1992: Providing refuge

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Tags: social work, summer-2011

Dr Shirley Worland (front centre) with students and staff from Thoo Mweh Khee Senior College

Shirley Worland, Bachelor of Social Work, PhD

An eight-month contract as a volunteer teacher in a refugee camp on the Thai–Burma border has ignited a passion in Dr Shirley Worland to make education more accessible for marginalised people.

The UQ alumnus lived in Mae La Refugee Camp, Thailand as part of her PhD study into the national identity of the displaced ethnic minority, the Christian Karen.

During this period, she formed a close connection with the Karen people after spending time in their communities, and with those who have resettled under the UNHCR scheme to Australia.

In 2009, Dr Worland partnered with local Karen leaders to establish Thoo Mweh Khee Senior College (TMKSC) in Phopra, Thailand, which is providing a senior level of education for young adult refugees on the Thai-Burma border.

“We provide a two or three year program in English to the students who are from families that have fled the persecution in Burma’s troubled ethnic states,” she said.

“The refugee students, who are aged in their teens or early 20s, are not registered as residents in Thailand and therefore are not able to attend Thai schools for Years 11 and 12.”

The aim of the college is to provide a level of education that will enable students to secure gainful employment along the border or attend one of the international universities in Thailand by passing the International General English Diploma exam.

“TMKSC is located right on the border near where the renewed fighting has been taking place since the November 7th Burma election. Many of our students’ families are located in the villages in these areas,” Dr Worland said.

“Recently, the fighting has been very fierce just across the border from us and mortar fire and the sound of landmine explosions can be heard regularly.
“So many refugees have poured across the border and come to our school seeking refuge from the fighting and we are all trying to help as best we can.”

By Kathy Grube

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