By Pam Rogers | Capacity Advisor/Addiction Trainer
A huge thanks to everyone who continues to support DARE Network's projects. This project "The Amazing Project-Stepping Back to Burma, might be also called Hurry Up and Slow Down. As many of you know the Road to Return is littered with Landmines, uncontrolled Burmese soldiers who still rape and murder with impunity and no clear peace plan between the Burmese Military Government and the Ethnic Groups.
DARE Network must tread carefully and surely. But tread we must. Drug addiction inside Burma is proliferating due to lawlessness and the opportunities of the Ceasefire.
Currently we are in the process of training new workers to begin our assessment in Karen State. These are brave people indeed as they must negotiate their way through all the players to try to learn what the local people want. What do they think of the drug situation in their villages? How will they be able to support prevention and recovery work in their own areas? How can DARE help them? Meanwhile, all must stay safe from the Drug Lords who control so much of the area we are about to enter.
DARE is partnering with a local Community Based Education organization and the Karen Womens' Organization to travel safely together. As well, we are sharing research with the award-winning Karen Human Right's Organization, to monitor drug abuse inside our target areas in Karen State.
Meanwhile on the border in Thailand, the Military Coup Makers of Thailand, the Thai Army have started to talk about pushing the refugees back. Rumours have been flying and fear returning without safety has the refugees in a high state of anxiety. We continue our work with them in the 5 refugee camps we work in, as we strive to move our work forward to be ready for any sudden forced return.
We have received a grant from Refugees International Japan to print our new Training Manual. This is great news as it will most certainly be a great tool with which to Step Back to Burma. We hope you will continue to step with us. We need your support more than ever at this precarious time.
from all of us at DARE Network
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