“เราเป็นคนกลุ่มเล็ก เราเรียนรู้จากประสบการณ์และเติบโตในแบบของเรา มีท้อบาง มีเหนื่อยบาง แต่เราก็อยากช่วยเหลือเพื่อนร่วมสังคมของเราด้วยความเต็มใจ”
The Salween Volunteer Teacher Project
Hello, everyone. My name is Narongdet and most people call me Kavlex. That is my ethnic name. I am one of the Jesuit students who is studying at a Jesuit institution in Thailand. During the Covid-19 pandemic, my friends and I would like to share our experiences to you. We are going to talk about our works, our impressions and our challenges when we have to work for the refugee students. Right now, we can not visit our students in the refugee camp because the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading in Rakhine, Arakan State. It is the second wave in which the terrible situation has happened in Myanmar and it is one of the reasons that we could not visit our students. Many countries near Myanmar’s border have closed because each country must beware of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we hope that the Myanmar border and Thailand’s border will be opened soon. We hope that we can start our work with the students who are in the refugee camp soon when the situation gets better. We hope and believe that our students will be safe. If it has opened, we promise that we will return to Karen State like the thunder.
Finally, our five volunteers who have been working with the refugee people in Karen State, Myanmar would like to share their stories when they worked with the refugee people.
Mr. Netiphong
“It was the first time that I went to Karen State with my friends. I understood how the refugee people suffered from the war and the conflict in Myanmar. I would like to help them and try to give education to them.” I hope that they will be safe in God’s hands during the Covid-19 pandemic. I always think of them in my prayer.
Ms.Pim
During the Covid-19, everything was quite terrible. We can not visit our students and we can not send any food to help them. I still believe they will be safe and finally, it is my impression that I would like to share with you. “I went to Karen State on Christmas day. I went to donate second-hand clothes to the refugee students. When I arrived in Karen state, Myanmar, I saw many students running and playing traditional games with their friends. I saw their smiles that appeared among the poor situation and the war zone. I appreciated them especially their eagerness to learn Thai and English that our volunteers taught them”.
Ms.Darin
“The whole time I never thought I was really in Karen State. It was like I was in a dream, but it was real and I was excited, especially when I met a lot of students at the school and I didn’t know how to start to teach, but I loved it”. I visited them for the last time on 27 July 2020, before the border was closed again on 5 September 2020 because of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic spreading in Myanmar. I always pray for them and think of them. I believe God will help them and the border will be opened soon.
Mr.Phuwadol
“For me, I love this job and many students are so cute. I promised them I would be back one day. It was the first time that I thought about the volunteer project for the displaced people in Karen State and how important education is for their lives. It was obvious that I should be doing this for them” . In 2020, I know that I can not visit them because of the Covid-19 and I just pray for them. I wish to return to the refugee camp when the border has opened.
Ms.Nuch
I have been to the EI Tu Hta refugee camp once. I met many people who suffered from the war and many students didn’t have the opportunity to study. Right now, I am studying a nursing assistant course. If I have graduated from college, I will return to help them.
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