SERMPANYA FOUNDATION

FilmAid Asia registered the our Sermpanya Foundation in Thailand in 2015 in order to legally extend our FilmAid activities to support programmes operating outside the refugee camp environment. The name Sermpanya means ‘sharing wisdom’ or ‘encouraging knowledge’.

Due to the porous nature of the Thailand Myanmar border and the creation of a Special Economic Zone spanning several ‘Friendship Bridges’ that join the two countries - thousands of Myanmar nationals cross the border every year, becoming migrant workers in Thailand. Migrant workers bring their families with them and now over 60 Migrant Learning Centres exist along the border ro support their children’s education. The Migrant Learning Centres provide an opportunity for education for migrant children who are not eligible to enrol in the Thai school system.

Since June 2015 we have been bringing our educational mobile screenings to the Migrant Learning Centres and are now reaching over 40 schools. The Migrant Learning Centres are supported by non-profit organisations - both local and international - and we work in partnership with these organisations

OUR HEAD OFFICE - MAE SOT, THAILAND

The Mae Sot head office supports a staff of six Thai and Myanmar nationals and co-ordinates all the programmes in the nine camps, in Tak Province and across the border in Myanmar.

In Mae La shelter camp we support eleven staff with sixteen screening staff in the remaining eight camps. We support other refugees as daily workers, as actors, voice over artists etc.

There are nine camps spread North to South along the Thai Myanmar border - Ban Mai Nai Soi (Site 1), Ban Mae Surin (Site 2), Mae La Oon, Mae Ra Ma Luang, Umpiem Mai, Nu Po, Mae La, Tham Hin and Ban Don Yang. We have teams in each camp with the main base in Mae La camp.The northern camps are particularly remote and some cannot be reached during the rainy season.

Map thanks to The Border Consortium ©TBBC 2011

OUT PATIENT DEParTments (OPD) in Ante natal clinics ALONG THE Border

Our Sermpanya Foundation is supporting OPD patients by bringing Mother and Child health care videos in local languages to be watched while waiting for appointments.

IN PATIENT AREAS (IPD) in TB TREATMENT clinic

TB treatment can last up to 20 months or more and Sermpanya Foundation has provided a television kit with speakers to provide residents of the TB Clinic the opportunity to watch educational, informational and entertainment videos.

TRAVELLING CINEMA IN THAI VILLAGES

Our mobile cinema has brought night screenings to Karen Thai Villages with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture education and health topics. Future projects plan to tackle alcohol and drug issues.

TRAVELLING CINEMA IN KAREN VILLAGES (CROSS BORDER)

In May we were able to reach a new milestone when our mobile cinema reached sixteen villages with community screenings in Karen State, across the border into Myanmar itself, with our partner SMRU, outreaching TB awareness with our new drama film “Under the Mask”. The screenings were held in the evening after dark to allow the farm workers and other working villagers to attend the event. Pre and post feedback sessions were held and the opportunity to test sputum allowed villagers to more fully understand the prevention and treatment strategies open to them. The film is designed to reduce stigma and bring TB back into the conversation so that villagers can recognise symptoms and not be afraid to seek treatment.

MOBILE CINEMA IN THE 9 REFUGEE CAMPS

In 2011 there were over 150,000 refugees in the 9 camps, but by 2016, with resettlement and the change in government across the border, refugee numbers have fallen - according to UNHCR figures in June 2020 there are still 93,412 refugees remaining in the camps. Those who have lost their homes and livelihoods, those who were disabled by landmines and attacks, those who are born in the camps - all are facing the challenges of finding a way to repatriate. Ceasefires break down, the Burmese military continue to confiscate land and terrorize villages, and the building of civil society and local infrastructure is not materialising.

OBJECTIVES of THE FOUNDATION

To disseminate educational tools for the benefit of the target beneficiaries.

To implement activities dedicated to the communities’ benefit.
To work in close cooperation and collaboration with other organizations and partners for the communities’ benefit.
To implement activities not linked to political considerations.

To promote and improve the living conditions, specifically primary public health, vocational training, learning and education, community development and environment protection, to vulnerable communities.

To relieve poverty, suffering, hardship and distress among vulnerable communities, with emphasis on women and children.
To promote and support education and learning for children, students, adults and for the public benefit.

Sermpanya Foundation (FilmAid Foundation), Thailand

103/5 Samak-sappakan Road, Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand

Tel Landline: +66 (0)55 5089 42 Mobile: + 66 (0)890 672 377

Email: info@sermpanya.org

SERMPANYA FOUNDATION - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pongtorn Jariyaset (Chair)

Mary Soan (Vice Chair)

Ratachai Kongkiatkiri

Kannika Sittisophon

Kitchakorn Bunsrikun (Treasurer)