The village of Mah Wah Glow is home to four students from Jen’s House. Tong Chai, who is currently studying law, Su Cha Da,(whose Mom is pictured above) and Jen Jera attending Sa Pa Tong High School, and sweet Rungtiwa who is in her first year at middle school. I spent a day with their families catching up and enjoying the rhythm of the village. There is a peace that comes over me whenever I amble through the small Karen villages. Alone with the children’s mothers a sense of belonging and acceptance fills me. In spite of my limited Karen language there is a communication beyond words, it is in the common desire that all mothers have for the happiness and success of their children. A kinship that I am privileged to share, as we work together towards providing the opportunities that will lead to their children’s happiness.

I traveled up, and I mean up from Nong Tao with the students, Jen’s House parents, Chai and Tamla and Amika. On our arrival we received a warm welcome at Jenjera’s home […]

A couple of days into Mae Ra Moe with my senses full of the smells of the refugee camp; I remember how debilitating it can be for outsiders. The assault on our senses seeps slowly into our being, at first as a passing stench of something foul you can turn away from. However, as the days go by a deep rooted sourness spreads throughout your system, seeping into your pores and resting in your gut. I am reminded of this each time I am in the camps and even more so when I come out.

It is not eliminated simply by removing yourself from the camp. The only cure that works for me is the deep breathing that sleep brings under the scent of freshly washed cotton sheets.  It doesn’t happen overnight rather it leaves the same way it slithered in, with beads of sweat breaking through as the foulness seeps out with every breath. Even as I write this and take a deep breath I am aware of its lingering inside me. I’ve been home in Chiang Mai for […]

On December 29th I invited Trish, a friend who volunteers for KLEO in Chiangmai, to join me on the trip to deliver the new sewing machine to Suneesa and friends in Nong Tao. The yellow songtao at Chiang Mai gate took us to Thung Siao to meet Chai. He was ready and waiting with Tamla and their children, who were going home for the four day New Year holidays when we arrived. It was nice to have an English speaking friend to share the event with, a rare but welcome occasion for me. Trish and I chatted along the way, the cool mountain air blowing through the open bed of the pick-up, rejuvenating us.

Driving up to Suneesa’s home it was obvious the greeting party had been assembled for some time. After welcomes were offered, Chai started to unload the machine. The ladies swiftly moved in on him and took over, they were in charge. Unloading the new sewing machine they moved it quickly inside to a place of honour in the front room.

It was as if a new […]

In late December 2012 the Ladies of Nong Tao came to Chiang Mai to purchase their first piece of equipment. This group of master weavers know little about sewing other than the simple hand sewing used to stitch pieces of woven cloth to create free form garments. The ladies know virtually nothing about purchasing a sewing machine; it would be up to Sunessa, guided by Tamla and myself, to make the final decision.

Early Wednesday morning Suneesa and her mother made the trip from Nong Tao to Thung Siao to meet up with Tamla. None of the women are able to drive the truck at Jen’s House into the city so another friend was recruited to be the driver. They called to tell me they would be at my place at 11:30.

The choice of sewing machine had been narrowed down after research and comparative shopping the week before. Our collective decision was to purchase at a small dealer close to my place; the deciding factor was the full year warranty they were offering. Our small group made its way down Chiang […]