|
Karen women weave textiles at a refugee camp on the
Thai-Burmese border
|
The Rag Dolls sold by The
Peace Company are made by women working in WEAVE programs
in refugee camps. As part of our Peace Gifts for Global
Healing program, a portion of profits from your purchase
will be returned to WEAVE to help continue this important
work. |
|
Since 1986, thousands of Burmese families have fled as refugees
to Thailand. Currently over 120,000 people face an uncertain future
as displaced people, crowded into refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese
border.
Among these people are the Karen and Karenni ethnic groups. Life
in refugee camps is physically difficult and emotionally challenging.
Refugees are dependent on the tolerance of Thailand, which has become
more and more strained.
Children of Karen women play at a refugee camp on the
Thai-Burmese border
The burden of providing for their families weighs heavily on the
refugees, particularly women, who often are the heads of their households.
Opportunities to earn money are extremely limited. Thai policy discourages
income generation by refugees within the camps, and forbids people
to work outside the camp.
WEAVE believes that the empowerment of women and development of
their status benefits the whole community. They give women an opportunity
to improve themselves through education, confidence building and
skill development. WEAVE encourages women to take on leadership
responsibilities and share skills.
For More Information
For more information about WEAVE, please visit the WEAVE
Website.
For more information about human rights issues in Burma, please
visit the Human
Rights Watch website.
|
