FilmAid in Thailand

Pilot Project for Burmese Refugees Makes Huge Impact
In 2009 FilmAid completed a three-month pilot project in Mae La Camp in Thailand. Mae La is one of nine camps which are host to approximately 150,000 refugees living along Thailand’s western border with Burma. With support from The Co-operative and ZOA Refugee Care, FilmAid ran a filmmaker training workshop for young refugees which culminated in the production of three student films addressing the issues of alcohol abuse, drugs and HIV/AIDS within the refugee community.

Following the graduation of 40 students, FilmAid partnered with the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) and their Community Agriculture & Nutrition (CAN) team to write a script on how to grow Kitchen Gardens in limited spaces. This initiative by CAN is part of a programme to support refugee agricultural production within the camp communities along the border, to supplement the basic dry food ration with freshly grown nutritious vegetables and to encourage self-sufficiency amongst families.

Kitchen Gardens Project Grows Support

In February 2011 FilmAid returned to the camp to produce the Kitchen Gardens film with TBBC. Through visual storytelling, with humour, compassion and a sense of hope, this inspiring 30-minute film Ma Doh Ma Ka (“Helping Each Other”) demonstrates how it is possible to grow fresh food in challenging conditions whereby bringing life-changing and life-saving information to the refugees. Within two months FilmAid and TBBC have reached over 5,000 refugees in daytime screenings in three different camps. FilmAid will work with TBBC to screen the film in multiple venues throughout the region reaching thousands more refugees.

Thailand Program Gains Momentum

FilmAid Asia will continue to partner with other local NGOs and local Community Based Organizations operating within the camp to produce films with the refugees dealing with all issues affecting their community — issues such as safe water practices, hygiene, sanitation, disease prevention, legal rights, the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, HIV/AIDS awareness, gender based violence and protection of the environment.

Please consider making a donation towards producing these films and helping us use the power of film to help those who need it most. To learn more about our Asia projects and how to get involved please contact asia@filmaid.org.

Mary Soan is the Regional Programme Director for FilmAid Asia, currently running FilmAid’s programmes in Thailand. Mary has worked on numerous international feature films as First Assistant Director and as Second Unit Director (Welcome to Sarajevo, The Madness of King George, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Chinese Box, Pearl Harbour) and now freelances as a Director/Producer/Writer. Her extensive film work has given her wide experience in filming in diverse and challenging places with many different nationalities and languages. Instrumental in the launch of FilmAid, Mary helped create the organisation’s first outdoor screening program in Macedonia and Kosovo in 1999. She went on to design and build FilmAid’s mobile cinema in Kenya, which continues today. Having worked actively in the creation of FilmAid programmes in Kenya, Tanzania, Haiti and Thailand, Mary’s leadership continues to be a critical factor in the organisation’s growth and development. She is a voting member of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) and holds a BA Hons degree in Drama and French from London University.