*Note: Some specific names of
individuals and organizations are not included, to protect them as
they carry out sensitive journalism inside Burma (Myanmar).
Our first week-long workshop has
finished, and it was a great success! For the last week we had 20
students learning about photography mechanics, shooting photo essays,
and learning about photojournalism ethics.
Our students are all from Mon State
inside Burma, and are in Sangklahburi, Thai side of the border,
participating in a variety of capacity-building classes and workshops
hosted by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM.)
The students represented 6 different NGOs that are working on behalf
of the Mon people in their homeland, and on behalf of Mon refugees
residing in the border area. These nationless people have fled
violence and oppression over the last 25 years.
The students were all enthusiastic and
worked hard to learn the skills and professional practices that we
taught. In turn, we learned more about the Mon people, the dynamic
political situation within Monland, and what life is like for
short-term and long-term refugees stuck in the border region.
Despite language hurdles we were able
to help every last student put together and present a photo essay
with well-composed photos and captions; and about half of them were
able to publish their essays on their brand new blogs. This was a
very exciting thing for individuals who have been working to tell the
world their stories for years, and who now feel like they can in a
meaningful way.
A very big "Thank you!" to
Aue Mon, a former student of Diana's from 2006 who is now helping run
HURFOM. He coordinated our workshop before we arrived in Thailand,
and served as a translator throughout the entire week of class, while
participating in all of the class activities as a student as well!
We could have not done this workshop without his help, and for that
we are very grateful.
As is sometimes the case, many of
the rewards of teaching come after the final class has ended. For
us this was the case our last night in Sangklahburi. Our students
hosted a dinner party because we are moving on to the Chiang MaiDocumentary Arts Festival, and one of their english teachers,
Ben, is moving on as well. We had a wonderful traditional Mon dinner,
followed by some impromptu singing, dancing and even improv comedy on
the part of two of our more outgoing students. Diana and I were
coaxed up on stage at one point, where we entertained our students
with our dancing, singing and beat-boxing skills to a song that
neither of us knew, and that seemed to last for ever. As we sat
there recovering, watching the unbridled merriment, Diana pointed out
to me that what we were witnessing was even more amazing when you
consider that a party like this would literally be illegal in
their homeland, just 30 kilometers to the west over the Thai/Burma
border. With this idea, my smile deepened as I watched our students
take photo after photo of each other capturing their temporary
reality forever.
