The Amazing Project - Stepping Back to Burma

The hot season is upon us as our team crosses the Thai/Burma Border into Karen State.  Travel is by boat, walking tractor, motor scooter and truck.  And of course, mostly by walking.  The 20 villages we have targetted as the first step in our Amazing Project-Stepping back to Burma surround a high mountain, which sometimes has to be traversed on small paths through the forest and jungle.

Our team are Law La Say our Program Coordinator, Kiri our Master Trainer and Pi Pi our Addiction Trainer and guide.  Pi Pi who lives in Mae La Refugee camp is making his first journey back to his home in Karen State in more than ten years.  It is a joyous time for him.  Pi Pi recovered at our DARE Centre, took our training and now is a respected and highly competent member of our staff.

Thanks to all of you who donated during the GlobalGiving Campaign at the end of 2014, we are now able to share for the first time our work inside Karen State in Burma.  Over the next month our team are recruiting new Addiction Trainees from the 20 villages and Village Addiction Coordinators, while giving general addiction knowledge to the villagers.  By the end of the year, we hope to have trained 40 people, who can then train more workers to help reduce drug and alcohol abuse in their area.

It isn't easy because the ceasefire with the Burmese Army is still tenuous, the rainy season will make travel difficult and bring the malaria, but we have a vision and a plan.  We will share our progress with you.

Here are a couple of photos of our team and the villagers inside Karen State.

We want once again to express our thanks to you and encourage you to share with your friends how you support our work.

from all of us at DARE Network