KWO members at the Umphiem Mai camp, Thailand.
Umphiem Mai refugee camp in Thailand was formed in 1999, and many residents, predominantly Karen people, have lived there for a long time. Since the 2021 military coup, violence in Myanmar has surged, forcing 2.8 million people into internal displacement and tens of thousands more to flee to neighbouring countries like Thailand for safety.
Amidst these challenges, the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO) operates in Umphiem Mai and six other camps, where its camp committees work tirelessly to manage community programs for women and children.
Women-led democracy in action
Democratically elected by KWO members, the camp committee includes one representative from each of the camp’s 16 sections. Their structure mirrors the values of participation and inclusivity, with leadership roles such as Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Joint Secretary, alongside key program managers overseeing health, education, social welfare, and information sharing.
Supporting women to lead
Elected camp leaders at the Umphiem Mai refugee camp participate in leadership training.
Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA is proud to support KWO in equipping its leaders with critical skills in leadership, project management, human rights, and training. For many women, this training has been transformative.
One committee leader shared her story (name withheld for security reasons). She mentioned before the training provided by this project, she didn’t know about human rights and was not confident to speak in public. Now, she has learnt about women and child rights and changed how she disciplines her child, as well as being confident in sharing her learnings with others in the community.
The KWO committee members who have participated in the capacity-building training are regularly holding activities such as:
- Providing support for pregnant women, including nutrition education.
- Collaborating with the Camp Committee to monitor and manage health issues affecting the camp population.
- Managing a special education program for children with disabilities.
- Raising awareness of the importance of education and encouraging families to send children to school
- Holding monthly women’s discussion sessions where women can have a safe space to share about issues impacting them.
- Supporting a peer network of women who have experienced gender-based violence.
- Maintaining a safehouse facility for women experiencing GBV who need a safe space to stay provides physical and emotional support.
- Home visits are used to provide support to women and families on health, education, and family issues.
- Providing awareness to the community on human rights, especially women’s rights, child rights and Indigenous people’s rights.
- Engaging with new camp arrivals to determine if they need support and advocating for them with camp authorities to get access to food rations and supplies.
This grassroots initiative demonstrates the power of solidarity. With the backing of Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA members, the women of KWO are building a resilient, self-sustaining community despite the adversity they face.
As Australian unionists, workers, and supporters, we stand in solidarity with the KWO and other grassroots movements across the region. Join us and become a regular donor today at www.apheda.org.au/join