The Burmese Refugee Project works with Shan refugees who have fled persecution by the military junta in Burma, and are now living in camps in Thailand. Many of the Shan, who have survived rape or torture and have seen family members murdered in Burma, suffer from nightmares, depression, and loss of the will to live. As a result, some refugees have turned to drugs, and family violence, once rare, has become a problem. The Shan are not eligible for refugee status, and thus cannot enter UN refugee camps. They are liable to deportation by the Thai government.

The project we are funding is run by two college-educated Thai social workers who employ a participatory model of community development, providing social support and overseeing the educational needs of Shan children. Services include group cognitive therapy, literacy classes, and health and emergency management workshops. The goals of the project are to support participants in envisioning a future democratic Burma, creating a supportive, participatory, and prosperous community, preserving Shan cultural values, and reclaiming their rights as displaced people.