What can you do???

I am often asked by people what they can do to help with the situation both in Burma, and with refugees outside. Because Burma's government closely monitors what goes on inside of it's borders, it is very difficult to work directly with people in Burma (remember the cyclone a few years back?) However, you can follow groups such as the the US Campaign for Burma and The Burma Campaign UK, both of which are active in political policy and raising awareness. They can also be good sources to gather information from.


Another approach would be to volunteer in the border regions with refugees. There are literally hundreds of NGO's working in the area, and cover everything from traditional handicraft/ income generation (WEAVE) to education (World Education) to native language preservation and accessibility (Drum Karen). Many organizations are eager to have committed volunteers, and this can be a very rewarding experience.


However, for most people it is not possible to take time away from life and go to Thailand. If you are in the States, there are many ways to get involved with refugee families. Quite a few cities around the U.S. accept a certain amount of refugees each year to resettle in their city. Often times, refugees come with only a small bag of clothing and a few cooking utensils and photos from home. They usually come with limited to no english skills, and very few transferable job skills. Resettlement agencies are eager to have volunteers come to work with families, either teaching english, helping adjust to life in America, or simply having a friend they can count on. The commitment is small, usually only a few hours a week, but the rewards are immense. Several organizations offer volunteer opportunities... here are a few of the major ones:


Follow the link and then search for your city:


The International Rescue Committee


Catholic Charities


Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society


Church World Service


Lutheran Family Services

Myself with a family from Chin State, in San Diego on World Refugee Day