_ by May Ng

The day after my arrival to volunteer at AEIOU I met Prof Win, one of the founders of AEIOU (All Ethnic International Open University) formed under the parent organization Empowering Women of Burma-EWB in 1999. It is a self proclaimed apolitical organization with no hidden political agenda toward any country, and intends to keep a low profile. AEIOU is located in Chiang Mai and work in conjunction with the Chiang Mai University.

The AEIOU aims to become a self sustained university in Diaspora and exists on a shoe string budget at the moment. But in spite of the reality it faces, it has an amazing body of gifted student who are all under the watchful eyes of Prof. Win and Dr. Rosy. The program has a resident French psychologist who is part of the conflict resolution and peace studies. He also administers psychotherapy and teaches French. A Burmese speaking doctor also lives with them to treat myriad of illnesses that usually accompany the people who have been through such ordeals. Though a novelty, a personal cook also prepares nutritious meals for the students. In this little oasis during a vigorous short stay, students are given a holistic treatment to begin a journey toward the future leadership of Burma.

Prof. Win said that he had tried to tame the Burmese Generals from the inside by being the foreign Affairs Secretary to the Prime Minister of Burma until he realized that it was an impossible task. He and his family were forced to leave after the 1988 uprising.

The AEIOU has students from all over Burma. The hardest requirement when they graduate is in going back to serve the community where they were from. Prof. Win said that, their commitment to going back, in spite of the daunting difficulties in Burma, is the ultimate test of their character. But after speaking to one very worried student who is overwhelmed with doubts about how to survive upon his return, personally I am hoping that there is some exception to this discipline.

Being here for only two days yet I have already met the exceptionally gifted students from different backgrounds. They range from former political prisoner to migrant school teacher, and someone who was born and grew up at the refugee camp to someone who was from the city. Whether they will finish the program or not will depend on many things, including if the AEIOU can continue with the underlying budget problem. In addition, they badly need many more computers, even used-ones will be very helpful. Obviously educational aid packages will be a Godsend.

Even though limited English language is spoken in Thailand, learning English in Chiang Mai for the Burmese refugees is very difficult. Everything is only in Thai Language. Main thoroughfare has Thai book stores, but the English bookstores are in another part of town. Burmese refugees or migrants can learn Thai language to survive but improving their education in English is virtually impossible, unless they work for aid agencies with foreigners. In a globalized world where the rising Asian countries are aggressively teaching themselves English this is a grim reality for the Burmese in Thailand.

Consequently, the AEIOU program has been having difficulties finding qualified English teachers. Asia at present and also in the future will have an unmistakable caste system, between the English speaking elites who are better educated and earn a lot more, and the underprivileged non-English speakers. Without the opportunity to learn English, Burmese refugees who are already disadvantaged will have a future generation of permanent underclass, in and outside of Burma.

Defying such prediction, the boys and girls who are attending AEIOU have written lengthy research papers in English, while they were back at home. In spite of the limited English language resources, the papers they have produced are impressive. They have chosen subjects too weighty for their impoverished life, titles ranging from violence against women on the border to hopelessness and unemployment of youths in Burma. They only need a little more help.

With a growing number of aid programs competing for funds, the AEIOU and other NGOs are fighting uphill battles to survive. Regardless of the ongoing and long civil war, government abuses, and increasing depth of humanitarian crisis in and around Burma, the United Nations has given limited help to the Burmese refugees and migrants in comparison to the other countries. While the UN Security Council back paddles and Myanmar junta plays hardball with their political opponents, and as the Burmese people descends into another depth of misery, the international aid community needs to come up with more assistance.

The Burmese people’s dignity in the face of despair deserves another look from the UN and many other global aids agencies.