News & Activities
Premiere Screening of our film Being Family at Oxford University on Tuesday 14 May 2024!
🎬 Join us for a film screening and discussion on untold stories of courage, love, and shared humanity.
— Global Parenting Initiative (@GPI_Parenting) April 16, 2024
🎥Film title: Being Family
📍Location: Leonard Wolfson Auditorium at @WolfsonCollege
🗓️Date: 14 May 2024
🕕 Time: 18:00 GMT
Register now 🔗: https://t.co/r2ZZpgt142 pic.twitter.com/PgELEbt2hN
Dear Sermpanya Foundation Supporter
It’s been some time since we last shared what we’ve been doing at Sermpanya Foundation here and on this special day - International Women’s Day - 8 March 2022 - I wanted to let you know what your continued support has meant to us and how important it is to continue to keep refugees, migrants and other vulnerable communities here on the Thai-Myanmar border in your thoughts.
Since the military coup in Myanmar on 1st February 2021 - life has rapidly deteriorated for the majority of civilians living in Myanmar, with savage crackdowns on protests, thousands of young people and opposition leaders imprisoned and tortured, indiscriminate and deadly attacks on villages, and displacement of thousands of villagers from their homes and livelihoods. Hope for a positive future and a possibility to return home has evaporated for refugees, and coupled with the continuous Covid-19 restrictions for gatherings and community activities, the negative impact on their mental health and well-being is profound. News of fresh atrocities reach the camp residents from across the border on a daily basis adding to the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and lack of control. In January over 4,000 refugees crossed the Moei River to flee conflict in Karen State but now have had to return to unsafe areas in Myanmar as there are no official temporary safety areas for new refugees in Thailand. The situation is volatile and those who have had their homes torched are living in makeshift tents along river margins and in IDP camps along the border. Tatmadaw, the Myanmar military, keeps arresting, burning and torturing civilians, destroying their homes and villages, stealing or burning their crops forcing villagers to flee and hide in the forest when they hear the ominious drone of aircraft or helicopters overhead. We are now hearing of new landmines being laid in areas in Karen and Karenni States. Unseasonal rains, caused by the impact of climate change, have caused flooding in many areas, adding to the misery of living in makeshift shelters having lost everything they own.
Updates on the ongoing tragic situation in Myanmar are often overlooked in the daily news, probably because there seems to be no end in sight, no progress towards a solution and the news is just too hard to bear. We must keep in our hearts the people of Myanmar and the thousands of displaced people who cannot sleep safely at night and yet still find the courage to express their voice against the military coup by finding inventive and effective ways to speak out.
And now the world is full of anger, shock and sadness at the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians and destruction of lives in Ukraine, and everyone is wondering how can we stop this and how can these atrocities continue to happen in this day and age.
Global awareness days remind us to focus on the issues that need our attention and support. Everything is interwoven - the butterfly effect - what each one of us does can make a difference when amplified.
Designed by our team member Saw Min Thu for International Women’s Day 2022
The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, which focuses on the empowerment and recognition of women and girls - supporting diversity, equality and inclusion among communities - highlighting that women and girls can be the change-makers whose leadership and participation can effect sustainable solutions for climate change mitigation; particularly amongst marginalised women and impoverished communities who are increasingly more vulnerable to the deepest impacts of global warming. Developing sustainability iniatives at the grass-roots level gives voice to those who work with the land and natural resources and can lead to more effective policy change for successful sustainable development and good governance.
Advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. War and conflict is, of course, the very antithesis of a sustainable tomorrow. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remain beyond our reach.
So, today is the chance to celebrate the collective power of women and girls as we strive for a more equal future together, for the urgent preservation of our beautiful planet and for an end to senseless wars which lead to nothing but destruction, broken hearts and decay.
Since June 2019 Sermpanya Foundation, has been continuing the work and mission of FilmAid Asia who supported programmes in the refugee camps and along the Thai Myanmar border for over 8 years following our initial presence with a pilot participatory video project in Mae La camp back in 2009. The hope was that with the coming to power in 2015 of the NLD, the National League of Democracy, refugees would at last be able to think about a return to their homeland and a chance to rebuild their lives. NGO programmes were re-shaped around repatriation and voluntary return - developing livelihood skills, health & protection issues, land mine education, civil documentation, business training etc., helping refugees acquire the knowledge and skills needed to restart their lives and new villages started to be built to accommodate those returning who had lost their homes years before. Myanmar was developing and there was a sense of new opportunity and promise. Then the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in March 2020. Everyone was working from home and refugees and CBOs had to learn new digital skills to be able to manage their projects via internet, Zoom and MS Teams. Internet connections in the camps are generally very slow or non existent and so communication and working together without the normal body language, which considerably plays a role in working in different languages, has been very challenging. Risk Communication on Covid and how to protect yourself was shared through social media and on loudspeakers throughout the camps. Our team in the camp created an animated Covid awareness film which has been shared with thousands, and for almost a year Covid infections were kept from the camps. Elections in Myanmar followed in November 2021 - the NLD won a majority - but the military who still held 25% of the seats in government would not recognise the results of the election and on 1st February 2021, Min Aung Hlaing deemed the election unlawful and declared a military coup. Covid finally made its way into the camps around January 2021 and still today access has been very difficult and communication is mainly through the internet.
Our work with refugees has continued, supporting the creation of educational, informational and engaging media materials to benefit vulnerable communities through our mobile cinema network. Creating positive behaviour change and uplifting spirits through story telling and the energy of film.
As one world tragedy follows another - with Afghanistan, Tigray, Tonga and now the Ukraine in dire need - the appeals for help seem overwhelming. But each donation, no matter how small, makes a difference and allows our team to continue to support the refugee, migrant and host communities.
Everyone has the right to education and reliable information in order to live healthy lives. We have always been human-centred, working with the community to find the most creative and ways to engage and empower, by making learning enjoyable and behaviour change make sense.
Your support is needed now more than ever, and we ask you to give what you can so that we can continue to support the communities along this border.
www.sermpanya.org/donate. Thank you.
HI EORE - Recording radio drama messages in Karenni languages
HI EORE Recording radio drama - the Karen Version
HI EORE - Radio Recording - Pwo Karen version
Sermpanya Foundation has contributed to HI’s EORE Explosive Ordnance Risk Education with mobile cinema screenings for over 10 years and now the need becomes even more pressing as we learn that new land mines and other explosive ordnance are currently being laid around the villages in the Karen and Karenni States - and there are still 40 years of previous explosive ordinance contamination that still need to be mapped and cleared. We need your urgent support to continue to contribute to these crucial awareness activities - everyone needs to be made aware of the hidden danger.
The EORE radio recordings have been made by refugees in a drama style with a family of characters in 4 ethnic languages - Burmese, Karen, Karenni and Pwo Karen.
They will be available to the community through broadcast on loudspeakers in the camps as well as on social media for those living along the border.
Awareness activities through EORE mobile cinema screenings for HI in each of the nine camps are scheduled for this year with special events planned for International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2022 which falls on 4 April 2022. This year we have already completed 2 screenings in Ban Mae Surin camp and 2 in Umpiem camp - reaching a total of 128 refugees directly. Screenings are currently limited to approximately 30 people per screening due to ongoing Covid-19 rules.
Your kind donations are needed to contribute to this ongoing awareness activity. Thank you!
www. sermpanya.org/donate
Our team has dubbed this engaging animation film by Global Health Media Project into Burmese and Karen languages. The film very effectively shows how the virus spreads and what do to protect yourself and the community. The film has been watched by thousands through our mobile cinema screenings and is available to all on Social Media and YouTube. We have supporting the dubbing and translation of several of GHMP excellent films over the years including The Story of Cholera and many post-natal education films.
Supporting the translation and dubbing work of the refugees is key to making sure that IEC films are available in ethnic languages. Your support for the this work ensures that we can provide this service which is vital if we are to successfully communicate important information and knowledge in all the different local languages along this border.
GHMP - Dubbing The Story of Coronavirus into Burmese
Child Protection in Emergencies - Notebooks and Booklets for Children in Emergencies - designed by our team
Our first project with Save the Children saw the design and production of leaflets and notebooks to illustrate protection messages to be conveyed to those fleeing conflict in recent months. Ten key messages were developed by the Protection Working Group comprised of UNHCR, UNICEF, NGOs, CBOs and Sermpanya Foundation to ensure Protection mainstreaming of humanitarian assistance for emergency influx of refugees. The messages focus on children, parents/caregivers and community leaders, on how to cope with situations where children are separated from their families and what to do in an emergency. Finding the images and best way to present the messages to the children so they were engaging but not frightening was key to the design and development of the characters and the illustrations.
Child Protection in Emergencies - Video Film produced by our team highlighting the 10 key messages
COVID-19 Awareness for Migrant Communities with UNICEF with educational poster for migrant area
After work - Evening Covid-19 Awareness Screenings in Migrant Communities with UNICEF
Covid 19 Awareness Screenings Distributing Gel & Soap and educational posters to migrant children in Prop Phra
Thai Red Cross donated masks which we were able to distribute to the migrant communities
2021 - Life under Covid restrictions continues to pose challenges for mobile cinema activities - but outdoor cinema means everyone can socially distance and we were able to run a very successful Covid-19 awareness campaign from November 2020 - March 2021 with UNICEF reaching over 2,000 migrants directly in 24 migrant locations in Tak Province. Our team created an animated film with accompanying educational poster for Question and Answer sessions afterwards with prizes of gel and soap, with masks for everyone. The evening screenings meant families could come together after the working day, shower, eat, relax and enjoy the community activity while learning valuable information about how to protect themselves from Covid-19 infections.
UNICEF - Covid Awareness Screening Campaign - outdoors allows for social distancing
In 2021 we worked with UNHCR to develop a film about PSEA - a difficult subject but with a clear and robust message. Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) specifically applies to sexual abuse and exploitation by humanitarian workers and those in positions of power. There is zero tolerance for PSEA by humanitarian workers. Raising awareness and sharing reporting pathways among the refugee and migrant communities about what can constitute abuse and how to report it, is essential to protect those who rely on humanitarian assistance and relief.
Working with our team and others in the refugee community, we developed a storyline which would convey what PSEA represents in a way that would be understandable to the community and also be watchable by younger family members with their parents. The team produced a storyboard based on the final script and explored several different animation techniques. The initial format was to film the film using live action and then use a type of rotoscope to paint the frames afterwards but as we were not able to film outside our compound due to Covid lockdowns the team came up with another idea. ZERO TOLERANCE was drawn frame by frame, coloured frame by frame with backgrounds and seperate elements all composited together. It was a mammoth task and all the team sat for days drawing and drawing! The result is a superb piece of work that confirms their creativity, their digilence and their talent.
Still from Zero Tolerance - Awareness film on PSEA - frame by frame drawing & animation
Drawing frame by frame on tablets for PSEA Zero Tolerance film
Recording the sound track for ZERO TOLERANCE
Versions were made in Karen, Burmese, Urdu, Arabic, Vietnamese with Thai and English Subtitles
PSEA film -Zero Tolerance - placing dialogue and subtitles
The Poster for the Awareness Campaign - each one made for specific camps with partner camp based organisations
Temperature checking at a PSEA Zero Tolerance Screening in Ban Mae Surin camp in Mae Hong Son in Nov 2021
Awareness Posters have been made for every camp
But overnight flooding meant access was a little compromised!
Our mobile cinema in Nu Po Camp - currently running the PSEA campaign
Many locations where we screen do not have electricity so we have to carry generators
UNHCR PSEA Zero Tolerance Screening in Ban Mae Surin - our tarpaulins are sprayed for social distancing with enjoyable stencils
Working in close partnership with UNHCR, SGBV Committees, Karen Women’s Organisation, Karenni Women’s Organisation, Karen Student Network Group, Karen Youth Organisation and the Camp Committees the PSEA awareness campaign is comprised of 516 screenings - 2 screenings per section in all 9 camps - ie Mae La, Umpiem, Nu Po, Mae Ra Ma Luang, Mae La Oon, Ban Mae Noi Soi, Ban Mai Surin Tham Hin and Ban Don Yang camps. The campaign launched in Ban Mae Noi and is now running in Nu Po camp. Covid lockdowns have delayed the start of the campaign in several camps and we need your support to mitigate these delays since our teams remain poised with the situation changing on a daily basis. We provide temperature checks and also distribute masks, gel and soap to the audience as well as a snack and drink. Kobo questionnaires are used to monitor audience feedback and understanding of the film and its message. Illustrated referral pathways and reporting mechanisms have been made to show to the refugees so they can understand where to report. The screenings will provide a safe and interactive platform to raise awareness on this difficult subject.
UNHCR Sanitary Napkin distribution with Sermpanya video screening & temperature check
UNHCR Sanitary Napkin distribution with Sermpanya video screenings during the waiting time
Camera Training for the camp based staff members
Screening Skills Training for Camp Based Staff
IRC LAC - Radio Recording - information about the Justice System in Thailand and Legal Services available to refugees living in the camps
IRC LAC - young refugee students present the radio broadcast in Karen language
IRC LAC - Recording the Burmese version
We are excited to be working with IRC - LAC - their Legal Assistance Centre in 7 camps - to help inform refugees of important services available to them. Our team will produce 5 radio broadcasts in covering different topics and we are currently working on the 2nd recording which is about Safe Migration and having the right documentation and information to prevent exploitation and trafficking. We have have created the audio scripts with reference from IRC - LAC and our team have cast presenters from the camp to be the voices.
Loudspeakers reach all areas of the camps
CFLI ADRA - RCCE - PROTECT - PROJECT - A short film produced by our team in 2021 highlighting the work of ADRA’s PROTECT project and the work of volunteers and camp based staff which helped raise awareness on Covid-19 prevention in the camps. Supported by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives
Thank you! You have made it to the bottom of the post!
There is more to share - we have been so busy on Zoom and MS Team calls throughout the year helping create online trainings and contributing to many communication projects, and helping local camp based organisations to record events and activities, but its time to send the letter so thank you again for your attention and your care!
Please give what you can so that we can continue through these difficult times.
(If you would consider a monthly subscription that would be wonderful too!)
Thank you from us all here on the Thai Myanmar border!
www.sermpanya.org/donate
When I reached out to Jamie Campbell Bower to ask if he could help at this incredibly challenging time, and he immediately stepped up the plate.
Within days he and his designer Nina Tritschler came up with wonderful designs for a t-shirt and hoodie to be part of his merchandise for his band Counterfeit - promising all profits would go to Sermpanya Foundation!
Then on Wednesday evening 30th September he set up a live chat with me on Instagram reaching tens of thousands of people!
Donations have been received from all over the world and we are extremely grateful and humbled at the response. We know this Covid-19 pandemic has caused so many to lose so much but still there is so much generosity amoung the people.
It was my first experience of Instagram and was so amazing to see all the people who were listening from all over the world! So a huge thank you to every one for all the donations that we have received so far!
Huge thanks are also due to Claire Breen Melwani who was on the Board of FilmAid Asia and will now be helping Sermpanya Foundation continue our important work.
Also huge thanks to Zoe Ciara Miller who came and interned for us in July in Mae Sot and has done all things ‘social media’ to raise awareness of the work we do.
We will be sending updates of our work shortly to keep you posted on everything we are doing!
Please follow us on instagram@sermpanyafoundation
and on facebook.com@sermpanyafoundation
Here is a link to the instagram chat Jamie Campbell Bower!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFxDizanH8k/?igshid=etifdyhclhyd
Please keep supporting us if you can, every donation makes a big difference and will mean we can continue to do our important work here on the Thai Myanmar border, especially at this very difficult time of Covid-19.
Here is the link to the Gogetfunding page!
https://gogetfunding.com/sermpanya-foundation-supporting-education-through-film-for-refugees-migrants-on-the-thai-myanmar-border/
Thank you again!
Best wishes and safe stay
Mary Soan
Director, Sermpanya Foundation, 2020
Today is World Refugee Day and to mark this special day, UNHCR Thailand is presenting its 9th Refugee Film Festival via Zoom which will be live TODAY from 12:45pm (Bangkok time) with free admission. https://www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/events/9th-refugee-film-festival/
We are very proud to announce that the short film “Let’s Work Together” made by our FilmAid Foundation team in collaboration with UNHCR, camp-based organisations and our refugee community, highlighting the positive effects that community support can play in preventing and responding to SGBV, will be one of 4 films selected for the Festival today. The event will feature The Staging Post, Unsettled and The Cave and Let’s Work Together starting from 12.45pm to 18.45pm.
“Let’s Work Together” will screen at 18.30pm (Bangkok time). Please do join by registering at https://bit.ly/9thRFFregistration.
Today is World TB Day 2020
Today marks the 1st anniversary of the premiere screening of our TB awareness drama film UNDER THE MASK produced with health partner SMRU – we send congratulations and special thanks to all those who were part of the journey of making and sharing the film with the community through our mobile cinema and SMRU’s TB public engagement team. Together we have directly reached over 12,500 villagers and migrant students and their families who live along the Thai Myanmar border with important health messaging.
It’s Time to End TB https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-tb-day/world-tb-day-2020
and it’s time to prevent Covid-19 and as the Director General of the World Health Organisation said yesterday, we can get through this - TOGETHER
Our refugee team are currently working in the camp to produce an animation film on Covid 19 prevention messaging in Karen and Burmese which will share online and distribute via our televisions in the Out Patient Departments in the camps and local health clinics.
We need your continued support to maintain our programme and to purchase more televisions and thumb drives for camps who do not yet have them.
Please continue to support us at this crucial time if you can!
And dont forget to wash your hands, stay at home and keep your social distance!
Thank you for your support and stay safe.
We have had a wonderfully busy time this November so wanted to share with you some of the highlights.
We continued the outreach screenings of our film Under the Mask in Migrant Learning Centres continuing our TB awareness campaign on the Thai Myanmar border, reaching over 1,000 migrant students.
Our Film Aid team with the team at Mae Sa Lit Clinic
The reach of our TB film is also being felt by donor and funding organisations with a screening at the annual conference at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene ASTMH in Gaylord, Washington State and in Bangkok at MORU’s (Mahidol Oxford Research Unit) 30th year celebration.
On 11 November in Mae La refugee camp we supported the annual Livelihood Fair and International Day of Persons with Disabilities event with our daytime mobile cinema tent, screening our recent Livelihood film which encourages refugees to enrol in organic agricultural training programmes together with films focusing on diversity and inclusion from our operating partner HI (Humanity and Inclusion).
Young mothers with their babies performing on the stage
Our daytime mobile cinema tent
Our team in Tham Hin refugee camp supported a “Go and See, Come and tell” trip with Camp leaders and Thai authorities in November to identify potential repatriation areas across the border in Myanmar. Our team helped document the trip.
Potential repatriation site in Karen State, Myanmar
Camp leaders, community based organisations and refugee team who attended the trip
Our Sermpanya Foundation was invited to attend the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Security’s Social Worker and Volunteer Annual prize giving event in the city of Tak with the opportunity to set up an awareness raising booth. The event was held on 19 November and was supported by our Mae Sot team and Sermpanya Board member Ratachai Kongkiakiri. Our screening officer Teenakorn Trakansupakorn (Doh Doh) gave a wonderful presentation about our work with our stand attracting a keen interest in our programs from all who attended. Having our own booth also allowed us to screen our promotional video materials giving attendees a visual presentation of our work. Many volunteers were honoured and it was a excellent opportunity to network and meet the key foundations that serve the communities in the Province.
Our Screening Officer Teenakorn Trakansupakorn presents at our Sermpanya Foundation stand
Thai volunteers and community members who were honoured
The TAK Provincial Governor and his wife visited our stand and showed great interest in our work
Tak Provincial Governor and his wife, The Head of Social Development and Human Security, with our Sermpanya Foundation’s team : Sermpanya Board member Ratachai Kongkiakiri, Screening Manager Yuttana Sathianchaiphak, Teenakorn Trakansupakorn and our volunteer Caro Sharman
16 days of Activitism against Sex & General Based Violence are held between 25 November and 10 December around the world annually. Every year we support this important awareness raising initiative. This year’s opening ceremony was launched by UNHCR’s Goodwill Ambassador Japanese Singer Miyavi who sang his song We Are the Others which gives voice to refugees and displaced people. The 16 days include, among others, World AIDs Day, International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Human Rights Day. Our teams in 5 other camps also participated with activities and screening events, including showing KOMAL (the Childline India film about SGBV that we dubbed into Karen, Burmese and Karenni languages)
UNHCR Goodwill Abassadaor MIYAVI performing ‘We are the Others’ for 16 Days of Activism against SGBV
With rising SGBV incidents and increased suicide rates in the camps and the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the focus is on Protection issues in refugee communities and we have been commissioned by UNHCR to produce a new film which raises awareness of SGBV and the supports networks that are available to the community. In October, following hard on the heels of our Melioidosis film with SMRU (see below), our production team started development on the film and the team are now deep in production, shooting with the participation of the refugee community as actors and voice over artists. The film will be a combination of live action and motion graphics and will be dubbed into Karen, Karenni and Burmese, with English and Thai subtitles. We will keep you updated on our progress of this important new film in our next enews letter.
Our production team members at work
As part of the 16 Days Activities, we supported IRC (International Refugee Committee) with their awareness raising event aimed at students and young people for World AIDS day, providing sound equipment and video record.
Regional Director Mary Soan with one of our team members
Students attended the World AIDs Day awareness raising event
HI (Humanity & Inclusion)- Mine Risk Education Screening
On 30 November we held a pilot screening of our new film Melioidosis film for SMRU to Health visitors before we plan to disseminate it to the thai village communities
Regional Director Mary Soan addresses the health workers at the screening
In December we complete the shooting of the SGBV film and start its edit alongside a Spot cartoon film about Birth Registration for UNHCR. We will continue with our key campaigns screening Under the Mask (TB awareness) in Migrant learning centres and COERR Livelihood programme (Sustainable Agriculture) and Tread Carefully (Mine Risk Education) in the Refugee Camps.
Useful facts about this month’s screenings:
In November our 25 outreach screenings and activities reached 6077 refugees across 6 refugee camps. At our screenings we shared our 4 current campaigns: Livelihood, exploring sustainable agricultural opportunities; Mine Risk Education; Water management and Hygiene and Kitchen Gardens. All films are screened in the Karen language with subtitles in thai, burmese and/or English so they are accessible to the largest audiences. The exact data from our Film Aid teams at the 4 more northern refugee camps is still being collated.
In October we screened our Childcare campaign for IRC and SMRU in 16 OPD clinics in the camps and on the border to an audience of 12701. We are still collecting November’s numbers (1356 in 3 clinics to date..)
In October and November over 1000 students attended screenings of Under the Mask for our TB campaign with SMRU in the Migrant Learning Centres.
A screening at one of the OPD clinics
Thank you for continued support!
Please help us to continue our important educational outreach with our unique mobile cinema network and skills trainings programmes bringing benefit to the lives of thousands of refugees, migrants and rural villagers along the Thai Myanmar border.
Please visit our donate page at www.sermpanya.org/donate today! - we need your support urgently and all donations will make a difference!
Thank you for your valuable ongoing generosity!
Mary Soan, Regional Director
www.sermpanya.org
UNDER THE MASK - A DRAMA FILM ABOUT LIVING WITH TB
We are proud to share the exciting news that the Sermpanya Foundation, in co-production with the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), completed its first full length TB drama film UNDER THE MASK in March 2019. Focusing on the challenges of the Tuberculosis disease, its symptoms, treatment and prevention, Under the Mask presents the real life issues facing TB patients living along the Thai Myanmar border, including the various aspects of stigmatisation TB sufferers face and the devastating impact this often fatal disease can have on livelihoods and families. The narrative of the film is based on the real testimony of tuberculosis patients and, despite dealing with such a diffcult subject, the film is entertaining and inspiring and allows the audience to empathise with both the physical and emotional journeys of the characters.
The film was produced with the financial support of FilmAid Asia and MORU the Mahidol Oxford Research Unit (MORU) under a Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Grant.
The production of UNDER THE MASK represents part of FilmAid Foundation’s mission of educating and empowering communities through the emotional impact of film and the memorable experience of shared storytelling through mobile cinema screenings. Using our participatory methodology, we train refugees and others to make films that speak to their own communities in a culture and language that will be readily understood. Directed by Saw Ler Wah, a long term FilmAid Asia/Foundation team member, the film took its name from the fact that TB patients have to wear masks for the duration of their treatment, which can last for up to 20 months or longer. Saw Ler Wah and Saw Min Thu, the Director of Photography, spent time with chronic TB patients at the SMRU Shwe Koh Ko Clinic to get first hand accounts of their personal experiences. Using this testimony and under the mentorship of Mary Soan, FilmAid Asia/Foundation’s Director, Saw Ler Wah was able to craft a powerful and moving script which accurately portrays the experience of living with and overcoming, this potentially deadly disease and the value of sharing this knowledge with others.
Working in co-production with Dr Michele Vincenti, who leads the TB programme at SMRU and her dedicated medical team, important technical and practical messages were successfully woven into the story to provide accurate education and information on transmission, symptoms, treatment and prevention of the disease.
One of the most important issues arising from this global disease is stigmatisation towards those affected by TB and these are also highlighted in the film, emphasizing the need for better understanding and empathy towards sufferers of the condition. Crucial information for prevention and the need to follow a strict treatment regime, such as necessity of taking prescribed medicine at the same time each day, are also emphasised to show that you cannot fight TB without help and better health awareness.
Using actors drawn from the local villages and SMRU clinic staff, the story follows the lives of 3 main characters as they journey from diagnosis to treatment; all with the help from the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) TB team. None of the actors had any experience of acting before and it is the mark of the skill and calm of director Saw Ler Wah that they were able to remember their lines and understand the repetitive and painstaking process of film making. “Just one more time”!!
Under the Mask was shot by our DP Saw Min Thu, an original FilmAid Asia graduate, whose talent and creative vision gives the film a veracity and cultural sensitivity which engages and draws in the audience on a difficult subject matter through every frame. The editor was Patrick Sone Lin Htoo who has worked with FilmAid Asia for many years and has become a highly skilled and versatile editor, animator and graphic designer.
The music composer was Min Khai Linn at Classic Studio and together we have created a beautiful and energising soundtrack to the story. The film is shot in full HD and runs 75 mins and the language is Burmese with Karen, English and Thai subtitles. The film will also be dubbed into Karen Language.
The film premiered in Shwe Ko Ko in Karen State on 22 March 2019 marking a much anticipated goal for FilmAid Asia and the Foundation in terms of starting cross border screenings and reaching audiences at a grassroots level! We thank MORU and SMRU for this opportunity to produce and outreach this film which demonstrates so clearly how film can bring hope and change lives.
THE SCREENINGS - UNDER THE MASK - 16 VILLAGE CAMPAIGN - KAREN STATE - MAY 2019
Htee Law Shu village, Karen State - Night Screening
Following detailed pre-scouting and interactive meetings with village leaders, a five week outreach campaign was launched when the intrepid Sermpanya Foundation and SMRU teams set off together on the first cross-border mobile cinema screening campaign in Karen State (Myanmar), marking a milestone in FilmAid Asia/Sermpanya Foundation’s history.
The Mobile Cinema team - FilmAid & SMRU - On the Road!
“Health education with the movie is more effective than verbal sessions, because we (the community) can memorize a lot and share what’s in the movie…pamphlets are not very effective, as most villagers can’t read or write.”
The campaign was able to successfully reach rural 16 villages in 5 different districts of Karen State, with screenings specifically scheduled at night to accommodate the daily work routines of the farmers and local villagers. Pre and post screening question and answer sessions were conducted to allow for deeper understanding of the subject and testing for TB was offered for those who were concerned they may have symptoms.
Htee Law Thit village - Post screening questionnaire
The teams faced a myriad of challenges as they encountered difficult terrain and the early onset of the rainy season but true to form they managed to overcome any problems and bring the mobile cinema successfully to the eagerly awaiting villagers, many of whom had never seen a film before.
Htee Kew Htam village - Post screening questionnaire
In addition to screening the educational drama, Under the Mask, other short messaging clips were shown to encourage good health and hyiene behaviours.
Evening screening in Htee Law Shu village
At the end of the five week campaign, the teams had successfully reached 3,107 villagers and TB testing revealed 2 confirmed cases. The feedback from the villagers overwhelmingly confirmed that watching a film helped them understand the issues surrounding the disease better than that gained from a brochure and the shared screening experience helped them overcome their fear and misunderstandings about the disease. They requested we come back as soon as possible!
Kyant Set Village
We are now in conversation with SMRU to set up more cross border screening campaigns in the coming months but we need your support to help make this a reality! TB can affect anyone, in any country - your donation can have a real impact - Remember you cannot fight TB alone - It’s time to Act together! Thankyou!
Local Karen Villagers
On Thursday evening, 25 April 2019, hosted by the iconic Murray Hotel in Hong Kong’s Central district, supporters of FilmAid Asia gathered to celebrate 8 years of humanitarian operations in the 9 Refugee Camps situated along the Thailand Myanmar border.
A clear night under the stars, on the Murray Hotel patio, set the scene for FilmAid Asia to share how the Power of Film and our programme has transformed lives and helped communities from Myanmar who have been victims of conflict and ongoing displacement.
FilmAid Asia is now transferring its efforts to the FilmAid Foundation, which is registered as a Thai charity and known as Sermpanya in the local language, meaning ‘sharing wisdom’, and will continue to levy support to maintain and development our important humanitarian work in the region.
FilmAid Asia wishes to thank the wonderful staff and crew at the Murray Hotel for their wonderful hospitality, with special mention to Dean Dimitrou, Hotel Manager and Vishal Anand, Operations Director for making sure the evening went perfectly!
FilmAid Asia thanks all the amazing supporters that have allowed us to reach so many thousands of vulnerable people by sharing education, information and psycho-social relief to communities in need and by bringing lasting benefit to their lives and projecting hope for a better future.
Please continue to support our important work by clicking on the DONATE button or clicking on www.filmaidasia/donate. Thank you!
On June 10, 2018 at 7:21:56 PM, More Raca wrote:
Dear Caroline and FilmAid team,
I am really happy to be writing you after find your contact. It is a joy to finally know who were the people that had this impact on my childhood and from whom I was inspired to follow a career as a filmmaker. You and Film Aid International have had a great impact on my life.
I was six years old when I and my family had to leave our home in Kosovo and we became refugees in Macedonia. I remember thinking about my classroom and my classmates. I remember seeing my mom sad and depressed while holding my hand, she was 26 the same age that I am today and my dad holding my 2-year-old brother in his arms. When we were sent to the camp in Macedonia, people were silent and no one speaks about the terror that has happened. There were many people but I was feeling lonely and sad. I missed my toys and my friends, I missed someone who could smile at me, and all I was seeing was sad and desperate faces. Then some magic happened, more than anything in the world I needed magic and that was brought to me by a projector that I recently found out that brought to Macedonia. I was seeing cartoons and Charlie Chaplin movie, and for a while, there was a feeling that things will be alright, a feeling that I wasn’t alone. For a while I was happy and the entire trauma that we went through went away. It was just me and the character of the film.
Growing up that had an impact on my life. I knew and felt the power of film to change people’s lives and to heal wounds that nothing else can heal. It was this impact that you had in my childhood, this escape that you offered me, this magic in those times of terror that made me want to become a film director.
Today I make films to change people’s perspective on life, to make them aware of different issues, to advocate for their rights. I try to give voice to those who cannot tell their stories. I also work as a lecturer and teach young people the power of film.
Films are magic and I should thank you for showing that to a six-year-old refugee girl from Kosovo in 1999.
Forever thankful,
More Raça.
Film Director and human rights activist
More Raça | Writer and director
World TB day 2019
It`s time to talk about the real life of TB patients
UNDER THE MASK A FilmAid Foundation & SMRU Production
A premiere and a great success for the TB movie at Shwe KoKo, Myanmar on Friday night 22 March 2019!
Organised by SMRU, World TB Day was marked with 2 awareness raising events in Shwe KoKo School on Friday 22 March - the morning event was attended by young students and villagers with presentations on TB prevention and treatment from SMRU staff and District Hospital officials, with moving testimony from former TB patients and with interactive question and answer sessions. FilmAid Foundation provided audio visual support, showed health awareness short films, a trailer of the evening’s film Under the Mask, as well as videoing the event.
As night fell under a large yellow moon, we saw FilmAid Asia’s first night screening across the border in Myanmar in partnership with SMRU. The outdoor premiere screening of TB drama film Under the Mask was attended by more than 300 local villagers including members of the cast and crew. A post screening survey saw a satisfaction rating of 97% from the audience! FilmAid Foundation’s team produced the 1hr 15 min drama film based on the real testimony of TB patients in SMRU’s KoKo clinic, with a script written to raise awareness of the TB disease by encouraging treatment, diagnosis, prevention and destigmatisation. Filmed entirely in Shwe KoKo village and in SMRU’s TB clinic by FilmAid Foundation’s team and friends the film used local villagers and clinic staff members as cast and background actors.
The film will be shown in 17 villages in Karen State in May.
World TB Day - Under the Mask Night Screening
