MY STORY photo project 2012

WORKSHOPS:

In January we went to the Science and Technology Training Centre in Mae Sot, Thailand , to work with 8 Burmese teenagers who were studying small engine repair, electrical wiring, computer, English, and now photography. 4 boys and 4 girls took to the training like ducks to water! They asked all kinds of technical questions about the cameras ( Nat’s department) and made a group story about the design and building of a small table.

Title: Photography training STTC, Mae Sot, Thailand, January, 2012 Photographer: Ei Phyu

Title:Sports Day STTC, Mae Sot, Thailand, January, 2012 Photographer: Khu Doh

Kanchana Weerakoon, a scientist and environmental activist in Colombo, Sri Lanka, invited the project to work with the Eco-Friendly Volunteers in February. For six days we taught 10 keen young Sri Lankans how to document their rivers and forests. These students were very focused on their goal: educating people on best practices to preserve their beautiful environment. The workshop’s exhibition was held in a Buddhist community center and attended by much of the neighborhood.

Title: Man at work Colombo, Sri Lanka, Februrary, 2012 Photographer: Imala	Title: Auntie Colombo Sri Lanka, 2012 Photographer: Dhanushka

We stayed with Kanchana and her family in a quiet suburb of Colombo, surrounded by green fields, birds and parrots! Hard to believe we were in a city until we took a tiny tuktuk to the training center through the mayhem of Colombo traffic!

Title: Portrait of Dhanushka Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2012 Photographer: Gayani

In March we headed to Fang, northern Thailand , to work with the Karen Baptist Convention once again. This time, KBC was brining 8 students to the Uplands Holistic Development Project, a seed bank and agricultural training center. Two of our former KBC students, Law Thaw and Ruby were on hand to act as translators and assistants. UHDP is located 18 kilometers outside of Fang, near the Burma border. After taking a couple of buses from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai and Chiag Mai to Fang, we biked those 18 kms. loaded with computers, cameras, ink cartridges, paper, cables, batteries, and oh yes, a few clothes. The students will use the cameras to document their community work in villages of the Burmese Delta. photo: -7164 Dinner! Fang, Thailand, March, 2012

Title: A smile behind the net Fang, Thailand, March 2012 Photographer: Ruby

May saw us returning to Pyin Oo Lwin, Burma, to run a workshop with 10 people at the Lissu Theological Seminary. The students came from all over the country and wanted to use the cameras to document social work in their individual communities.

Title: Portrait of Lovely Pyin Oo Lwin, Burma, March, 2012 Photographer: Leh Meh Wu	Title: Portrait Pyin Oo Lwin, Burma, March, 2012 Photographer: Leh Meh Wu
Title: Spirit Tree Pyin Oo Lwin, Burma, March, 2012 Photographer: Aye Lwin

Training of teachers:

In March and April we returned to Kwe Ka Baung Karen National School in Mae Sot to train 4 former students to teach the photo workshop. These four girls, aged 15, took a five day teacher training course with us and then set out to teach their peers. Each teacher had 4 students and they gave the workshop in 3 days! Those students were kept hopping! We think the teachers liked being able to tell their peers what to do!

Title: Untitled Kwe Ka Baung School, Mae Sot, Thailand , March 2012 Photographer: Pawk Saint	Title: Studies Kwe Ka Baung School, Mae Sot, Thailand, March, 2012 Photographer: Naw Mu Eh Shoo
Title: Brooms Kwe Ka Baung School, Mae Sot, Thailand, March 2012 Photographer: Hge Thu

EXHIBITIONS:

The 7th annual MY STORY photo exhibition was held at Borderline Gallery, Mae Sot, March 29 through April 23. Attendance at the opening was very good, and included the students from STTC and KKB.

MY STORY photo project exhibition poster Borderline Gallery, Mae Sot, Thailand, March 2012

The Chapel Gallery at ARTsPLACE, Annapolis Royal, will host the 7th MY STORY photo project exhibition from September 23 to October 6, 2013.

FUND RAISING:

That ugly word again! But those of you in the Annapolis area of Nova Scotia continue to give us your bottles for which we thank you. 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 (paowomensunion.wordpress.com) and Brilliant Burma.org photo workshops. Check this site on September 23 for the URL.

Your donations go to the purchase of new cameras, battery chargers and batteries. Thank you!

How to donate:

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
Tax receipts will be issued for amounts over $10.