Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border

Overcoming Obstacles,Creating Opportunities

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

Overcoming Obstacles, Creating Opportunities:Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border

Printed 2008

Writing:

Emily Jacobi and Meg Libby

Editing:

Mark Belinsky, Emily Jacobi and Meg Libby

Research Coordinators:

Maggie Holden and Tim Renner

Research Team:

Mark Belinsky, Emily Jacobi, Maggie Holden,Meg Libby, Leslie Miller, Molly Norris,Megan O’Brien, Tim Renner, Jorelle Vicencio.

Statistical Analysis:

Jonathan Mueller

Proofreading:

Liz Hodes

Photos:

Emily Jacobi

Design:

Mark Belinsky and Emily Jacobi

With Thanks and Gratitude to the brave young people on theThai-Burma Border: your genuine hearts and tireless spirits have inspired this document. We dedicatethis report to you in the spirit of solidarity and peace.

Center for Peace Building International

3754 McKinley St. NW Washington, DC 20015saji@cpbinternational.org 202-674-4670http://www.cpbinternational.org/Sections1. Executive summary 2. Recommendations

3. A History of Conict and how the Regional Threat Impacts YouthYouth voices 1: BLC3.1 Background of the ConictYouth voices 2: Hla Moe - EIP

3.2 How Burma poses a Regional Threat to it’s neighbors,and how that impacts youth4. Overview

Youth voices 3: Ye Zaw - KYO

4.1 About the Project

Youth voices 4: Mya Nu - BWU

4.2 Methodology 5. Findings

Youth voices 5: Sulein - BWU

5.1 Why they come to Thailand

Youth voices 6: Thiri Thura - KWO

5.2 Why they choose to be political

Youth voices 7: Khin Thiri - Mae La

5.3 Security and Isolation - frustrations of Thailand

Youth voices 8: Joseph Win - ERS-B

5.4 Education and Opportunity- positives about coming to Thailand

Youth voices 9: Zeyer - BLC

5.5 Looking ahead -their thoughts on the future6. Analysis

Youth voices 10: Kyaw Htay - EIP

6.1 Description of how our research is affected by recentevents in BurmaAppendicesA. Group DescriptionsB. Graphs and Survey DataC. AcknowledgementsD. Resources

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OVERCOMING OBSTACLES CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

45AFPFL Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom LeagueASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations

BYP Burma Youth Project

CBO Community-Based OrganizationCPBI Center for Peace Building InternationalDKBA Democratic Karen Buddhist Army ICT Information and Communication Technology IDP Internally Displaced PersonILO International Labor OrganizationKNU Karen National UnionMP Member of ParliamentNCGUB National Coalition Government for the Union of BurmaNLD National League for Democracy RCH Reproductive and Community HealthSEP Special English ProgramSLORC State Law and Order Restoration CouncilSPDC State Peace and Development CouncilTBBC Thai Burma Border ConsortiumTOEFL Teaching Of English as a Foreign LanguageUN United NationsUNSC United Nations Security Council WLB Women’s League of Burma

Organizations

ALTSEAN Alternative ASEAN Network on BurmaAEIOU All-Ethnic International Open University BLC Burmese Lawyers Council – Peace Law Academy BWU Burmese Women’s UnionERS-B EarthRights School - BurmaEWB Empowering Women of BurmaEIP English Immersion Program, Umpium CampHREIB Human Rights Education Institute of BurmaKWAT Kachin Women’s Association ThailandKWO Karen Women’s Organization

KYO Karen Youth Organization

MTHS Mae Tao High SchoolPEC Peace Education Center WH Wide Horizons School

YCO Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association