Tag Archives: Refugee Camp Activities

28th Anniversary of KWO Day

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On 5 April 2013 KWO celebrated the 28th anniversary of KWO Day. KWO Day took place in four areas of Karen State, Kler Day Trae in Lu Plae Township Pa’An district, Pyae Kah village Taw Oo District, Dooplaya district and Ei Tu Tah refugee camp. KWO Day was also celebrated in an urban area in Thailand and also in refugee camps in Thailand, Mae Ra Moe, Mae La Oo, Umphiem, and Mae La. KWO Central worked together with the Karen people, and Karen leaders at the camp and district levels. KNU leaders, CBO’s, and villagers came together and celebrated KWO Day. During the ceremony, there were several speeches from KNU leaders, CBO leaders, and Karen leaders from the Karen district.

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In some areas, there were activities and competitions. Activities like singing, painting pictures and questionnaires. Continue reading →

Capacity Building Training of Trainer (TOT)

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Karen Women Organization Capacity Building Training of the Trainer was held on 12th February to 13th March 2013. There were 24 participants of KWO leaders who came from six districts and seven Karen refugee camps. During the TOT training course there were some topics that covered such as; KWO Constitution and work of the community, Project accounting , KWO overall financial system , Child rights and protection ,Women’s protection and rule of law, Documentation ,Women leadership skills ,Letter writing and  Mine risk awareness training.

TOT pic 1Participants gained many valuable skills at the TOT training. Not only were participants able to gain practical skills like documentation, letter writing, and financial report and receipt preparation, but they also developed skills on how to keep their community and themselves safe, informed, and empowered.

TOT pic 3 TOT Pic 4 TOT pic 2One of the most valuable topics, according to participants, was women’s protection and rule of law. Too often in Karen communities women are the victims of sexual assaults and they do not know how to report the crimes. During TOT trainers learned about the legal rights of women and how to protect women who have been victimized, empowering them to stand up for themselves and other women in the community. TOT graduates will now take this information to their communities and inform other women, promoting the protection of women and rule of law.

Special Education Training of the Trainer

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On 1st  March 2013, 20 school directors, trainers, and teachers from Mae Ra Moe, Mae La Oo, Mae La, Umpiem, Nu Poe, Bang Dong Yang, and Suphung in Mae La Camp completed a three week special education Training of the Trainer (TOT) program. Topics included play session planning, classroom management, art, lesson planning, and much more. This was the first time all seven camps came together for TOT. All of the 20 participants are very excited to bring their new knowledge back to their communities.

KWO 6th Congress Short Movie

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Statement of Karen Women Organization’s 6th Congress

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KWO 6th Congress Statement 2013 Burmese Version

KWO 6th Congress Statement 2013 Eng Version KWO 6th Congress Statement 2013 Karen Version_Page_1

Use this link if you’d like to download or read it.

KWO 6th Congress Statement 2013 Burmese Version

KWO 6th Congress Statement 2013 Eng Version

KWO 6th Congress Statement 2013 Karen Version

KWO Chair Person Speech at Karen National Day.

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KWO Chair Person Speech at Karen National DayKWO Chair person speech

 

Use this link if you’d like to download or read it. KWO Chair person speech

“Nothing About Us Without Us” Video on Refugee Return with KWO Secretary Dah Eh Kler

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Burma Partnership released this video about refugee’s views on repatriation and the current process.  Filmed and Directed by Timothy Syrota

The video features refugees, human rights leaders, and UNHCR.  KWO has been a leading voice for refugee direct participation in planning and implementing any refugee return once conditions make return possible.  We do not believe it is possible for refugees to safely return at the current time.

Karen People’s Forum Statement and Press Release Regarding the Peace Proces and Mega Development Projects

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Use this link if you’d like to download or read it.

Karen People’s Forum Statement _Burmese_

Karen People’s Forum Statement (English)

Karen People’s Forum Statement (Karen)

Press Release (English)

Press Release (Karen)

Press Release _Burmese_

 

KWO Magazine in Skaw Karen

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KWO puts out a quarterly magazine in Skaw Karen which are distributed through out the 7 Karen refugee camps.  Each magazine is passed between refugees being read by multiple people.  It is just one way we seek to keep our community up to date and informed.

Use this link if you’d like to download or read our magazine:

KWO Magazine vol 2 Issue 9

KWO and Karen Community Based Organizations’ Statement on the Release of Return Position Paper

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For Immediate Release: 11 September 2012

 Karen Community Based Organizations

Release Position Paper on Refugees’ Return

Today a grouping of Karen Community Based Organizations (KCBOs) released their collective position in response to recent news about the repatriation of refugees. The position paper outlines the pre-conditions and processes necessary for a successful and voluntary return of refugees from several camps along the Thai-Burma border, back to Karen areas. Repatriation without these pre-conditions and processes will be against the will of the refugees and will not respect their right to return voluntarily in safety and with dignity.

 “We are encouraged by the changes in Burma but there are many improvements that would need to happen before refugees would be safe to return,” said Dah Eh Kler from the Karen Women’s Organization (KWO). “We fled the fighting and the abuse by the Burma Army. We know the ceasefires are still fragile and do not yet include an enforceable code of conduct; the troops are still all around our former villages, along with land mines and other dangers. We hope that we can go home one day soon, but it is just not possible under the current conditions in Karen areas.”

 The position paper is a comprehensive view of what the Karen community needs in order to go home. It outlines several pre-conditions that must be met before refugees return to Burma, including: achievement of a political settlement between ethnic armed groups and the Burma government, agreement on a nationwide ceasefire, guaranteed safety and security for the people, clearance of land-mines, withdrawal of all Burma Army and militia troops, end of human rights violations, abolishment of all oppressive laws and resolution of land ownership issues.

“We have learned from the UNHCR that the Burma government has already planned the locations to which refugees will be repatriated. KCBOs were very surprised to hear this as we and the refugees themselves have not been consulted properly on where, when and how they will be repatriated. Refugees have the right to make free choices on where, when and how they will return to their homeland,” said Ko Shwe from the Karen Environment and Social Action Network (KESAN).

 In order to make their own choices about their return, the KCBOs have outlined specific processes that must take place, including defining how consultations with refugees and affected communities must be conducted and how refugees and KCBOs must take part in the decision-making process at all stages, including in preparation, implementation and post-return phases.

 For the full list of pre-conditions and necessary processes, please see the attached position paper.

For more information, please contact:

 Saw Ko Shwe, KESAN: +66825047718                Nan Dah Eh Kler, KWO: +66857269291