Our club helps Karen students
Rotary Keilor East is proud to be part of a successful international team for Karen girls’ health and dignity in Myanmar.
We have worked with Melbourne Passport Rotary, Balwyn RC and Melbourne RC, and a group of international helpers. They include the Karen Women’s Organisation, Days for Girls Intl, SolarBuddy solar lights, the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) and Rotaract of Siem Reap.
The big project was kickstarted by Passport RC’s Aviv Palti, who connected with key groups in Yangon two years ago. “The needs are immense, but the logistics and security concerns were a formidable challenge,” he explains. “But I was introduced to Naw K'nyaw Paw, the dynamic General Secretary of the Karen Women's Organization (KWO). This led to an emotional and effective week with the passionate Karen team of educators, local teachers and hundreds of community members.”
The team effort built on the Cambodian students trust experience running the Days for Girls studies. This was “Project G – Empowering Girls”. There was also “Project L – Light for Education”, involving SolarBuddy lights so Karen students could study at night.
Aviv says, “Our team translated the reproductive and women’s health lessons to the Karen language, while the core team of educators at Karen Womens undertook the certification online. With Days for Girls International, we donated 3,700 menstruation kits. We also got 2200 SolarBuddy lights to northern Thailand, our staging area.
By last May the Victorian team of Rotarians and 10 student-educators from Siem Reap Rotaract headed to North Thailand to train the 20 Karen educators at schools for displaced Karen students. These trainees successfully led workshops for more than 800 students and community members.
The team got results despite harsh conditions and long trips by pick-up trucks, long-tail boats, and remote trekking. “Students – many living without electricity or internet – were engaged, curious, and deeply grateful,” Aviv says. “The displaced Karen girls can now improve their school attendance to become future leaders in their community.”
Siem Reap’s Rotaractor Doeb Chhay says, “When you meet the Karen people, living with so little yet giving so much, you realize how much we take for granted. Gratitude grows where humility lives.”
Aviv says, “This mission was about building bridges with the strength and resilience of the Karen people. We were so moved by the gratitude shown during the distribution of hygiene kits and solar lights, and the students’ determination to learn in the face of hardship.” #
Pics Below: Huge take-up of education lessons and materials
Logistics of river crossing by boat
