Burmese ethnic Refugees share culture and traditions at event

Refugees who made their way from oppressive, militant regimes in Asia to New Bern with the help of the United Nations shared their journey Saturday with supporters of Interfaith Refugee Ministry.

The day-long event at the Christ Episcopal Church Ministry Center was a fundraiser for Interfaith Refugee Ministry that has helped about 1,200 refugees in 20 years. This year the ministry is expecting about 200 refugees, mostly from Burma but also from South America, Africa, East Europe and theMiddle East.

While seven girls from Chin, a province in Burma about the size of Switzerland, danced a bamboo dance in ethnic costume, some people walked along the “Journey Wall” that was covered with photographs depicting the plight of many of the refugees, from camps where they had lived and landmines they had to cope with, to arriving in New Bern and earning their education, citizenship and jobs.

May Way, 18, was born in a Thailand refugee camp and was there for 14 years before she and her family came to New Bern five years ago.

“You could not go anywhere and you could not find work,” Way said.

Phyllis Hoffman, a board member of Interfaith Refugee Ministry, said Way, like many refugees who come to New Bern, was facing governments bent on ethnic cleansing.

Once they arrive here through a refugee resettlement program, Interfaith Refugee Ministry, made up of 23 local churches, helps find them lodging and rebuild their lives through organizations, employers and individuals, Hoffman said.

Interfaith Refugee Ministry is an affiliate of a national refugee resettlement agency, the Episcopal Migration Ministries. Funding comes through government grants and donations.

Way, who is a junior at New Bern High School, said she likes living here.

“It’s cool,” she said. “I like the weather and I like having places to go.”

Yphu Rmah, a Montagnard fromVietnam, said he came here fleeing oppression.

“The government inVietnam has treated us bad,” he said. “We are not free. The government doesn’t believe in Christians.”

Rmah came toNew Bernin 2002. He has earned his citizenship and has a job.

“I became a citizen last year,” he said. “I was proud to become an American citizen.”

Connie Stutts, a pastor and board member of Interfaith Refugee Ministry, held a picture painted by a young Burmese of a burning village and said it pulled at her heart.

“We think we are helping them,” she said. “But they are changing our lives.”

During the Share the Journey celebration, supporters got to see dancing along with cooking demonstrations, songs and a fashion show of traditional clothing