangoon. “For that reason, the assistance programs should continue until households strong bases for their livelihood.”

Emergency Aid from Project Enlighten Arrives by Boat to Stranded Delta Victims

Emergency Aid Arrives by Boat to Stranded Delta Victims
May 28, 2008

Three convoys of emergency relief supplies reached stranded delta regions thanks to the generosity of those who are donating to Project Enlighten’s: ‘Burma Cyclone Emergency Relief Immediate Action Plan’, www.projectenlighten.org .

Posted now on the blog site you’ll see photos of aid distributed by boat to the delta.

Supplies include items such as plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, food, water, water purification tablets, plus various medical supplies and medicine including ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) which treats dehydration and guards against cholera. Most days here now see temperatures hover in the mid-thirties, so ORS is vital to those exposed to harsh conditions in the delta. You will see a photo on this site of a baby holding a packet of this.

You can obtain a copy of the Excel spreadsheet detailing all the items sent and their cost by emailing me at mccoy@vianet.ca .

Aid items are purchased here on the border and in Rangoon, where prices are much lower than outside of these countries, resulting in MUCH MORE aid going directly to the victims. Your donations go a long way here.

In the photos you’ll see Burmese volunteers wearing white t-shirts with a Burmese word on the front which translates into ‘Sympathizer’. These eager volunteers were recruited by ABITSU (All Burma Student IT Union), one of the Burmese organizations here on the border that are gathering donations funded through various western and European organizations such as ours.

The UN has estimated that of the 2.4 million people affected by the storm, about 42% had received some kind of emergency assistance. But of the 2 million people living in the 15 worst affected townships, only 23% had been reached. On May 26, the International Red Cross reported that at least 1.5 million people, many of them hungry and ailing remain homeless in the rain-swept delta. The UN also reports that 85% of school buildings were destroyed or severely damaged in the country’s cyclone-ravaged region. It will take decades for this already impoverished region to rebuild and replace all that has been lost.

Foreign aid workers are starting to trickle in, and I mean ‘trickle’! Paul Risley of the UN’s World Food Programme stated “Yesterday was a record, red-letter day with 7 visas applied for and 7 issued. But every step has required agreement with the government, clearance from the government, approved by the government of virtually all our actions.” Much more needs to be done to facilitate the swift processing of visas for foreign aid workers to get into Burma and through the military roadblocks in the delta region.

Sadly, the US and British ships loaded with relief aid and equipment stationed off the coast of the delta region, have still not been granted permission to unload their supplies in Rangoon, or to fly their on-board helicopters into the delta.

Burma’s PM Lt General Thein Sein said only civilian vessels could take part in the aid operation, and that they would have to go through Rangoon.

‘Project Enlighten’s’ funding of emergency supplies going into Burma via boats manned with Burmese volunteers is a working solution that is accepted by the Myanmar regime, and with your continued support we can send much more in!

Dear Project Enlighten Supporters, Family and Friends,

In recent days the Project Enlighten Team has asked you to respond
along side us in support of the Burma Relief Fund. On May 3, 2008 a
monumental event occurred along the coast of Burma: Cyclone Nargis
struck and has decimated communities within the delta regions. You
have responded in helping us raise $4,000!!! The money was wired over
on May 13th and supplies are being purchased and shipped to those in
need. You are helping provide clean water, medicine, food, and other
relief supplies to the survivors of the cyclone.We are nearly half way
to our goal of raising $10,000 in one week! We implore you to pass on
this message and encourage others to help us raise more for the
survivors.

As of 5/12/08, the UN reported that 150,000 are feared dead, 2,000,000
are in serious need of aid, and 1,500,000 are in serious danger of
disease (diarrhea, malaria, cholera, water borne illnesses, measles,
etc) . Some victims have been drinking whatever water is available,
with many freshwater sources contaminated by saltwater or littered
with decaying human bodies and animal carcasses. 24,000,000 people
live in the cyclone affected areas. There are 220,000 people reported
missing. The catastrophe that occurred in Burma, one of the poorest
countries in the world, is now designated as the world's most
devastating natural disaster in 50 years. BKK Post reports that over
40% of the victims are children, because they were not strong enough
to hold on to trees, etc.

With a heavy heart, we ask you to please view this photo album sent to
us by our Burmese partners. They have recorded, acquired and passed on
the photographic history of the destruction of Cyclone Nargis. We
continue to ask for your help! Please view and pass on to others, we
ask this with respect to those who are represented in this album. We
must not let their deaths end the plight of survival for those who
were left behind:


!!! WARNING AND DISCLAIMER!!!! PHOTOS FROM THIS ALBUM WERE TAKEN IN
BURMA, ARE TRUE, REFLECTIVE, RAW IN NATURE AND CONTAIN MORTALITY!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/cbthang/Nargis/photo?authkey=kJZckA4Vzq0#s5198948871534776674



As our relief efforts continue, with the help of Project Enlighten
Team Member, Lisa, we will keep you appraised of the ongoing
situation! Please see and read Lisa's May 13th report attached for
further updates on how your donations have already gone to work to
help the cyclone survivors!

We encourage you to share this message with as many people as
possible!!! We desperately seek your assistance for these survivors!
Donations are greatly appreciated! To designate funds specifically to
the P.E. Burma Relief Fund, please include this on the memo line on
your check or advise us through a note or email.

Please make checks payable to 'Project Enlighten' and mail to:
USA:
Project Enlighten
Burma Relief Fund
1299 C South Main Street #168
Yreka, California 96097
U.S.A.

CANADA:
Project Enlighten
Burma Relief Fund
Box 53,Gravenhurst, ONP1P 1T5
CANADA


Again, your urgent donation is desperately needed.
With Respect,

Asad Rahman & Olivia Lorge

www.projectenlighten.org
http://projectenlighten.blogspot.com/
http://schoolsforcambodia.blogspot.com/

http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org

"All human kind shall have the right to a life of respect and dignity."

Project Enlighten Report: May 13, 2008

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Cyclone Emergency Relief for Burmese

The Devastation in Burma




PROJECT ENLIGHTEN has donated $4000US towards Emergency Relief supplies destined for the Cyclone Devastated Region tomorrow. Please donate so we can send more! (This was done through YOUR DONATIONS)!




May 13, 2008

I arrived in Mae Sot Thailand, 6km, from the Thai-Burma border two nights ago. There was heightened security at highway checkpoints and at town perimeters. The catastrophe that occurred in Burma, one of the poorest countries in the world, is now designated as the world’s most devastating natural disaster in 50 years.




As of yesterday, the UN reports that 150,000 are feared dead, 2,000,000 are in serious need of aid, and 1,500,000 are in serious danger of disease. 24,000,000 people live in the cyclone affected areas. There are 220,000 people reported missing.




The United Nations has also dire concerns over the environmental damage, and has warned of violence and mass immigration due the present military government’s neglect to allow only a minute amount of relief supplies into the country. These supplies are not reaching the affected areas. Tons of supplies that have made it into Burma are sitting impounded at Rangoon airport, including a plane-load sent by the Red Cross. Yesterday, a ship-load of supplies sent by the Red Cross sank off the delta coast. Regional commanders inside Burma have put their names on the sides of boxes of supplies sent in, saying it was a

gift from them, and then distributing it to the people in their region, not the regions of the most dire need.




The BBC has now reported that the city of Rangoon has run out of rice.




Foreign aid workers and emergency supplies have sat for days 6km away from me, ready to go into Burma.

I am here representing, and reporting, to our TEAM and Board at Project Enlighten: http://www.projectenlighten.com




As you know, this past winter I worked closely in a volunteer capacity with several Burmese organizations on the Thai-Burma border. They have networks that constantly are sending supplies from Thailand into areas of need in Burma. These organizations are now successfully taking emergency supplies from Thailand into Burma. Right now they are struggling for funding to keep those truckloads going in. They have transports that leave Mae Sot and go to four relief stations set up inside Burma. From those relief stations, smaller trucks are taking the supplies into the affected areas. They are the ones who can bypass the military and get that aid to the affected areas, because they are registered Burmese citizens.




Yesterday, I spent much of the day in meetings with ABITSU http://www.abitsu.org . Their ‘Cyclone Nargis Relief Response’ is a workable solution. They need western organizations that are willing to take on individual donations and foundation grants. ‘Project Enlighten’ is willing to channel donations from our Cyclone Emergency Relief Fund towards their relief efforts into Burma. Donations made to this fund will be issued a receipt for income tax purposes in the States. 100% of these donations go towards relief supplies going into Burma. Neither Project Enlighten, nor ABITSU, utilizes any of this money towards administrative costs.




One transport load of medicine, food, water, and supplies costs $12,000, and can get into Burma in a day, bringing aid to 50 families, or more, approximately 250 people. A smaller truck of supplies can be sent in for $4,000US. A breakdown of all the items and costs pertaining to one transport load are provided. ABITSU will provide written reports, receipts and photo documentation to ‘Project Enlighten’, which will be made available to our donors.




Any donation given to Project Enlighten at this time will go towards immediate aid that can reach the cyclone afflicted Burmese within days through Burmese run organizations such as ABITSU. I am working closely with my friends at ABITSU, who themselves have lost many family members in the cyclone disaster.




I ask that you would please consider any donation at this time of urgency, and that you please pass along this information and to your friends and family. Donations can be made online through Project Enlighten using Credit Card or PayPal. Project Enlighten is a registered 501 (c) (3), Non Government, Non-Profit Organization, in the United States of America. The latest photos on the blog show donations received today at ABITSU by Rescue Task Force in California and World Emergency Relief. All emergency supplies are presently being itemized, and receipt provided by ABITSU. These supplies will be heading into Burma tomorrow. Your donation will also be used to provide much needed supplies that can reach affected areas quickly.




I also include some photos of the devastation inside Burma.




I am stationed in Mae Sot and can be reached by cell phone anytime at 66 087-5736-189

Please make checks payable to 'Project Enlighten' and mail to:

USA:

Project Enlighten

Burma Relief Fund

1299 C South Main Street #168

Yreka, California 96097

U.S.A.




CANADA:

Project Enlighten

Burma Relief Fund

Box 53,Gravenhurst, ONP1P 1T5

CANADA







To designate funds specifically to the P.E. Burma Relief Fund, please include this on the memo line on your check or advise us through a note or email.

Your urgent donation is desperately

With deepest respect,




Lisa McCoy

URGENT!!! Project Enlighten Raising Donations To Aid Cyclone Victims!

Dear friends and family-

Project Enlighten has sent PE Team member & Burma Education Coordinator Lisa McCoy to Mae Sot on the Thai/Burma border this morning! Our focus is to raise $10,000 this week to help aid in the massive relief effort. We desperately need your valued donations!! We are coordinating with organizations on the Thai-Burma border that are assisting in the delivery of desperately needed supplies, food and medicine. The groups are comprised of and run by local Burmese, whom are effectively providing aid. Our partners in the region are offering their assistance without administrative costs; therefore 100% of the money given goes towards direct and immediate aid to the cyclone survivors!
Lisa will be on the ground in Mae Sot assuring accountability of all funds raised!

You know how desperate the situation is, children and families are dying hourly due to lack of basic supplies, WE have an opportunity to save lives and help those in an otherwise hopeless situation. Again our goal is to raise $10,000 this week! Will you forgo a basic pleasure like a dinner at your favorite restaurant this week to save a life?

Help us raise money, Help us raise HOPE!

Utmost respect.

--
Asad Rahman & Olivia Lorge & PE TEAM

www.projectenlighten.org

http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org

http://projectenlighten.blogspot.com/

"All human kind shall have the right to a life of respect and dignity."

Local photographer seeks to help victims of land mines.

March 15, 2008
Local photographer seeks to help victims of land mines

By Julie French
Ashland Daily Tidings








Christopher Briscoe photo
Before Christopher Briscoe left for Thailand last month, he took his son, Quincy, to see the latest Rambo movie about a mission to rescue Americans kidnapped by violent rebels in Myanmar, the very area Briscoe was headed. When Quincy told him not to go, Briscoe brushed off his son's concerns, saying it was just a movie.

But when he arrived at the border between Thailand and Myanmar, he learned the film hit so close to home that the Myanmar government had banned it.

"Unfortunately, most of us in America just see it as another silly Rambo movie," Briscoe said. "It's a dark place."

The violence was so bad that Briscoe spent only one day in Myanmar, and he had to leave his passport at the border and be out by 5 p.m. He split the rest of his month-long journey between Thailand and Cambodia, visiting overflowing refugee camps and meeting children maimed by land mines left over from Pol Pot's 1970s regime. He returned with a cache of pictures he hopes to turn into a book that will ultimately help the people he met along the way.

Despite the bleak environment, the only grumpy people Briscoe met seemed to be foreigners, he said. When he pulled out his camera and battery-operated printer, crowds flocked around him, eager to be photographed, many for the first time in their lives.

"It was one of the many times in my life that I didn't take my craft for granted," he said. "For me to preserve their families' lives on a piece of paper made me as grateful as they were."

As he snapped photos, Briscoe began to notice the people he met had much more in common with his typical, wealthy clients than he once thought.

"There's a universality I saw a lot there," he said, pointing out a picture of a young refugee boy dancing around in a superhero's cape.

"Just like any other boy around the world who wants a cape, he wants to have special powers and be able to fly," Briscoe said.

Later, he noticed a woman who lived at a dump site sitting in a pile of ash with her children, removing labels from cans so they could be recycled.

"I couldn't understand what she was saying," he said, "but they were laughing and playing and working together, and it was the same feeling I had seen working at the Congressional Country Club in Washington D.C. It was the same kind of love."

In the week he has been back, Briscoe said he has questioned everything he does, down to the amount of electricity his house consumes even when he is not there. He is planning to create a coffee table book of the images he captured to spread awareness and raise funds for the children he met. All proceeds of the book will go to Project Enlighten, a small Yreka, Calif. nonprofit that operates a school in Cambodia and funds scholarships for land mine victims.

"Christopher ... his idea and his willingness to help, I'm just humbled," said Asad Rahman, a firefighter who founded Project Enlighten after his own eye-opening trip to Cambodia five years ago. Although Briscoe and Rahman were in contact before Briscoe's trip, they met face-to-face only after Briscoe's return.

"I'm amazed at his kindness and generosity, and excited about where it's going to go," Rahman said.

Briscoe said he hopes to have the book finished in 30 days, and he is already planning a return trip with his son in July, so he can see for himself what Briscoe says woke him up after so many years.

"I love my country. I love my town. But after going there, I feel like I've been asleep for 20 years, asleep to the struggles of other people around the world," he said.

"This whole story is about struggle; it's about hope and the universal idea that people just want to take care of their families and are trying to have a better future."

"Hands-on" helping halfway around the world.

This was a wonderful and kind article written in our local paper here in Yreka.
Thank you Brad for believing in us!


By Brad Smith
Siskiyou Daily News Staff Writter
YREKA – U.S. Forest Service firefighters Asad Rahman and Liv Lorge believe strongly in helping people.
Rahman recalls watching TV commercials by organizations asking for people to help the less fortunate in other countries.
"But, I always wanted to do something more 'hands-on' than just be an anonymous donor," he said.
Rahman and Lorge got their opportunity two years ago.
The couple is now actively involved in supporting a free school for Cambodian children establishing a college fund for those maimed by land mines and raising awareness about the conditions of life for many poor Southeast Asian residents.
The road to the couple's focus on service began when Rahman went to Cambodia in 2003.
When he and a fellow firefighter traveled to the Cambodian capitol, Phnom Penh, Rahman was struck by the number of kids on the street begging for money and food.
Seeing children begging for food wasn't necessarily a shock to Rahman, he said, but their ages and condition bothered him.
"It was the two- or three-year-old kids asking for food that got to me . . . and the fact that some had been severely injured or maimed by land mines," he said.
One young man, missing a leg and using a tree branch as a crutch, caught his attention.
Despite his handicap, the young man easily weaved his way across a crowded street, dodging vehicles, "easily outdistancing me – and I have both legs," Rahman said.
The young man and his friends slept in an alleyway not far from Rahman's hotel. Seeing them as he returned from a day touring Phnom Penh, Rahman decided he wanted to do something for them.
He told the kids he would buy them something to eat. An English-speaking taxi driver, who was acting as Rahman's tour guide, translated.
The kids cheered and shouted.
"Ice cream," Rahman said. "All they wanted to eat was ice cream."
After an ice cream feast, Rahman asked his taxi driver guide if he could do anything else for the kids. The driver told him the kids slept every night on the cold streets, and could use some warm clothes.
So Rahman and the kids walked a few blocks to an open-air market and shopped.
"The boys grabbed whatever they wanted, even flowery shirts made for women," he said.
According to Rahman, the kids were grateful for the clothes, especially the young man with the tree branch crutch, whose name was Chet.
The young man darted down the street to the alleyway where he slept and brought out drawing paper and pencils he had wrapped up in cloth and hidden away in a wall.
Sitting down on the street, Chet "furiously drew something on paper" and gave it to Rahman.
It was an "incredible drawing," Rahman said, one which Chet insisted he take, as a gift.
The next day, Rahman left for the U.S.
When he met Lorge, his future fiancee, one of the first things Rahman shared with her was the story of his Cambodian trip and his meeting with Chet.
In Dec. 2005, Rahman returned to Cambodia with Lorge. The couple planned to end up in Phnom Penh by Christmas.
Although it was "a long shot," Rahman hoped to locate Chet.
During a temple tour early in their trip, Rahman and Lorge's guide told them about a former Khmer Rouge soldier named Aki Ra, who was famous for disarming Cambodian land mines and creating a land mine museum.
The couple visited the museum, where Aki Ra, his wife Hourt and extended family of adopted children also lived.
Lorge recalled the moment when she was holding a small, de-activated land mine in her hands and Rahman called out to her.
"Asad was nearby looking at pictures of children," she said. "He called out to me, 'I found Chet.'"
Sure enough, a photo of the young man was hanging on the museum wall.
They learned from Hourt that Chet had been adopted by herself and Aki Ra, and had moved from Phnom Penh into their home. He was attending school and selling his artwork in the museum's gift shop.
When Chet came home from school that day, Rahman said, the reunion was emotional.
"It was a great Christmas – especially for Asad," Lorge said.
Lorge and Rahman learned that Aki Ra was working to establish a college fund for the children he and Hourt had taken in, and that he wanted to help other children get an early education as well.
Cambodia doesn't have a free education system, Rahman said. Parents send each child to school with thirty to fifty cents to be given to the teacher as salary.
But in a country where a family's average income is no more than $300 a year, even that amount makes sending children to school difficult.
When they learned that Aki Ra was working with two Buddhist monks to construct a free school for children, Lorge and Rahman knew they wanted to help.
Back in the States, the couple started telling their families, friends and co-workers about Aki Ra, Chet, the land mine museum and the special education project.
Fellow firefighters from California and other states expressed interest in helping.
"It was a snowball effect," Lorge said.
The Cambodian Land Mine College Fund was started last year. Aki Ra also takes donations for both the school and the college fund at his museum.
Rahman, Lorge and several others established Project Enlighten, which offers college or trade school scholarships and micro loans to Cambodian kids who finish school. The Project also helps Aki Ra and the monks with school costs.
"Our project is helping people to better themselves. It's a hand up, not a hand out," Rahman said.
He expects Project Enlighten to expand over time.
Lorge works with a firefighter whose family came from Laos, and through his stories she and Rahman have come to believe that they can use Project Enlighten to help people in that country, too.
Rahman is preparing for his trip overseas this week, on Thanksgiving.
He is going back to Aki Ra's new museum and the new school with some new equipment, including a few donated laptop computers, for the teachers.
"They're using rebuilt computers that still use the old floppy drives," Rahman said. "The new laptops will really help them."
Lorge will join Rahman and Aki Ra's family in Siem Reap for Christmas.
She said it's "interesting" celebrating Christmas in a Buddhist country.
Due to the influx of American and European tourists, Cambodians have adapted to new ceremonies and celebrations.
"You step out of the Phnom Penh Airport and hear Christmas songs and see tuk-tuk drivers wearing Santa Claus hats," Lorge said.
To learn more about Project Enlighten, visit www.projectenlighten.org.
Lorge and Rahman said that donations of everything from money to pencils are needed.
"If people want to pitch in and help, even a little bit, they can learn how at that Web site," Rahman said.

Tuk Tuk for Peace & Project Enlighten

Really not sure where to start with my dear friend and Khmer brother Sim Sao, but here it goes. Sao was sitting on the steps of a dusty Guest house in Siem Reap over 5 years ago. Pontes, Reed and myself had just landed and were looking for a place to call home for a few days. We were dropped off at the Red Piano, but were told they had no rooms, oh well the pictures of Angelina Jolie at the bar made up for my disappointment!
We grabbed our gear and slowly walked down the dirt road. A voice in broken english yelled " need a room?" That is how it all started with Sao, he asked if we needed a room. I know I never thought if you fast forwarded to 2008 how much we would accomplish together! But as I set in front of my computer and look outside this chilled and frosty morning, I can't help but smile wide at how much I love Sao and his family!
During that trip Sao took care of us in every sense of the word, he got us a fantastic guide for the temples, he took us to the best street stall's for dinner. He made sure we knew how important the history of Cambodia was to him and how it affected his life. Every Khmer around Sao's age (40) has a story on how their life was ravished by the Khmer Rogue, but still he smiled, resilient beyond words!
Fast forward now, Sao has a tuk tuk, Sao is married, Sao has a beautiful son, Sao has a dream! When I flew over this year, this was the first year I really didn't come over as a tourist. We had just started Project Enlighten in November 07 and had raised a little money to put to work in our project's. I was trying to explain to Sao one morning all our TEAM members that were coming over to help. Brian and Gwen were coming, Riva and Matt, Bill Morse and Richard Fitoussi were all going to be here. I told him this TEAM works together to accomplish goals in your country. Sao didn't say much that morning, you could tell he was in deep thought. We took our 45 minute drive to the Land Mine Musem and started our work for the morning.
The next day Sao came upstairs at the Warehouse and excitedly bellowed, "I have a TEAM as well!!"
"What's that Sao?" I questioned.
"I HAVE A TEAM AS WELL!" he spoke louder.
"Okay, Sao explain to me, I don't understand," I responded.
"I have a dream," he said. "I have a team as well, I have good, trusted friends who are tuk tuk drivers. I had a meeting with them last night. We are going to donate part of our fare to help buy school supplies for the schools that we are building together! I want to call our TEAM "Tuk Tuk for Peace" what do you think?"
I was so proud at that particular moment. It is truly hard to put into words when a culmination of 5 years of friendship manifests itself into such a positive and moving moment! So if you are ever in Siem Reap Cambodia and need a TRUSTED and HONEST tuk tuk who speaks really good English or if you ever want to see PE's Project's or need a good friend to help you while in Cambodia, then please give Sao a call, he would love to hear from you.
Please have a look at his site!

http://tuktukforpeace.blogspot.com/

Grand Day for Project Enlighten and Cambodian Land Mine Museum Relief Fund

This was a wonderful article by our good friend and team member Lisa McCoy. I promise I will fill the rest of the dates on this Blog this weekend..just a bit shell shocked, coming home to snow!



Sunday, January 13, 2008
Grand Day for Cambodian Land Mine Museum and Relief Facility
Cambodian dignitaries, team workers from around the world, facility staff and children all came together to celebrate a significantly special day for the Cambodian Land Mine Museum and Relief Facility.

On Thursday, January 10, 2008, a ceremony took place in which the facility was presented its official organization licensing certificate. In Cambodia, this certificate, difficult for most organizations to achieve, is imaginably more difficult to attain for an organization which has defused land mines on display. But this facility, an eight year project implemented by Canadian documentary filmmaker Richard Fitoussi of Bayfield, Ontario, is more than just a Land Mine Museum. It is also the home to Akira, his family, and the 22 child land mine victims which presently live there.

As part of the 'Team', I was delighted to be a part of this momentous day. The ceremony saw 23 noted dignitaries on the stage, and the event was covered by Time Magazine (Canadian Edition).

At 9:30am, after the opening remarks, we all rose to respect the Cambodian National Anthem. Richard Fitoussi then thanked everyone for making this day possible, and proceeded by reading a letter recently presented to him by Lloyd Norman Axworthy, PC, OC, OM, Ph.D, MA., who's greatest success was the Ottawa Treaty, an international treaty to ban anti-personnel land mines. He also campaigned against the use of child soldiers and the international trade in light weapons.

In his letter, Dr. Axworthy speaks of keeping a landmine from Bosnia in his office as a stark reminder of the devastating cruelty of this man made weapon. He noted that as of October 2007, 156 state dignitaries have signed the Treaty, and that 40 million land mines have been destroyed since the Treaty's implementation. Dr. Axworthy thanked and congratulated the Facility for the success of all its endeavors.

The Deputy Governor of Siem Reap was the next dignitary to take to the podium and offer his congratulations, followed by His Excellency, Secretary General of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, Mr. Sam Sotha. In 1997, Sam Sotha was in attendance at the signing of the Ottawa Treaty. He spoke on how hard Cambodia, and other NGO's in place, work constantly to clear land mines. He stated that the government has to work hard to assist the victims, and acknowledged the help the new Facility gives to children injured by land mines. His Department worked hard to check, and double-check, every landmine at the Museum, to ensure that they were defused. He applauded Fitoussi and Akira for their tremendous work, and then ceremoniously handed them the official licensing certificate.

The children were next in line to be honored for their scholastic achievements, as each one in turn was presented with an Oxford Khmer/English dictionary. They were presented by Asad Rahmen & Olivia Lorge of Project Enlighten www.projectenlighten.org , the NGO which raises funds towards scholarships for these children. Richard Fitoussi Sr., along with wife Corrine, next presented gifts to the Facility staff and educators.
Tol and Voleak, two resident children of the facility gave heartwarming speeches of how the facility has given them the opportunity for a better education, resulting in hopes for a rewarding future.

Local police and military were also in attendance, and Akira presented the local police with a gift of hand held radios, insuring the Facility's immediate communication with the police, should the need arise.

Ending the morning's celebration was one final speech, given by the man who's dream made this all possible – Akira. Akira's never-ending vision, 'To Make My Country Safe for My People', is a vision shared by many in Cambodia. Akira has never stopped acting on his vision, resulting in many years of having personally defused and removed landmines. He has also taken into his family uncared for children of land mine casualties. I was personally touched when he stressed his strong desire to build more schools in the rural areas of Cambodia lacking schools. Within the next week I will personally be able to share this desire with Akira as we go to visit the Cambodian countryside to view the site for the future 'Muskoka School', funded by the generous citizens of Muskoka.

He is a man of many visions, and thanks to all of those who made this New Facility possible. The Facility is solely run on donations. It presently has a very small schoolroom that only comfortably seats 5 children. The Relief Facility is presently fundraising to build a new, larger schoolroom. Donations can be made through the Cambodian Land Mine Museum and Relief Facility's website at: http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/








Posted by Lisa McCoy at 5:20 AM

Land mine Museum Certificate Ceremony.

Where does the time go? It’s 3:53 and I can’t sleep. I’m watching a Japanese football program and the announcer is wearing a San Francisco 49er jersey. Maybe next year! Lol.
I’m the lone one here, Olivia left for home on Friday night and today is my last day before I march over the miles to a sleepy little town called Yreka!

Here is another quick recap of what our fantastic team accomplished!

*January 10th we proudly celebrated with Akira and family the celebration of his many years of sacrifice and hard work. None of this would have come to fruition with out the leadership and vision that Richard Fitoussi has brought forward. Thank you for allowing Project Enlighten be a part of the children’s lives and supporter of their future academic aspirations! We were humbled to be able to present school books to these inspiring children.
The day was filled with smiles, none brighter than Akira’s as he proudly accepted his plaque from the Honorable Sam Sotha adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen and secretary general of Cambodian Mine Action and Victims Assistance Authority, we were able to have a nice conversation with the Honorable Mr. Sotha at the end of the ceremony.

*Matt, Riva, Olivia and I interviewed five prospective scholarship applicants from Build Bright University in Siem Reap. I had met with the Vice President of Student Affairs a week earlier in hopes of finding students who had met the entrance requirements but did not have the financial capability to attend college. We met with three wonderful young men and 2 fantastic young ladies. Their hope for the future was bright and they knew their place to make it a reality! We will keep you posted, as the PE team will have to make some tough decisions, as we will be offering two scholarships!

Sorry this a short one as I’m running late..much do to on my last day, you will be happy to know I have a 10-hour lay over in Bangkok tonight, so I promise to get you caught up!