Marist (SM) Australia: March 2011

March 2, 2011

Two days ago, Saw Ywa Baw, one of the leaders of Maera Moo camp and also a MMC hostel advisory committee member, told me about the TBBC meeting he attended in Maela Camp. TBBC (Thai-Burma Border Consortium) said that since there are funding constraints, they must cut down the rice amount for each person. For this year, all Camp hostels can't accept new students, which mean that new comers will not receive food rations. Hostels will also not receive building materials such as bamboos, roof thatches, etc. At the same time, we won’t refuse child refugees.

Typical Hostel Dining

Schools in the camps will start final exams next week. When our hostel students finish exams, some will visit their families in Karen State

Burma

if travelling is possible. Others will take summer courses. They will also repair their hostel buildings. Given the situation of provision reductions for the camps, I think we will reduce our hostel buildings if we can, but not too crowded for students. St. Mary Hostel coordinators from Maela Camp have told me that they want to rebuild their dining building with cement floor and bricks cover, because it is wet and dirty with mud in raining seasons. They have saved about 15,000 Baht, but they will need to request 15,000 Baht for the construction and building materials, as total cost is about 30,000 Baht. I will also like to ask the fund needed of other 3 hostels for their building repairs.

Carbon-free washing machine

PS. MMC has four hostels in three refugee camps (the term officially used is Temporary Emergency Shelter - temporary can mean 20 plus years!). Recently, young Marist Fathers from the

Philippines

visited and were deeply moved by the plight of so many young refugees who welcomed them with warm generosity.

A hostel

Marists feasting

Our MMC budget for March 2011 for 120+ young folks. (Around $4,500.00 AUD)

1. St. Mary's Hostel in Maela Camp = 25,000 Baht

2. St. Peter Chanel Hostel in Maera Moo Camp = 25,000 Baht

3. St. Champagnat Hostel in Maela Oon Camp = 30,000 Baht

4. St. Colin Hostel in Maela Oon Camp = 25,000 Baht

5. Hostel rebuilding and repairs (15,000 Baht for St. Mary; 5,000 Baht for St. Peter Chanel; 3,000 Baht for St. Colin; and 3,000 Baht for St. Champagnat) = 26,000 Baht.