Be moved to change things

An Oxfam calendar that I received as a present some years ago bore the words: “Be moved by the state of the world, outspoken about what’s unfair, and excited about making a difference.”

It was an appropriate gift, as I have always believed strongly in taking action to make a difference to the lives of people who find themselves marginalised and vulnerable in society.

Last year, after many years working in education, I decided to take up the opportunity to volunteer with VSO as an early childhood development advisor on the Thai/Burma border.

VSO is an international development charity that places volunteers to share professional skills and expertise with people in poor and marginalised communities, helping to bring about lasting and positive change.

For decades, people from ethnic groups in the border regions of Burma have been fleeing to neighbouring countries as a result of conflict with the Burmese military regime.

In more recent years, the desperately poor economic situation in Burma has continued to drive people across the border into Thailand.

Throughout history and around the world, refugees and migrants have often found themselves marginalised and at risk of exploitation, and the Burmese in Thailand are no exception; many are forced to take on the most dangerous of jobs in order to survive.

It is difficult to imagine the circumstances that would make someone decide to leave behind home, land and family to face such an uncertain and precarious future in a foreign country.

Before I left to take up my placement, I was a volunteer visitor with the Oxford charity Asylum Welcome at Campsfield House immigration removal centre.

Listening to the stories of the detainees was at times harrowing, and helped me begin to understand the desperation that will drive people to make such a decision.

In the past, the vulnerable position of Burmese refugees and migrants in Thai society meant it was not possible for their children to access good quality, recognised education in Thailand.

However, since Thailand signed up to the UN Education for All policy, all children living in the country are entitled to receive a recognised education in Thai schools.

I am working with teachers in Thai pre-school nurseries that take both Thai and Burmese children aged two to four from the local communities.

Although most of the teachers are trained, the teaching methods are traditionally very formal, and the teachers have no training or preparation for supporting children whose home language is not Thai.

I have been supporting these teachers to make a shift in their teaching approach, from very talk-based methods to more appropriate Early Years teaching and learning through play and practical activities.

By supporting the children to make a strong start to their education within the Thai system and local community, this project is helping to build a future in which they can break away from the marginalisation of the past and make a strong and positive contribution to society as they grow up.

I was struck by the connection between my work here and the theme for this year’s just-finished UK Refugee Week: Different Pasts, Shared Future.

With 50 per cent of the world’s refugees reported to be children and young people, the UK Refugee Week focused on these young people, who demonstrate such resilience and determination in building a new future for themselves in the UK, and who will play an important and positive role in shaping our future society.

Oxford Refugee Week invited people from all areas of the local community to explore the issues facing refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and to discover the many positive contributions they bring to the community.

You can make a difference by visiting the Simple Acts website and completing a Simple Act of Welcome, which will help change the way refugees are perceived and bring about positive change in your local community.

Find out more at oxfordrefugeeweek.weebly.com or simpleacts.org.uk

Heather Card trained as an early years teacher at Westminster College, Oxford and is a member of Oxford Humanists. You can read more about her experience with VSO in Thailand on her blog, heatherinthailand.blogspot.com