THERE is no place that Beatrice would rather spend Monday to Thursday every week than at the Chin Women’s Organization (CWO) in Kuala Lumpur.
In the small shophouse which houses the CWO, Beatrice, a volunteer, finds joy in educating and singing alongside the children, and teaching the women residents art and craft skills, which translate into beautiful handicraft pieces that are put up for sale at bazaars.
The CWO is now a shelter for the Chin people from Myanmar, who fled their home country.
Fulfilling experience: To volunteers Sharon (left) and Beatrice, their efforts are made more fulfilling by the fact that the children are deeply appreciative of the chance to learn, something that many others may take for granted. For many of the Chins, this is the place they now call home, where they seek refuge and gather as one big happy family, speaking the same language and sharing the same faith.
Beatrice refers to them as her family, and says the last two years, during which she has been a volunteer helping at the centre, has been a fulfilling time.
“The main issue facing the CWO is money. For half a year at one point in time, our cash flow was not enough to feed the children.
“So apart from teaching, we also try to raise funds. The goal of CWO is to try to get them to manage their lives independently, and empowering them with skills to earn some income.
“Although we are always in need financially, we are glad to have been able to feed the children so that they have not had to go hungry again.”
Paying rapt attention: The children listening intently to the lesson being taught. They look forward to attending the classes daily, despite the risk of bumping into the police. The CWO was founded by Myanmar national Suzy, a Chin who has been working legally in Malaysia for several years now. It had started as a small group in Subang Jaya following a crackdown on illegals in 2004.
“In the wake of the crackdown, many Chin women and children found it difficult to hide and survive. It was for that reason, that I thought of setting up a group where all Chin members could find comfort in each other.”
However, as many of them had transportation problems making their way to Subang Jaya, the group’s base was relocated to its present premises in September 2006, Suzy said.
The centre is open to all Chin children staying in the surrounding area, who would drop by for a day of learning before returning home in the evening.
“The highest number of children we have had in a day is 85. However, the number fluctuates almost every other day.
“Their attendance is never constant as some of them come and go. At the moment, we also have six mothers staying here together with their children, each occupying a room,” Suzy said as she gave StarMetro a tour of the place.
According to Beatrice, there are 15 to 16 volunteers helping out at the centre, teaching classes like computer and accounting.
While the volunteers come in from Monday to Thursday, Friday is usually reserved for the children to learn their language and religion.
Beatrice said that after a two-year struggle to find a sustainable way of raising funds, the CWO finally managed to find an organisation to help them.
Starting young: Tyler with his birthday cake. With him is his grandmother, fondly known as Aunty Philo. “We managed to find an umbrella organisation to take us under its wing and this has helped open many doors for us. There are more people calling me now with pledges of aid and the children have benefited greatly,” she said, comparing the current situation to what it was two years ago.
Another volunteer, who wanted to be known only as Sharon, said she had learnt about the CWO through a good friend of hers who was a volunteer there, too.
“Since I had free time, I thought, why not? I’ve found the experience immensely rewarding, and an eye-opener, especially learning about the difficulties these people have encountered that I’ve not personally experienced before,” said Sharon.
“I can see how happy these children are, despite what they have been through. They are enthusiastic about coming to class.
“These refugees braved being smuggled out in containers or in the hulls of ships, which speaks volumes for their determination to make better lives for themselves,” she added.
Suzy said there were times when she had wanted to cry, seeing how the refugees often lived under pressure and were wary of people.
“There is so much suffering in their hearts,” she said with a sigh.
“But, thanks to our 'mother' Beatrice and the other teachers, the children now get to sing songs and play, which they did not previously as they were usually cooped up at home to avoid the public gaze,” related Suzy.
Meanwhile, a family who wished to be known only as the Kennedys hit upon a novel way of helping the refugees.
Thoughtful guests: Some of the guests at the party hosted by the Kennedy family to mark Tyler's first birthday. They were requested to bring food items for the refugees in lieu of gifts for Tyler. Recently, they helped collect food items for the refugees when they threw a birthday bash for their son Tyler, who turned one.
Mother Edlina had told the guests that instead of gifts for her son, she would appreciate them bringing food items that could be donated to the refugee community.
“I find that these days, we are living in a world where people put things before other people.
“So we wanted to instil in Tyler that it's not all about himself,” Edlina said during the party held at the National Science Centre.
She said she hoped to show Tyler the photos when he grew up.
“I hope that, in future, people will use occasions such as birthday celebrations as a platform to help worthy causes,” she added.
The event was attended by more than 100 guests, comprising family and friends as well as business associates of Edlina's husband.
There was also a booth where handicraft made by the women at the CWO was offered for sale.
“Coming to know about the Chins after doing the research for my Masters degree, I'm supportive of not just refugees but any displaced persons,” she said.
The Chin community, most of whom are Christians, live in the highlands on the western side of Myanmar.
As of May 2008, there were about 12,400 Chins registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia, out of the total of 33,000 Myanmars.
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