MMR students show off the posters that they made during the group dynamics

Last week, MEC students, both past and present, and their parents attended a three day workshop on Human Rights. JRS in collaboration with MMR and Catholic Surathani Foundation, led this workshop to make families aware of their human rights in terms of international laws, as well as Thai law. Many people who become targets of human trafficking do not know their rights and the laws of Thailand which can mean that they are more vulnerable.

Students created posters, participated in group discussions and learnt how to connect human rights with their own situation.  The training highlighted the fact that many Burmese living in Ranong often do not have their basic rights fulfilled because they do not have or cannot get the correct documentation. A Burmese person who doesn’t have papers is often not able to receive proper health care – a fundamental human right.

One eye-opening moment occurred when a student asked whether they would be able to see their father, who lives in another Thai province. This student has a right to see their father but isn’t able to due to documentation issues. This is ongoing challenge for many Burmese, and for MMR.

Students were enthusiastic participants, and it was great to see parents involved and asking questions. The training was held at Eiffel hotel and a big highlight for the students was the delicious food. Father Kevin, who attended all three days of the training, said he was amazed at the level of English of our MMR young people, and highly impressed with the their reasoning and critical thinking skills. This workshop will hopefully empower them with knowledge that they can share with their family and friends..

One of the first things that caught my attention when I arrived in Ranong, Thailand in June 2010 was the white painted faces of children, men and women. Later, I knew that those white painted faces were distinctive to Myanmar people. The cream they use to paint their faces is called “tanaka”.

Tanaka is a yellow brownish paste made of a fragrant ground bark from Tanaka tree. The paste is applied on face, neck, arms and legs to moisture the skin and protect from the sun. It has been used for over 2000 years in Myanmar.
Wearing tanaka symbolizes beauty, culture and tradition among Myanmar people. Young and old, men and women are wearing tanaka on their faces.                                                                                                                                               

Living in Ranong for more than two years, I see the real faces behind the tanaka; faces of suffering HIV-Aids patients, neglected youth and children and exploited workers. They are the underprivileged people from Myanmar who live in Ranong as migrant workers.

Yet despite of the difficult situations where they are in, one can see how they bear all those hardships for the sake of, at least, experiencing a better life that they haven’t experienced in their own country.

Teaching the students at MEC and relating with other people enables me to immerse much deeper into their own situation. Students and our Burmese staff whose parents, brothers and sisters are in Myanmar, or working somewhere in Thailand, mother and father separated from each other, hide their loneliness behind the “tanaka”.

Tanaka, once applied to the skin, gives a cooling effect. It makes someone feels beautiful. As I perform my task as a teacher and as a friend, somehow I am able to help them realize that there is something greater, something good in life than the difficulties they experience. I like them to see that life is beautiful spite of the ugliness they feel in own lives.

As we continue our work amongst the Myanmar migrant workers in Ranong, our presence may give a soothing effect to the difficulties they carry. We may somehow be a “tanaka” to them.

_________________________________________                                                                                                                                             

“Rev. Arnold Garferio, sm is a Marist deacon. He was the first Filipino Marist to be ordained as deacon in Ranong, Thailand.  In this article, he reflects on his journey on mission in the Thai-Burma border. This journey was part of his  Marist Mission Experience (MME) in Ranong, Thailand. “

Education is a tool for one’s hope and dignity.

“Education is hope and dignity.” This was the core message of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon during the launching of UN’s global education initiative entitled: “Education first.” The said launching was attended by state leaders from all over the world.

One of the attendees during the launching was Burma’s Nobel Prize for Peace Laureate, Aung San Su Kyi. During the military regime in Burma, education was one  of those who have been left behind. Truly, with the help of this initiative, Burma will be able to reclaim their right to education. (to see the video of the launching, click this, video from:  UNECOSOC)

As to this note, the Marist Mission Ranong Team (MMR ) is so pleased that their education initiatives for the Burmese migrants are in lined with this global education promotion. For more than 6 years now, MMR education program has been giving the poor Burmese migrants, here in Ranong, hope and dignity through education.

One of MMR volunteers during his class with the burmese students.