I recently had the chance to ask Regan from The Nu Nu Project several questions about the project and her involvement with it.  For those of you not familiar with The Nu Nu Project, it is about a 66 year old Burmese woman who has been living in a refugee camp in Thailand for more than a decade.

Nu Nu runs an orphanage of more than 40 children in the camp and is in dire need of assistance.  Many of these children have family still in Burma; however, there are many things that can be done to make their lives more comfortable while at the orphanage.  If you go to the Facebook fanpage you can see what supplies are needed as well as information about how to donate to the project.

Some of the supplies that are needed at the moment are:

• Sarongs for girls
• 50 pillows
• 50 blankets
• Sandals
• 20 mosquito nets

1. How did you become affiliated with the Nu Nu project? I take it that you are American. What made you decide to move to Thailand to help out in a non-for-profit organization?

Canadian actually. I went to Thailand first in 1998 after being inspired by a Burmese university professor. I ended up staying in the camps for a year – teaching, helping human rights groups etc. Currently I do other work, but this continues to be a passion of mine.

2. I understand that the camp in which Nu Nu operates the orphange houses around 25,000 refugees and that the orphanage has about 22 children. Have these numbers increased recently?

There is actually a major resettlement program undergoing right now with many of the refugees (some who have been in the camps for 20 years) being resettled in the States, Canada, New Zealand and Finland among other countries. Nu Nu’s is just one of many ‘orphanages’ or actually private individuals looking after children who either do not have parents, or whose parents/ relatives are still in Burma.

3. The children do not seem to be getting enough nutrition in their diet, which is one reason why Nu Nu is trying to make sure they get more protein, etc. Who allocates the food within the camp? Is the lack of nutritious food due solely to lack of financial funding?

A coalition, NGO the Thailand Burma Border Consortium provides the food supplies. To some degree it is a funding issue (meat and protein sources are quite expensive) but are also difficult to supply logistically. There are currently five food staples being provided: yellow beans, red chilis, cooking oil, rice and salt.

4. When you volunteered at the orphanage was there anything you learned that left you amazed (either shocking or awe inspiring).

Sure, amazed at their resilience. Especially the kids. They are incredibly mature and responsible – difficult to relate to them as children even. They’re like little adults. Also I would say quite gentle and sensitive compared to kids back home (even some of the former child soldiers I got to know).

5. I also understand that the British have had quite a part, historically, to play in having the Karenni be refugees from their country of Burma. Could you elaborate on what occured in the past that has led to such disastrous results today?

Burma had been exploited for its resources (mainly timber and minerals) for more than a century by the British, their presence deeply resented by the Burmese.  The Burmese thus invited the Japanese forces in to liberate them during WWII.  However, there were several smaller independent states including the Karenni and Shan states, treated by the British as separate countries similar to Thailand.  These ‘states’ were aligned with the Allies during WWII and suffered severely during Japanese invasions for their loyalty to the British.  Following WWII, Burma petitioned for independence and in the discussions, the Karenni sent representatives to the British colonial government to ensure that they would not be included in any constitution ratified by the British as part of Burma.  The British colonial government reassured them that no such thing would happen.  Sure enough however, in 1949 the British ratified a constitution for Burma that included the states of Karenni and Shan.  Immediately after, the Burmese invaded and there has been non stop conflict in the 60 years since.  Read more about the conflict here.

6. What do you personally think the future has in store for the camp? Do you think things are getting better or worse for the refugees?

I am hoping and there are some gestures in this direction, that with the international community doing their part in resettling the refugees, that Thailand will come on board and provide them greater rights within Thailand (ie. education, work permits, mobility in the country). There is also the upcoming 2010 election in Burma – unlikely to be free and fair, but who knows what it might lead to.

7. If someone felt like donating wasn’t quite enough, is there a way that they could volunteer within the refugee camp or the orphanage? What organization would he or she have to go through? What are the costs involved?

Because the camp is strictly closed to foreigners, it is quite difficult to access the orphanage and refugees. However, there are a number of refugees and migrants from Burma who have resident status in surrounding areas. A friend of mine Kyaw Hla Sein set up a non-formal education school and organic farm and he is happy for any volunteers to come and teach. Check out the school’s facebook page, Ban Nai Soi Community Learning Centre, for more information.

In the near future, I will have a link put up on the Worthy Cause Apparel Causes page so that people can donate directly to the project as well as post pictures up of the children.  Please visit The Nu Nu Project to see more pictures of the children and Nu Nu as well as to donate to the project.  We also have a woman’s t shirt and a child’s t shirt specially designed for this project.  Half the profit from each sale will go directly to help the children living at Nu Nu’s orphanage.