Sarah and I made a very special trip today
to Jen’s House, located approximately
one hour’s drive outside of Chiang Mai. Who is Jen and why was this trip so
special? Let me back up a bit to explain.
In December we met Coleen Scott and her
husband Bob while visiting with some other farangs (foreigners) on our little
laneway in Chiang Mai. Coleen and Bob are from Ottawa and come to Chiang Mai
each winter, but their purpose here is much greater and more noble than to
simply escape the frigid temperatures of Canada’s capital. It is as much a
personal mission as it is an annual holiday. Coleen first came to Thailand in
2001 with her daughter Jenny, and while trekking through the mountains became acquainted
with the Karen hill tribe people, an
ethnic group living in the mountains of both Myanmar and Thailand. Coleen and
Jenny were instantly captivated by the simplicity of their lifestyle and the
kindness and love they displayed. They also saw first-hand the challenges faced,
in particular the lack of education. Jenny immediately decided she wanted to
work with the Karen (this is the
Anglicized spelling and the emphasis is on the second syllable).
In
2003 Jenny died tragically, but Coleen somehow summoned the strength to
overcome her grief and find a way to capture her daughter’s spirit in the form
of Jen’s House. It is a home for 24
girls and boys from the Karen hill
tribes who live there while attending school in the local community. The kids
are aged 12 to 17 and we were lucky enough to meet many of the students as well
as several who have graduated and have gone on to university. Coleen and Bob received generous donations
but also used their personal funds to build the house.
The paragraphs above do not do justice to
the entire story but I’m hoping it has provided enough of a history for you to
appreciate the compelling reasons for our visit. For much more information
please check out this website: www.kleosupportgroup.org
On to our visit. Jen’s House is about as basic a structure as you will find. It is
by no means a North American style dormitory with private rooms, comfortable
furniture and well-equipped kitchen. No,
the girls all sleep together in one room on simple bunk beds. Actually, the
girls mainly use the beds for storage and sleep on the floor. The bathrooms are
outside and contain squat toilets and the students must shower using a bucket.
The house recently received a donated couch but it’s doubtful that any of us
would permit it in our homes given its dilapidated state. While these
conditions may sound somewhat primitive, it was all by design. Coleen believed strongly
that the students should feel at home and the emphasis is on community and
opportunity as opposed to luxury and materialism. Coleen makes it very clear
that her goal is not to “save” kids or “improve” their lives. She and the KLEO
organization offer the opportunity for these kids to achieve a higher education
than they would be able to do within their villages. The hope is that these
students will use their education to help preserve and improve the Karen culture.
Sarah and I both felt an incredibly
positive energy throughout the day. The kids, although shy, were welcoming and
respectful, with the most incredible smiles. They performed their chores, completed
their schoolwork, and prepared our lunch (Coleen insists on the kids accepting
responsibility), all the while giggling like the most contented children in the
world. Once again I am amazed at how happy people can be while having, from a
westerner’s materialistic view, so little.
A truly inspiring day.
Until next time...
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