With the Rohingyas at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

This is a long Facebook post I did yesterday (I always use a third-person for my posts).

Anthea is beaming a big hello to all from the Rohingyas refugee camp at Cox's Bazarwith her many new friends, and two not-so-new ones Moses Mohan and Lewis Chen. Not planning to share sob stories nor whine about politics and international development. She needs to rest but really want to post her quick thoughts before the rawness wanes: 

1. Deeply moved by the stories of suffering shared (e.g. 14 year old girl saw her parents killed one after another in front of her) 

2. Decidedly inspired by the strength of the human spirit to live as a community against all odds (e.g no orphanage in the camp because intact families adopt the ones who have lost their parents)

3. Suitably awestruck by Hassan of BRAC whom we agree is a living bodhisattva because he's so so human in his work with the refugees. He never ever once used the word 'help' - only 'support' because he believes we are here to support each other as human beings. His wise words were 'support them with what they need, not what you want to give'.(e.g keeping their beliefs and values as an ethnic community as intact as possible in the learning centres for children, sexual education for girls and boys, counselling for mothers, paracounselling for children etc.) He told us a story of an international donor who gave $10m takas to buy toys for the children, and then what?, Hassan asked rhetorically. 

4. Immensely delighted to learn that the curriculum at BRAC's latest 'Humanitarian Play Labs' starts with the children reciting their daily practice of 'I will not lie', 'I will respect my elders', 'I will take care of those younger than me' and so on. Universal values across all traditions, really. Then the children play the traditional games of the community - not modern toys etc. (you can see that in the pics - the way they bend into 'elephants' and 'monkeys' with each other made Lewis worried that they would hurt themselves. Concerns of a Singaporean father! *wink) The investment they put into Train-the-Teachers is just so admirable! 

5. Beyond humbled by the responses from the 12 girls between 8-12 she had a private session with when she asked what they would like to be when they grow up. One said she wanted to be a doctor, another a teacher - the rest asked shyly how can they be anything if they cannot have formal education (they are stateless). Choked back her tears when one said she wanted to be like her, and asked if she could take her back to Singapore so she can study! ?? When she asked what they would like to learn, they all had the same request - "please teach us a skill so we can work". 

We went wearing the Playground of Joy hat to explore possibilities of providing psychosocial support resources (we will still do that) yet finding a way for even just these 12 girls to learn life and vocational skills that can help them make a livelihood, and a life, within the camp may be what we could be useful for. The proceeds from 50 Shades of Love can support such a love-life 'experiment'. 

"Support them with what they need, not what you want to give." Hassan's words ring loud and sound. #?? <3