Asian Women Turning Despair into Hope by Solidarity

The sixth Project for Asian Women's Rights

With the sponsorship of Sungjoo Foundation, Seoul YWCA organized the 6th Women Human Rights Project from July 9 to 18 ; 8 participants composed of college students, ordinary citizen, and employees in Sung-joo Group, visited human-right sites located in Thailand along with Myanmar which is now drawing a global attention as Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi recently won the presidential election.

Meeting with Human Rights Activists for Women in Thailand and Myanmar

In spite of situational limits and restrictions in Thailand, meeting with the human right activists for women and refugees was the chance of overwhelming motivation for the participants. We visited YWCA, Thailand, ASPW, WEAVE and YWCA MYanmar. YWCA Thailand is preparing for the 2015 World YWCA Meeting, ASPW(Association for Status and Promotion of Women), ASPW is the organization of supporting single mothers and female victims of human trafficking, WEAVE(Women's Education for Advancement and Empowerment) is an NGO for Burman refugee, and Myanmar YWCA is working on projects for the improvement of Myanmar women's‘ leadership skills and capabilities.

 

Meetings Beyond Race, Culture, and Language, Quesions and Answers on human rights

What is the human rights? How to protect the human rights? These are the questions in mind of participants throughout the trip. We met released young prisoners in the shelter in Bangkok dreaming of new future with the help of religious belief. We also met girl students in the refugee camps in Mae Hong Son, Thailand. They are in preparation for the future even in the confined situation. These meetings gave us a chance of reflection on human rights ; that human rights make it possible for those in trouble to dream of hopeful future under any circumstances, and that procecting the human rights is the common task of all people aroung the world.

What is the compete solution to the human rights? Is it possible? These kind of questions might be the starting point of sharing human rights in question and practicing them.

 

To practice helping others by working

Thailand and Myanmar YWCAs provided us with a chance to practice sharing. We visited Saimai area in Thailand submerged by last year's immense flood to paint exterior walls damaged by the water. At the beginning, the participants worried a lot as they have never done this sort of work before. However, in the end, they successfully finished their painting work praying for the happiness of each family. We also joined home care projects for senior citizens in the areas of poverty operated by Myanmar YWCA as we delivered food package to each old man/woman's house. It was a very small aid like a breeze, but we felt that the beginning of human rights activities is to practice small things to help others. A poet said, "While feeling insurmountable wall there, we can cross it hand in hand like the ivy." Throughout this journey, participants learned that we could go beyond despair into hope with our solidarity in relation with the issues of human rights. We can imagine a vivid picture of participants to practice human rights activities in the future hand in hand like the ivy, . It will be a long way to go, but as long as our companions are together there, we will have a little comfort.