Chanailcal

Tradition

This is an old fashion Karen shirt. Today less people wear the traditional style.

Women's Clothes

She is wearing a traditional Karen dress.

Next month, several of my friends will resettle in an American city called Utica. I am happy for them because they will have better opportunities there. I have lived in the refugee camp for 10 years but I do not want to resettle. I want to stay close to my homeland and one day return to my place of birth.

Elders

In our culture the young take care of the old.

Swift

My friend shaved his daughter's head because she caught lice.

Jesus Loves Me

Karen people love Jesus and Che.

Shop

We have many shops inside the refugee camp. Some are more expensive than others.

Coalitions

Many organizations offer help. Some are run by foreigners. Others have local Karen leadership.

Danger

In this building they make prosthetic limbs for land mine victims. The Burmese military puts land mines everywhere even around our schools and farmland.

Pigs

My Story

I was just a few months old when Burmese soldiers first attacked my village. My parents put me in a rattan basket carrying me on their backs as they fled. Later we heard that the soldiers destroyed our home and burnt our village to the ground. My family built a new home in a new village where we lived peacefully until I was 17 years old. That year the soldiers came again. This time when we fled to the jungle we stayed there for a month. It was difficult living in the jungle because we did not have any shelter, cooking supplies or protection from malaria and other diseases. When it was safe we returned to the ruins of our village to rebuild.

Unfortunately we were not able to build a new school and I could not continue my education in the village. I came to Thailand where I could finish my primary education in the refugee camp. After I graduated I attended the Further Study Program, the refugee camp’s version of college. I then returned to Karen State to teach. I found a good job in a large school with 130 students and 13 teachers.

In 2007, Burmese soldiers came again. When it was safe I returned to Thailand for the last time. I am now 29 years old. I live in the refugee camp and spend my time playing soccer.