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AUSTRALIAN MARIST
CENTRE FOR OVERSEAS
AID |
Marist Mission in Karen
Maela Refugee Camp
Maera Moo Refugee Camp
Maela Oon Refugee Camp
Thai-Burma border,
Thailand. |
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The
three boarding hostels of Australian Marist Mission Centre in Maela
Camp, Maera Moo Refugee Camp and Meala Oon Refugee Camp are located on
the Thai-Burma border of northwestern
Thailand.
Maera
Moo Refugee Camp is situated in a jungle valley in a remote part of the
border between Thailand and Burma. It is home for over 9,000 Karen
refugees from inside Burma, forced to flee from their land to avoid the
violence of the Burmese military dictatorship. MMC Hostel was
established at Maera Moo in 1999 to provide a safe haven
for 60 children from inside Burma. Many of them are orphans or have
lost at least one parent through military violence or disease.
There
are 45,477 refugees in Meala Refugee Camp, 16,274 in
Meara Moo Refugee Camp and 15,945 in Maela Oon Refugee camp according
to the report of
KRC - Karen Refugee Committee report of December 2007. There are
currently 54 students at Maela hostel, 65 students at Maera Moo hostel
and 64 students at Meala Oon hostel.
Click
here
for more information about Maera Moo Refugee camp and hostel.
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Paul and Therese
The
Hostel is in the care of a young Karen couple - Paul and Therese -
who are graduates of one of MMC's leadership and management courses on
the Thai-Burma border.
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Food
is supplied by the camp, but supplemented with MMC help. Clothing,
medicines and educational costs are met by the project.
The children attend school at primary and secondary schools in the
camp. Evening study is helped through light power from the hostel
generator. This has enabled development of computer skills in this
jungle setting.
Students are encouraged to develop their talents and pursue a range of
personal interests. MMC's scholarship program encourages them in music,
art and English language. The program requires them to share their
skills with other students.
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Work and play are part of MMC
Hostel. Karen cultural activities are
encouraged.
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Hostel
Report
Each hostel is administered by an Advisory Committee, Hostel
Coordinators and Student Committee. The advisory committeeincludes
members of Refugee camp administration, teachers and religious leaders,
and they give advice to coordinators and oversee hostel activities.
Hostel coordinators are the ones who manage hostel activities and look
after students social welfare and studies. Robert is the Hostel
coordinator of Maela Hostel, Christopher Ler Gay Moo, Paul Hai Htoo Moo
and Ms. Hta Th’yu are coordinating for Maera Moo Hostel and Saw Kyi Hai
Moo is the coordinator of Maela Oon hostel. Each Student Committee is
formed with senior students who help assist coordinators for hostel
activities. Students from Maela and Maera Moo hostels are attending
Post-ten Programs and High schools in the camps for their studies,
whereas students from Maela Oon hostel are studying leadership and
management skills at their hostel.
Apart from their studies girls from Maela Oon hostel are also attending
sewing training which has been run by ZOA Refugee Care in Maela Oon
refugee camp. Christopher Ler Gay Moo teaches Catholic students at
Maera Moo hostel hymn songs I the weekends and also leading them for
worships at La Neyliere chapel of Maera Moo hostel. Hta Th’yu helps
teach Maera Moos students for their school homework. Robert and senior
students organize prayers and singing hymn songs for Maela students in
the evenings and weekends.
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MMC
Hostel accepts young people from any religious background. Their
freedom to worship is respected. Catholic members join in the Eucharist
when Marists visit the camp.
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