Library for the monestry in Ban Lak Teang

We met a young teacher who is raising funds for a new library building for his novice students. Ben and I have received already many funds from our contacts for our directly related projects so we can't ask for more again.

So now we are trying to tap in to new sources of enthusiastic people to team up in helping the people here. I put this information on the blog so that if anyone likes to be part of raising funds for the library they can contact me.

I just send out an email, of which partly can be read under this, to two couples we have met while visiting Ban Lak Teang. Darrin and Alison came with us to the monastery and we had a wonderful time talking and learning about the area. Chas and Alison stayed in the same guesthouse and together we spend some evenings around the camp fire. They have showed some interest in trying to raise some funds if possible back in their country, USA and England. We'll see!

Good news is that Ben and I just got (another) donation from the family Van Marle and from another lady, both from the Netherlands. This is exiting! Thank you all!!!!

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The Library for the monastery in Ban Lak Teang:

The Shan are from Burma where they are not safe like any other minority group in that country. For many years they have needed to flee from the Burmese soldiers. Horror stories about the soldiers that they will take away the boys and the men to force them in the state army. Girls and woman are taken for forced prostitution. Other people would either be shot or get lucky to get away and move to safer areas. It is a heartbreaking situation.

A few facts from Drum Publication Group:
“United Nations statistics show that as many under-fives die each year in Burma as in Sudan. More children in Burma are malnourished than in Somalia and Burma has more orphans than Afghanistan.
Educationally, half of Burma's children fail to progress beyond primary level. And yet Burma gets aid inflows that are 75 times less than Mozambique and 26 times lower than nearby Cambodia.”

The area around the village Ban Lak Teang in sub-district Piang Luang is populated with Shan people from Burma. Some live in houses and have identity cards because they came to Thailand many years ago. Then there is a group who lives in a settlement camp and they do not have identity cards and are not allowed to work illegally. They are allowed only in that small area but at least they are relatively safe from the soldiers.

The school in Lak Teang is a monastery for young novice boys who are there for the reason that they often have no where else to go to. All the boys are Shan and many are orphans or have only one parent who can not take care of them or the parents live in Burma where it’s not safe and were they do not get any education.
The novices become novice for the sole reason to live in a safe place, receive some food and education.

Noom and Lar are two of the five teachers working at the school. They both are very smart young men and would do well in any city because they have had a good education and speak English very well. Noom and Lar are very dedicated to help their people and have chosen to stay here with the boys instead of getting better paid work in town.

Noom is trying to raise money for a small building of 6 by 9 meters (20 x 30 feet) for a library/ study room for his students. Now they have no books and only a few old study books. Once they have a (not leaking) building they are sure to receive book donations from people.
His plan is to spend 200 000 Baht on the building and 50 000 for the workers. We have spoken to both a Thai and a Western builder here and they calculated that they can do it all for 200 000 Baht which is 6400 USD. This would build a rather large, weather resistant permanent building. So far Noom has raised 65 000 Baht or 2100 USD, so that is a very good beginning.

Because we, Ben and Jil, are living not far away from the village we can follow everything that is happening. We would ensure any raised funds would go to the right ends.

We hope that with your help we can make sure that this library gets build!


Visit Noom's blog where you also can find his library project proposal:

http://noomhkurh.blogspot.com/

To read an article about the history of this interesting area:

http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=342

To view photo’s from the Monastery school, see this online album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jildou.brouwer/MonestrySchoolBanLakTeang

To view photo's from the whole day trip (including settlement camp and weaving shops), see this online album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jildou.brouwer/BanLakTeangTripWiangHaengDistrict


Warm Regards,

Ben and Jil (Dao)

Visa trip to Vientiane, Lao

We just got back from a trip to Vientiane in Lao to get a new visa. We only got one for 3 months so we are not ready yet... beside an extension we also need a work permit what is a pain in the neck. Luckily we have wonderful help from Paul from the Khomloy Foundation in Chiang Rai.

Vientiane is an amazing city! As soon as we walked around on the first evening to find a place to stay, we were in love with all the French colonial style buildings what gives the city a real charm and a feel of class to it. It's not big what makes it comfortable to get around and to get to know everything.
During the journey we met a American and we had a nice dinner together on the Mekong. It was wide now but a lot of dry sand showed how big it would become during the rainy season.


We had soon discovered the one bad side of the town and that are the police man! Wow after driving on our rented bike for a few minutes we were taken of the road because the u-turn we made wasn't right. The man told us he was going to keep the bike and so we had to walk that day until we could pick it up and pay,, hi hi hi hi. He was laughing all the time and thought it was most amusing. We produced some sheepish laughs ourselves because that's what you do in Asia.
We got away from them WITH the bike but I had to drive because Ben's licence was stolen a few months ago. With some shocking starts I managed to drive of with Ben on the back while we were still smiling.
In the evening we were caught again and this time we were charged with driving to red pedestrian (by any other red light you actually can turn right any time with care,, except this one); no licence and driving through after the whistle of the police. Well, we didn't see no police man , yes we heard a whistle but we saw more traffic and we really thought we didn't do anything wrong! This time the fine was 200,000 Kip (only 20 Dollars) BUT we had to go to the police station to face the charges on Monday,, that day was Friday.... We explained in Thai that we had to go back to work and really couldn't stay. After quite a while he knew we were not going to leave and that I really wanted back my Dutch licence. So the charges changed into less bad once so we didn't have to show up on Monday but we still had to pay the fine. Ben went to find a ATM machine while I was kept there. The police man was getting really friendly and started to chat away and took of his helmet and did his hair. I was smiling a bit and tried to keep him in a good mood. The other police men were chasing people on and of,, what a business! Ben took a while but than we were excused to go... Never again we will rent a bike in Lao!!!! Just use the special tuk tuks I guess.

Back in Udon Thani in Thailand we wanted to take the night bus to safe some money. On the station we were told that two buses are leaving daily,, one with toilet and one without. When we asked to the ticket salesman we were told that there was only one bus so that night we came with our luggage but saw that there was a better bus for the 12 hour trip! Ben was furious because the already very dodgy man had lied because there were two companies and he sold only for one.... Not that he didn't have a enough business,,, there was a queue of people hoping that people didn't show up. Ben normally very easy going in these situation but he insisted on getting back the money. Unfortunately the other bus was full so within a few minutes we were back in the tuk tuk to the hotel. We than decided to fly back.....





We met Joff from Melbourne in Udan Thani what was a rather surprise. We weren't sure were he lived in Thailand with his Thai wife and baby but there they were! Very nice to catch up.
Udon Thani is not really recommendable for a visit we think, it's a soul-les city with so much prostitution and a certain type of Falang man. We were happy to come back to Chiang Mai and now to Fang!

We saw the Rambo 4 movie and knowing I just never watch anything violence, I would tell people to watch it. It's set in Burma and is focused on the raids from the Burmese soldiers on the Karen villages. Just horrible, horrible hearth breaking. But that's what's happening there! Of course the Rambo aspect has made it a bit more Hollywood action but this happens there to Karen, Shan and all the minority groups on a daily bases.

Project ideas from the novices

I visited Charrin and his students at their novice school at the monastry. What was going to be a short visit became, as I could have known, a whole afternoon. Charrin was most exited to let me ask questions to the students about their choosen projects. The students want to start working on as soon as possible. I was impressed to see their enthusiasm and eagernes to learn and most of all their choice of interests. The 25 students are divided in 4 groups and each group has a project leader.

The first project is going to be about Buddhism because the students want to tell people what they have learned so far. Leader Lan wants to go on a fieldtrip with his fellowstudents to visit the monk universtity in Chiang Mai where they hope to learn much more from the monks studying there. I think that's a great idea!

Then there is a project about rubbish. First the leader Non want to learn more about the different kind of litter and what is good or not good for recycling. They have the phrase to safe the world but I suggested to keep it simple at first and to set up a recycle system for the monastry. Then the people living around will slowly learn as well. They are very exited because they are very worried about global warming and the burning of rubbish in Thailand. Most people get rid of their rubbish by burning everything and that is of course very damaging. In the dry season it gets besides the dust very smokey and many people suffer breathing problems.

The third project is about projecting the Thai jungle. The students from this group came up with a brilliant idea to safe tree using their 'power' of being a novice monk. They know that if you tie a monk robe around a tree that no one will cut the tree down out of respect for Buddha. Also they want to plant new trees but are not sure yet where.

The last project is about finding ways to learn English. From all the students from all the different schools learning English is their main wish to do with the XO laptop.
Once all the groups presented their ideas I suggested them to make a plan of approach. For them it's hard to now know how to get started. I can't wait that AJ gets back because all this needs to be guided because the teachers have hardly experience on a practical level. I need help!!

First we need to give the students a crash course surfing the internet because they haven't learned it yet! It's hard for me to guide them online because they need Thai websites to find information for their project and I can't read Thai well enough....

Visitors from Canada

We learned that Roger hasn't a easy job; to make photo's you rely on a few hours in the morning anda few at the end of the day so the sun isn't too bright.










Our friend Sarrayut in his village.






AJ making sure that the sound is recorded from the profile interviews with the children. The boy were curious of the laptop and the whole proces.



Profiling a boy at Ban Luang school.

Profiling Ban Pakorn and Ban Luang

Last month Ben, AJ and I went in the morning to Ban Pakorn where we met Andy and Wero. Andy lives here and work with the local government as a Peace Corps volunteer. Andy teaches English at both schools in the villages nearby and know the kids and the school well.

Both schools were great! Nice to have spend the day here and have worked with the kids. We heard from the teachers that they were really nervous for the interview on video. They all did a great job I have to say!

On the photo you see AJ behind the table with the omputer to record the sound .

Interview Lahu village Nong Tao

Last month we went together with our friend Pui to the Lahu village Nong Tao which is located only a few km from the border with Myanmar. The small village is surrounded by mountains and orange fields. Beautiful! Ben and I have worked here last year with another project, Free Schools, where we maneged village schools for the hill tribes and Tai-ai. Nong Tao is one village where is a school and because of that a great starting place for this new project from Elevator. 15 from the 25 children from Moung Choum school who we profiled are from this village. They are soo exited to be part of this new project!
Above you see the village headman Jala. The village has both Black and Red Lahu living in it and Jala is Black Lahu.

In Lahu villages the houses are made of bamboo and stro. There is electricity and the water comes from a river out of the mountains.Pigs and dogs are in high numbers and give a lively feel to the place.









The children from the Free School (most of them are Red Lahu) performed a dance with a rythem played on drums. It was the beginning of the Lahu new year which will last 7 days. Partying, dancing and drinking will be continuing for all those days.








Teacher Aer invited us to have some food at her house. In the photo you see her husband and son.




Here you see the setting from the interview with Jala the head man. It went well and we will continue filling in the profile forms ourself. We can ask for more details in this way and we have all the anwers straight away in English.Pui was of great help. On the right you see the head man of Moung Choum who is again the leader of Jala. He was very helpfull. A great afternoon!

Fang and work

Shan hero's

We just came back from a wonderful trip to investigate several locations for the project. We took the scenic drive to Pai and then to Mae Hongson. Pai was nice to have seen because it's famous among the backpackers. We loved Mae Hongson city much more though, beautiful mountains and all was green.
We were meeting several people to find out more about the area which was great. Fantastic people and great places we have seen. The villages we visited were in the sub district Poo Ling and were all Karen. The Karen are an ethnic group out of Burma. Some villages have been in Thailand for many years but there are still people arriving from Burma because they flee the military regime. So some of these people have ID-cards and many don't what makes life really hard.
Poo Ling consist of 12 villages and they are all at least 20 minutes away from each other. To get to the area seems not far, only 46 km, but because the road is a mud road and it's soo steep it takes more then 3 hours! I was often very scared because the road was so small and straight next to it was most of the time a deadly cliff. In the rainy season the road is inaccessibly.
The villages are fantastic, clean and within the lush trees. The people hardly have money but that isn't needed because they live of the land. Unlike ethnic groups around Fang they have plenty of fertile ground to have fruit trees, vegetables gardens. Many cows are in neatly fenced patio's. The woman are weaving so they have clothing, blankets and bags. The houses are made of wood rather than bamboo so very comfortable. The man are good blacksmiths and use certain irons parts of cars to make knifes and other tools. This material is taken out of the city.

See here an online album to view photo's from this visit:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jildou.brouwer/MaeHongsonTrip


After trying to sort out our visa, what hasn't worked out yet, we went to inspect another site; Ban Lak Teang in Piang Luang in Wiang Heang district. We had a very curvy mountain road to get there but nothing in compare to the challenge in Mae Hongson. We took just met friends with us and we made it a nice trip. The first hour there are only Lisu (Hill tribe) villages in this remote area. After that there were mainly Shan people living there. Ban Lak Teang is right up the border with Burma. We visited a novice school with all boys from whom the parents either died or are stuck in Burma. The kids here have a relative safe place to live and to get some education. The monastery is in the village where only Shan people live. Some live there for a long time and have ID cards and some live in a camp nearby and are unlucky not to have any papers. They are stuck in the camp and work just like the Shan here in Fang for very little money in dirty and dangerous jobs. The teenagers try to find work in the city were they can earn a bit more but without papers they will only find dangerous construction work and the girls often end up in the sex trade. We heard some hearth breaking stories about girls being stuck in Bangkok in the sex industry with no way out. Being kept in dark rooms and when they try to escape the boss will send in a group men to do a groupsrape. The people who shared these stories about what happen to their relatives can't do anything because they are illegal themselves.
The camp looks very nice and the people have made it a actual real cosy place. In the first instance it has the look of a hill tribe village because of the bamboo huts but it's much cleaner and there are many little gardens with herbs and vegetables. They have no land to grow crops outside the camp. The children are going to school in the village sponsored by an international NGO.
There are not many organisations helping here because it's not an official refugee camp because the Shan are not recognised as refugees, so many organisation are not allowed to give aid and support. This is absurd and it leaves these Shan people as the most funerable people in Thailand. Karen, Karenni and hill tribes have the title refugee as where appropriate and so get help from international NGO's and very important; attention from the press. The Shan are really forgotten people.
Ben and I have had a lot to with the Shan this last year and our hearths are with them. We found this place because it was mentioned by TBBC (Thai Burma Border Consortium) as a settlement (not a camp) at the end of their list of refugee camps. Only a few organisations under which the Jesuits are giving support to these people.

The most exiting thing was that the reason I wanted to visit this site, was because I came across a Blog, while gathering information, from a young man called Noom. He seemed to me most inspiring because instead of going of to the city to work (he had some good education and papers so many options) he has decided to stay and help the boys at the monastery to provide them with education. He would get payed hardly anything, but there he is, together with another hero called La, working for his own people in order to help kids in need who are in the same situation as he was as a young boy. To now work as a teacher he provides that what has saved him as a young boy; shelter and education in order to get a future. THESE ARE THE HERO'S OF OUR WORLD!!!!

Visit Noom's blog:
http://noomhkurh.blogspot.com/

To read an article about the history of this interesting area:
http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=342

To view photo's from this trip, see my online album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jildou.brouwer/BanLakTeangTripWiangHaengDistrict