ABOUT

Sermpanya Foundation in Thailand supports community activities at the grassroots level, running mobile cinema screenings, media skills-training and producing educational and awareness raising films to benefit the lives of thousands of refugees, displaced people, migrants and local villagers living in camps and host communities along the Thai-Myanmar border. Through our Sermpanya Foundation, we use the power of film to bring non-formal education, information and inspiration to thousands of vulnerable people, raising awareness, changing lives and projecting hope for a better future.

Launched in 2009 with a pilot programme, our programmes were supported by parent organisation FilmAid Asia (Hong Kong) from 2011-2019, providing education, information, media skills training and psycho-social relief to thousands through the production and dissemination of films in local languages.

Since 2019 all operations have passed to Sermpanya Foundation, our non-profit Thai foundation registered in 2015.

We are proud to announce that this year, 2024, Sermpanya Foundation became a full member of CCSDPT - the Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand and continues to provide dedicated support for refugees, migrant and host communities along the Thai Myanmar border.

In Thai the word Sermpanya translates as ‘Sharing Wisdom’ or ‘Encouraging Knowledge’.

Watch our Promo below to see more…

BACKGROUND

Decades of conflict led by a brutal military regime in Myanmar, forced hundreds of thousands of ethnic nationals to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring Thailand. 

A new ‘democratic’ NLD government was elected in 2015 in Myanmar and peace agreements were signed by different ethnic states. Hopes for a safe and dignified return were raised. However ongoing conflict, repression, land confiscation and extreme human rights abuses still continued in many regions of Myanmar making it an ongoing challenge for refugees to find a successful way to return and rebuild their lives. In February 2021, the Burmese military, under Gen Min Aung Hlaing, staged a coup and took absolute power, ignoring the NLD majority vote, and brutally cracked down against peaceful student protests in Yangon. The conflict escalated over the next 2 years and thousands were detained, arrested, and hundreds tortured and killed. As the Burmese military fought to gain control of border areas, the conflict descended into civil war in which thousands have been displaced, lost their homes, their families, their limbs, with many fleeing to Thailand to escape the indescriminant bombing and pillaging of villages and land. The conflict is ongoing and we can hear the bombs dropping.

Myanmar's military junta announced on 10 February 2024 that it would be enforcing mandatory conscription for men aged 18–35 and women aged 18–27. Those evading conscription face penalties in the form of heavy fines or imprisonment for three to five years. This has led to thousands more people fleeing across the border.

9 temporary shelter camps run along the length of the Thai Myanmar border, and have provided shelter for over 30 years to well over 150,000 refugees. These camps are located across the border from the conflict areas and provide a home to the many ethnic groups from Karen State, Karenni State, Kachin State, Shan State, Chin State, Mon State, Rakhine State (Rohingya) and Myanmar nationals. Many families and students who were forced to leave their homes to seek safety from the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) during the previous years of military repression in the heart of the country, still live in the camps today with no opportunity to return home. Now the number of displaced people has increased as thousands more flee the current fighting and the threat of conscription.

According to UNHCR verified registration figures in May 2024, 90,759 refugees live in the nine camps, while TBC are assisting population numbers of 96,838 refugees. Humanitarian supports continue to be provided by international and local NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) and by CBOs (Community Based Organisations) but limited access, cuts to funding and the situation in Myanmar are leading to increased mental health issues for the refugee community.

Unexploded ordinance has been an ongoing issue in border areas for decades, but now this issue is increasing every day and we continue to partner with Humanity and Inclusion to help disseminate their EORE risk education messages to communities. The rainy season again started early this year and the rain has been exceptionally heavy on the border region causing flooding and mudslides as well as creating perfect conditions for outbreaks of malaria and dengue.

The situation is an evolving one and all humanitarian agencies along the border are assisting with the influx of refugees were possible as well as supporting the existing refugees and migrants.

Here at Sermpanya Foundation - our team continuje to produce films and other audio visual materials to support the displaced communities and are on standby to mobilise our mobile cinema to meet the needs of the emergency response providing communication, essential knowledge and psycho-social relief.

FOR MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• For maps and more information into the history of the camps please go to the The Border Consortium resource website at https://www.theborderconsortium.org/resources/