WEAVE :: Women's Education for Advancement and Empowerment

Motivated by the vision of a world where women and their children are free to excercise their human rights, WEAVE is committed to teaching women to become socially, economically and politically empowered.

WEAVE (Women's Education for Advancement and Empowerment) was founded in 1990, with the intent to empower indigenous women and support their needs and basic human rights. The organization has evolved over the years, especially in the context of the influx of refugees from Burma.

In 1994, WEAVE developed a partnership with refugee women's organizations. This lead to changes in our mission to reflect the organizations new thrust and direction

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By Sarah Matsushita

Back home in her village in Karen State, Burma, Naw Wah May Paw sold rice and curry at the roadside to make money for her family. But her livelihood and safety were threatened when the Burmese military began attacking nearby villages. She endured the constant fear and threat, until an attack occurred close to her home. She and her family had to flee.

The trek to safety was perilous, as they crossed the river separating northwestern Thailand from Burma. They were fortunate to arrange a truck to pick them up on the Thai side, taking her whole family, including her nine siblings and four children.

Although safe for the time being, life in a refugee camp was far from being an exciting new start. "I can't go everywhere (I want)," she said, referring to restriction of movement placed on refugees in Thai camps.

In Umpiem Mai Camp, where she has lived since 1999, she and the other 4,000 refugees there have very few options for livelihoods inside the camps. They are eager to make money for their families, yet unless they are one of the lucky few to get jobs with aid agencies working inside the camps, there is nothing available.