Thursday, June 25, 2009
250 Mattresses Sponsored!
Thanks to a group of generous donors, 250 refugees comprising kids, pregnant women and those with physical ailments, will finally be able to sleep on a mattress. For many of them it will be a first-time experience. We managed to get a fantastic rate of RM35.50 each for the 2 inch rebonded single mattress. We expect delivery sometime in mid-July. Stay tuned for photos and updates!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Mattress Discount
Even better news, not only have we found sponsors for at least 200 mattresses but we may be able to get a better rate of RM35.50 per mattress!!! Now that we've surpassed the minimum 100 pieces required for the discount let's aim for 250 mattresses so more refugees can benefit from this wonderful gift. Thanks to everyone who has pledged to sponsor a mattress or more.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
100 Mattresses Sponsored!
Within minutes of my last post appealing for mattress donations we received a sponsor to cover 100 mattresses for the kids! Awesome! We're still looking for more mattresses as there are 160 Kachin students in the 2 schools and we'd also like to provide for the pregnant and physically unwell refugees. Of course the more mattresses we can provide the more refugees we can help. Thanks so much for all your support!
Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Dads out there!
Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Dads out there!
Sponsor A Mattress Project
Last week when I asked my students how many of them slept on mattresses only 1 or 2 put up their hands. For the rest, it was only a thin worn out straw mat between them and the cold hard floor. I can't imagine how uncomfortable this must be especially for the pregnant women. To make matters worse they are sandwiched together in tiny rooms.
A friend of mine who owns a mattress factory has agreed to give us a 50% discount on her foldable mattresses at RM50 each based on a minimum purchase of 100 pieces. I'm hoping and praying that there are enough generous folks out there to make this a reality and perhaps even surpass the 100 mark and provide for even more refugees. What say you guys and gals? Wanna help make the world a more comfortable place for our friends in need?
If you'd like to sponsor a mattress (or two) please drop me a note at my.beautiful.myanmar@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
World Refugee Day
Today June 20th 2009 marks World Refugee Day. Let us all spare a moment to honour and acknowledge the courageous refugees who are living in foreign lands across the world. My wish for all of you is that you find the freedom and happiness you so rightly deserve. May God watch over you throughout this journey until you find your new home.
Kachin Refugees Receive RM12,000
It was a joyous day for the Kachin womenfolk when Sherlyn, Ann & Irene dropped by to present a check for RM12,000 which was money raised from the Kaleidoscope Dance Concert. They were deeply touched by the donation. Much to their delight Sherlyn gave them a belly dancing demo and even roped a few ladies and girls in for an impromptu lesson. The ladies had alot of fun so much so that they've asked Sherlyn to return to teach them more! The ladies and kids were then treated to an afternoon spread in conjunction with World Refugee Day.
Thanks to everyone involved in the concert!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Soup Kitchen Plans for Refugees
We recently found out that some of the refugee men have resorted to eating from the garbage and sleeping on the streets as they are unable to find work. My Burmese friends feel so helpless and sorry for them. We've decided to start a soup kitchen in one of the areas hardest hit. We're appealing for donations of rice, cooking oil, noodles, salt, sugar, etc and other non-perishable items or cash donations. Pls contact me at my.beautiful.myanmar@gmail.com
Thanks so much for your support!
Thanks so much for your support!
Photos From Burma
I have posted some photos from my recent trip to Burma. You can check them out at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=98968&id=521855784.
There was also a great article on Burma and Suu Kyi's continued fight for freedom in today's Star papers http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/6/14/lifefocus/4100994&sec=lifefocus
She turns 64 years old this Friday and will celebrate yet another birthday without the freedom every human being deserves. Let's pray that this will be the last birthday she spends under house arrest and her 65th birthday will be cause for worldwide celebration when Burma is finally free.
This Saturday is also World Refugee Day. Let us spare a moment to remember and pray for refugees all over the world living in challenging circumstances.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Reality of Boycotting Burma
I have just returned from Yangon spending 4 days visiting a few orphanages. My first trip to Burma was 25 years ago when I was only 13 years old. It was one of the most magical places I'd ever visited. I fell in love with the people and was struck by the charming colonial feel of the place. Almost every car looked like it was from the 50s and had cracked windscreens. I remember leaving my wallet, exploding with money, in a taxi. The taxi driver traced me to my hotel room to return a fully intact wallet and refused a reward. I was stunned by his honesty.
I remember being greeted like a celebrity wherever I went with hordes of children coming up to me to give me handwritten letters of friendship (and love!) Wherever my dad and I went we were treated like family and invited into homes for a meal. Watching the sun rise over 4000 pagodas in Pagan was a mystical experience as was gliding over the mist on Inle Lake in a traditional boat amidst lotus flowers.
This time around I didn't get to venture any further than Yangon and what I saw was heartbreaking.
Ever since the student uprising of 1988 the govt has used its iron fist to oppress and suppress its humble people. Universities closed for 4 years after that and now they are spread across outside the main city and are carefully monitored. There are govt spies everywhere. This has created distrust among the Burmese people.
The taxi driver who picked us up from the airport wasted no time relating all the hardships endured by his people. There was so much resentment in his voice towards his govt yet so much helplessness at any resolution. "If they come after me then I will consider leaving Burma," he confided. He said he has sleepless nights waiting for govt spies to knock on his door and haul him away like so many others have experienced. His crime - wanting a better life for himself and his family. Wanting justice and humanity for his people.
All along the ride we saw several palatial homes with chandeliers hanging from the driveway. Many new mansions are being built. Coincidentally more have sprung up after Cyclone Nargis. "The generals are rich after the cyclone." said our driver. Meanwhile thousands of farmers along the Irrawaddy still live under makeshift plastic sheets and their farms still destroyed.
When we arrived at our hotel, the taxi driver thanked us for willing to visit his country which got me thinking...
All these years Burma has been out of my radar for countries to visit as I too believed tourism there would only enrich the govt. I too wanted to send a strong message to Burma that we were not condoning their military rule and oppression of its people.
But what I witnessed in those few days was a clear message to me that I was gravely mistaken. The boycotts and sanctions on Burma have had little effect on the ruling junta. In fact they continue to bask in riches from their gems and oil trade (not to mention drug exports). As long as China & India continue to do business with them who needs the US or any other Western country for that matter. In fact the fewer tourists the better as the govt’s unjust policies will not be exposed to the world.
The biggest losers are the Burmese people. Yangon is in such a dilapidated state with once regal colonial buildings now abandoned or in dire need of a face lift. There is so much poverty on the streets and the Burmese seem to have accepted their fate. Either that or risk imprisonment.
There is only 6 hours of intermittent electricity in Yangon (excluding the embassies, hotels & military areas) and many can't afford a generator. Of course the new capital Naypyidaw has 24 hours electricity if you're willing to live in the middle of nowhere.
Cars, most of which resemble rejects from a 70's stock car race, can cost around USD30,000. Motorbikes are only reserved for govt spies to facilitate faster reporting! So the people are left to commute via bicycles or unreliable public transportation (taxis are expensive by local standards).
A handphone used to cost USD6000 but now sells at the rock bottom price of USD3000! Prepaid cards of USD50 each have just been introduced but expire after 30 days and calls range from 50 cents to 1.50 per minute. And this only works on Mhz lines not GSM. The average income is less than USD200 per month.
The queue to fill up gas can take 3 hours as the number of gas depots are limited. We had to change taxis three times one night as the taxis were all running out of gas.
Every publication is required to write down the principles of the nation which include obedience and loyalty to the government. The daily newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, is govt propaganda reporting news of the military and articles about why Burmese people should be grateful for their nation and their govt. There are constant reminders to foreigners not to interfere in the peace and stability of the nation. I was in Burma during Suu Kyi's trial and there was hardly any news on what was going on. The news in the papers was a week old!
My German husband was a very rare sight on the streets of Yangon. He drew many curious stares - suspicious ones from possible govt spies and broad grins from locals grateful at the sight of tourists.
At the romantic and charming Governor's Residence where we stayed we were 1 out of 3 rooms occupied in a hotel with 48 rooms. We had 2 waiters literally standing 3 feet behind us anticipating our every move. You could see the appreciation on their faces at our presence there. I have never experienced such attentive and warm service before.
We visited 2 very run down orphanages on the outskirts of Yangon. Of course the govt does not allow them to be called orphanages instead they are "childcare centers". The govt is wary of outside funding for these centers as they claim they are able to provide for them on their own, which sadly is not the case.
Recently a group of Caucasian volunteers visited an orphanage and govt spies reported them, the very next day the govt placed a lot of new restrictions on orphanages.
Visits to orphanages have to be done on a low profile. But it is worth every effort as it is eye-opening to see the conditions of these centers and how much the children desperately need assistance.
Despite the harsh realities of the suffering and oppression in Burma I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm and peace looking out the window of my hotel room. For all its rough edges and poverty, the inhumanity and injustice, I could still sense the strong and undying spirit of the Burmese people. I could still feel their warmth and gratitude for the little that they possessed. And that is something the Junta will ever be able to rob from them...
So my friends, perhaps it is time to rethink our rules and reasons for boycotting Burma. Are we really sending an effective message to the govt or are we merely contributing to the hardships faced by Burma's beautiful people?
When you travel to Burma you can directly contribute to the locals by shopping and eating at locally owned places or staying in privately owned hotels which actively support orphanages. All it takes is a little research and noble intentions and the rest will fall into place. Oh, and how wonderful would it be to be able to touch the lives of the underprivileged in Burma by volunteering to paint an orphanage or bring supplies for them... the people of Burma need to know that you still care about them.
I remember being greeted like a celebrity wherever I went with hordes of children coming up to me to give me handwritten letters of friendship (and love!) Wherever my dad and I went we were treated like family and invited into homes for a meal. Watching the sun rise over 4000 pagodas in Pagan was a mystical experience as was gliding over the mist on Inle Lake in a traditional boat amidst lotus flowers.
This time around I didn't get to venture any further than Yangon and what I saw was heartbreaking.
Ever since the student uprising of 1988 the govt has used its iron fist to oppress and suppress its humble people. Universities closed for 4 years after that and now they are spread across outside the main city and are carefully monitored. There are govt spies everywhere. This has created distrust among the Burmese people.
The taxi driver who picked us up from the airport wasted no time relating all the hardships endured by his people. There was so much resentment in his voice towards his govt yet so much helplessness at any resolution. "If they come after me then I will consider leaving Burma," he confided. He said he has sleepless nights waiting for govt spies to knock on his door and haul him away like so many others have experienced. His crime - wanting a better life for himself and his family. Wanting justice and humanity for his people.
All along the ride we saw several palatial homes with chandeliers hanging from the driveway. Many new mansions are being built. Coincidentally more have sprung up after Cyclone Nargis. "The generals are rich after the cyclone." said our driver. Meanwhile thousands of farmers along the Irrawaddy still live under makeshift plastic sheets and their farms still destroyed.
When we arrived at our hotel, the taxi driver thanked us for willing to visit his country which got me thinking...
All these years Burma has been out of my radar for countries to visit as I too believed tourism there would only enrich the govt. I too wanted to send a strong message to Burma that we were not condoning their military rule and oppression of its people.
But what I witnessed in those few days was a clear message to me that I was gravely mistaken. The boycotts and sanctions on Burma have had little effect on the ruling junta. In fact they continue to bask in riches from their gems and oil trade (not to mention drug exports). As long as China & India continue to do business with them who needs the US or any other Western country for that matter. In fact the fewer tourists the better as the govt’s unjust policies will not be exposed to the world.
The biggest losers are the Burmese people. Yangon is in such a dilapidated state with once regal colonial buildings now abandoned or in dire need of a face lift. There is so much poverty on the streets and the Burmese seem to have accepted their fate. Either that or risk imprisonment.
There is only 6 hours of intermittent electricity in Yangon (excluding the embassies, hotels & military areas) and many can't afford a generator. Of course the new capital Naypyidaw has 24 hours electricity if you're willing to live in the middle of nowhere.
Cars, most of which resemble rejects from a 70's stock car race, can cost around USD30,000. Motorbikes are only reserved for govt spies to facilitate faster reporting! So the people are left to commute via bicycles or unreliable public transportation (taxis are expensive by local standards).
A handphone used to cost USD6000 but now sells at the rock bottom price of USD3000! Prepaid cards of USD50 each have just been introduced but expire after 30 days and calls range from 50 cents to 1.50 per minute. And this only works on Mhz lines not GSM. The average income is less than USD200 per month.
The queue to fill up gas can take 3 hours as the number of gas depots are limited. We had to change taxis three times one night as the taxis were all running out of gas.
Every publication is required to write down the principles of the nation which include obedience and loyalty to the government. The daily newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, is govt propaganda reporting news of the military and articles about why Burmese people should be grateful for their nation and their govt. There are constant reminders to foreigners not to interfere in the peace and stability of the nation. I was in Burma during Suu Kyi's trial and there was hardly any news on what was going on. The news in the papers was a week old!
My German husband was a very rare sight on the streets of Yangon. He drew many curious stares - suspicious ones from possible govt spies and broad grins from locals grateful at the sight of tourists.
At the romantic and charming Governor's Residence where we stayed we were 1 out of 3 rooms occupied in a hotel with 48 rooms. We had 2 waiters literally standing 3 feet behind us anticipating our every move. You could see the appreciation on their faces at our presence there. I have never experienced such attentive and warm service before.
We visited 2 very run down orphanages on the outskirts of Yangon. Of course the govt does not allow them to be called orphanages instead they are "childcare centers". The govt is wary of outside funding for these centers as they claim they are able to provide for them on their own, which sadly is not the case.
Recently a group of Caucasian volunteers visited an orphanage and govt spies reported them, the very next day the govt placed a lot of new restrictions on orphanages.
Visits to orphanages have to be done on a low profile. But it is worth every effort as it is eye-opening to see the conditions of these centers and how much the children desperately need assistance.
Despite the harsh realities of the suffering and oppression in Burma I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm and peace looking out the window of my hotel room. For all its rough edges and poverty, the inhumanity and injustice, I could still sense the strong and undying spirit of the Burmese people. I could still feel their warmth and gratitude for the little that they possessed. And that is something the Junta will ever be able to rob from them...
So my friends, perhaps it is time to rethink our rules and reasons for boycotting Burma. Are we really sending an effective message to the govt or are we merely contributing to the hardships faced by Burma's beautiful people?
When you travel to Burma you can directly contribute to the locals by shopping and eating at locally owned places or staying in privately owned hotels which actively support orphanages. All it takes is a little research and noble intentions and the rest will fall into place. Oh, and how wonderful would it be to be able to touch the lives of the underprivileged in Burma by volunteering to paint an orphanage or bring supplies for them... the people of Burma need to know that you still care about them.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Kaleidescope Charity Dance Concert Raises RM12K for Refugees!
Caterpillar Stretching Imagination (http://www.caterpillar.com.my/) and Sirocco Dance Secrets (http://www.sherlyndance.com/) recently organized a charity dance concert called Kaleidescope which featured performances from toddlers in chicken suits to sizzling belly dancers in flamboyant Egyptian costumes and burlesque dancers in sexy French bustiers! It was all for a good cause as proceeds will go towards the Kachin Refugee Women & Children's Fund.
More than RM12,000 was raised for the refugee community, alot more than what the organizers had anticipated. It was a full house and raffle tickets were sold out! Prizes ranged from dining vouchers to designer dresses!
The money will be used for basic necessities like food and daily needs for the refugees as well as medical expenses especially for the women and children. The Fund also invests in self-help projects for the women to make jewellery, bags, scarves, hand phone pouches and other future business projects for their community.
The aim of the fund if not just to contribute to the refugees but to empower and enable them to become self reliant through selling their own products.
Thanks to everyone involved in the concert. Stay tuned for photos of the check presentation!
More than RM12,000 was raised for the refugee community, alot more than what the organizers had anticipated. It was a full house and raffle tickets were sold out! Prizes ranged from dining vouchers to designer dresses!
The money will be used for basic necessities like food and daily needs for the refugees as well as medical expenses especially for the women and children. The Fund also invests in self-help projects for the women to make jewellery, bags, scarves, hand phone pouches and other future business projects for their community.
The aim of the fund if not just to contribute to the refugees but to empower and enable them to become self reliant through selling their own products.
Thanks to everyone involved in the concert. Stay tuned for photos of the check presentation!
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