Burmese Refugee Youth Prevent Addiction & Violence

GlobalGiving Report

Dear Friends

It is hard to believe it is almost a year since we started the Burmese Youth Prevent Addiction and Violence project.  We have all of you to thank for its success so far.  We have almost raised enough money to finish this project. 

1. Total raised:  $12,083    Total left to raise:  $2,916.43

     2. How money has been spent

Burmese Youth Prevent Addiction and Violence

*  To be transparent these costs included transportation of materials and food for local DARE Network staff but no overheads.

3.  Should we be successful in raising the final $3000. for this project we have a special activity in mind.

 In 2008-09 DARE Network had an exchange project with a First Nation tribe called Nishnawabe Aski Nation to share cultures, histories and addiction issues and solutions.  The Primate World Relief and Development Fund supported this exchange.  The exchange was very successful as the peoples from both sides of the world related their loss of culture, poverty and oppression to an increase abuse of drugs and alcohol.  The representatives of the Nishnawabe Aski Nation travelled to the refugee camps.  Among other ways, they shared the meanings of their culture in visual ways with posters.  The Karen people of Burma have never illustrated their beliefs and were inspired to make a poster of their cultural traditions.  In turn, the Nishnawabe Aski Nation paid for the publication of the poster.  A fitting circle of its own.

The poster was used to help people reconnect with their roots and to help children born in the refugee camp to understand who they are.   When this happens, recovery from addiction is more effective and return to values prevents addiction.

Now we hope that the last $3000 we raise through GlobalGiving will go to the Burmese Youth Preventing Addiction and Violence to do a small project in the 5 refugee camps where DARE Network works.  The idea is to use the Cultural Poster with music.   The young people will choose a section of the circle illustrated on the poster and write songs using the musical instruments that have been donated by many of you, about the meaning of that part of the Cultural Circle.  They will then share these songs with each other, their parents, schools and the greater community reclaiming their traditions and helping everyone connect to who they are, even after 30 years in a refugee camp.

4. DARE Network posted a new project on GlobalGiving this week.

You may be aware of the flooding in Thailand this year, which is the worst in a decade.  The Burmese Refugee Camps did not escape this ongoing disaster.

We propose to rebuild our DARE Recovery Centres, which have been damaged badly by the flooding and the extreme weather.  We will attempt to raise funding to do so. 

Here is the link to the new project.  http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/rebuild-flooded-burma-refugee-camp-recovery-centre/

 At this time of year, as you gather your families together or reflect on your blessings, please consider another donation.  Either project will benefit.  Help us continue with the Youth Project or help us rebuild our DARE Recovery Centres.  Any and all contributions will go a long way and remember, we are grassroots.  No big overheads, no expat salaries…everything for the refugees.

 Again, huge thanks to all those who have supported the DARE Network teams in their struggle to combat the substance abuse which affects the displaced communities of Eastern Burma. They continue to be faced with an uncertain future and difficult daily life. Local media are reporting a possible increase in armed conflict and refugee numbers as the end of the rainy season approaches.

Two of the communities you support are just recovering from flooding that has left more than 1500 people in one community living in temporary shelters due to damaged or destroyed houses. In addition one badly affected section of about 2300 people has been cut-off from most forms of assistance as the only bridge connecting them to the main camp was destroyed in the flood, they are now relying on 2 small boats for emergency transport and to ferry supplies. The broader area was also affected with significant landslides and flooding claiming 7 lives and destroying many houses across the region. Due to your support DARE is able to make a small contribution to the combined effort to get peoples’ lives back to normal.

Despite the weather and damage the DARE Network teams continue to carry out the vital work you support them to do. World anti-drug day events were held in all 5 refugee camps during June, with displays, sporting events and rallies building community awareness and participation in the battle against the effects of drugs and addiction. The monthly Frisbee tournaments are still being held and the teenager teams are still visiting schools with the message about the consequences of using drugs and alcohol.

Some feedback from Umpiem Camp;

 DARE Network Program benefit to our community. We can say benefit because of some of client after they finished treatment and stay free from using. And when they see us in community they explain to other people that how DARE worker help him and take care of him to free from this problem. And more people are accepting us by providing addiction knowledge to community.

Suggestions

-       If possible want to recruit more workers in our team.

-       If possible we want to recruit more teenagers to our teenagers group.

-       Need more sport equipment for teenagers (because they are very active in emotional, physical and if we can support them it will benefit to our community a lot).

We hope you can continue to support our work.

DARE Network Team

Links:

• Our website