S'Phan Shaung-Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will present Dr Cynthia Maung, the founder of Mae Tao Clinic with a honorary doctoral degree in recognition of her work with refugee and migrant communities on the Thai Burma border.
Ubon Ratchathani University (UBU), Thailand, will present Dr Cynthia Maung, a Karen doctor and founder of the Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai-Burma border with an honorary doctoral degree in Medicine on the 18th December 2013.
Dr. Cynthia spoke to Karen News that the degree was the degree was acknowledgement of the service her staff provided.
"This award shows the value of the healthcare services we provide on the border and of our health workers' efforts. I am pleased that they are being recognized and encouraged."
The honorary degree is to be presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The award is being given in recognition of Dr Cynthia's work with Burmese refugees, migrants, and orphans at the Thai-Burmese Border, Mae Tao Clinic said in a statement.
Dr Cynthia said that she hoped to continue her collaboration with Thai health officials.
"We hope in the future, we can continue to coordinate with Thai health organizations."
Ubon Ratchathani University announced the award in early November and said that Dr. Cynthia would receive in person the honorary degree.
Saw Win Kyaw, a director of the Back Pack Health Worker Team – a community based organization working on healthcare provision along the Thai Burma border – spoke to Karen News about the degree.
"Sayama [Dr Cynthia] provides health care and has treated everyone equally without discrimination. She is a role model [for the health worker]. She is a good example for the Karen people and for all health workers and organizations. She deserves many more honors."
Dr Cynthia has received more than 20 international awards for her work in health and human rights including the Australia's Sydney Peace Prize, The One Award of Hong Kong and the Ramon Magsaysay Award of the Philippines for Community Leadership.
Although the YM CA did not directly organize the protest or its employees take part, Howng Lum says the discussion group supported the organizers.
"At our discussion group, I ask participants 'What are your resources?, What can you do to make change?',"
Howng Lum said, explaining that he and other facilitators seek to empower participants to organize their own activities.
With reminders every- where of the conflict in Kachin State, there is much to worry about in Myitkyina and the discussion group can be an outlet for concern. "Young people need a place to talk about the conflicts," said Howng Lum.
Last year participants organized a clothing drive for internally displaced persons at the Maina camp, about 30 minutes by car from Myitkyina. Discussion group participants have also been teaching basic English, showing films and holding discussions at the Maina camp.
"We held an interesting discussion about the shared experience of the Kachin people and the Aboriginals in Australia. We talked about the experience of being a minority," said Howng Lum.
Howng Lum also incorporates political discussion in his daily English classes and often asks foreign YM CA guests to join. "We want to share our experiences on the ground and hear the perspective of foreigners," he said.
The security situation means that Kachin State may not receive many tourists this high season. But those who do make the journey to the state's diverse and fascinating capital can expect to meet a few eager, young English speakers ready to strike a conversation about their country's political climate.
"Young people search for political awareness," said Howng Lum, perhaps reflecting on his experience of growing up in far northern Myanmar, "and they need support to make change."
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/thai-university-bestows-honors-dr-cynthia-with-doctorate/
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