OurLivesOurEducation_Part03.mov

Our lives, our education - Voices of the children in Burma

Burma, the largest country in South East Asia, is a country like no other. It is a country of plentiful natural resources, pristine scenery and many different ethnic groups. But the people of Burma can't fully benefit from the beautiful country they live in. Instead, they have lived for many decades under the brutal rule of a military junta: the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

This film reveals the lives of people in the rural areas of Eastern Burma. For three generations, the people of Karen State have been running from human rights violations committed by the SPDC. Those who are forced to flee the regime's brutality are known as 'internally displaced persons': IDPs. Every time they flee their homes, they must start again, building new houses, new schools and ploughing new fields.

In this film we meet the people of Nyaunglebin and Mutraw District in Karen State. They live in daily fear of SPDC troops and receive no support from the government to establish any form of education or healthcare. Here, universal human rights and child rights are brazenly ignored by the Burmese regime.

"In periods when the Burmese army is active, the children do not go to school. They have to hide in the jungle like hunted animals." - Teacher, 32 years

Despite the violations, the people work hard to provide education for their children. Most parents believe education is the best way to secure a better future for their offspring, and the children genuinely want to learn. But in a conflict zone, education is not always a priority.

"I left school when I was 10 years old because of many problems. My family does not have enough food to eat, so I need to help them. I would like to go back to school if my parents could support me." - Girl, 14 years

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Burma
• Education
• Human Rights
• Child Rights

[unitedstateofamerful]

Wow, never heard freedom in Burma since 500 B.C...500 B.C to 2011 B.C, where is freedom? So sad to watch video like this

[karenrapper]

like the song