What The MY STORY Project Does

Indiegogo campaign YOU GOT EYES! Burmese refugees tell their own stories through photos. Use our convenient Paypal donate button or

or

Cheques may be made out to MSppa and mailed to: B.Baker Box 538 Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia Canada B0S 1A0

The My Story photo project (MSppa) provides digital cameras and training in basic photo techniques to Karen and Burmese refugees on the Thai/Burma border.

The training is about 'seeing'. 'Seeing' as a photographer. Participants look at and discuss each other's pictures, and at the end of the session edit their work into a yearly exhibition that travels from Borderline Gallery in Mae Sot, Thailand to Canada and the United States. After the training, students use their cameras to document their work and lives on the border.

Photographs are for sale, with proceeds split 50/50 between the photographer and MSppa.

In the process we have a lot of FUN!

MY STORY photo project 2013

In 2013 we will be returning to the Kwe Ka Baung Karen National School in Mae Sot to work with our 4 new photo teachers. These 15 year old girls were so enthusiastic about passing on their photo skills that we can’t wait to see what they’ve been up to since we left in June.

December will see us going to Dharamsala, India, to work at a school for Tibetan refugee children. The project is called Sontsa, which means seedling in Tibetan, and we hope the students will use photography to see themselves in a positive light.

Street artists from Brilliant Burma.org will take the photo workshop in January in Mae Sot and in February we will work with the Pa-O Women's Union in Mae Hong Song, Thailand. These women will then take the cameras back to their villages in Burma to document their communities.

We continue to stay in touch with our photo workshop teachers, Der Lweh, Eh Shoe, and Yawla, and many of our students who keep us inspired with their photos and their spirit.

And now for something completely different: we are launching an Indiegogo campaign, starting in September of 2012. The goal is $3000 to fund the Pa-O women's and Brilliant Brilliant Burma.org photo workshops. Check this site on September 23 for the URL.

Thanks to all the people like you who came to the MY STORY exhibitions, bought prints, and gave money to buy cameras, transportation, and sometimes rice and chilies for the photographers.