“The military burnt down all the houses in my village. The people moved back into the village and built the houses again, and again the military came and burnt it all down. This happened three times,” says Thein, a former teacher and father of eight whose family fled Myanmar in 2009.
Thein and his family are among the 12,000 Karenni refugees who escaped violence in Myanmar and now live in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son, Thailand.
For these displaced people, the prison-like existence in the Mae Hong Son camps is having a devastating psychological impact – robbing people of their hope and spirit of community. “We are safe here, ” he says. “But life in the camps is hard. The food ration has reduced, and rice is more expensive every year.” With your support there is light in the darkness.
Our local partner, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Asia Pacific, is leading the ‘Pastoral Accompaniment of Burmese Refugees’ project in the camps. Designed to restore hope and a sense of community and social inclusion to people living in these desperate circumstances, the program provides accompaniment, pastoral care, and access to a sacramental life, which is especially important for Catholic refugees.
The project includes community-driven ‘Family Friendship Groups’ that encourage vital connection and provides camp members with psychosocial counselling, advocacy and practical support. Part of this is a pig-raising initiative that helps people learn new skills and make a small income, which is otherwise extremely difficult in the camps.
These days, with your help, Thein works closely with JRS Asia Pacific and is on a mission to rebuild community and connection for Burmese people in the camps. “I help organise the Family Friendship Groups and assist with translation,” he says.
“I also welcome new arrivals to the camp and often do home visits to check on the community and to assess needs.”
Find out more
- This story featured in our Reflections Winter #635 – 2025. Download Reflections.
- About the Pastoral Accompaniment of Burmese Refugees project.
- See all our programs and find out how you can have an impact.
