IOM Southeast Asia

Date Established The program was establishedin Thailand in May 2004 and in Malaysia and Cambodia in June 2005.

RefugeesThe original target populations were the Hmong, a hilltribe group from Laos who fought with the Americans during the Vietnam War, and various ethnic groups in Thailand and Malaysia fleeing persecution from the regime in Burma. The majority of these is the Karen, though Burman, Chin, Rohinjas, and others are also included. Participants in the Cambodia program are Montagnards, mostly Christian mountain people fleeing religious and ethnic persecution in Vietnam.

The program serves all ages; refugees as young as 8 and as old as 84 have attended. Educational levels vary considerably. Amongst the Hmong, education levels were generally very low, with many having had no formal education. Education levels amongst the Burmese and Karen are considerably higher, with a considerable proportion having attended secondary school studies.

Training Sites Wat Tham Krabok, Thailand (Hmong); Phnom Phen, Cambodia (Montagnards), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (mostly ethnic Chin) and 4 sites in camps along the Thai-Burmese border. The main site of resettlement for Thailand in 2006-07 is Tham Hin camp in Ratchaburi Province (ethnic Karen).

Staff Staff size has fluctuated depending on the size of the refugee population being trained. Currently there are 10 CO staff; they include one American, one Canadian, one Russian, one Burmese-Karen, one Thai-Karen, and five Thais.

Course Particulars Normal course length varies between 15 and 25 hours, depending on student numbers, logistics, location of the training and costs. Ideal class size varies between 20 and 25 students per class. On occasion, half-day sessions have been offered for groups as small as three.

Course content is based on The Welcome Guide, with topics adapted to the interests and needs of each refugee group. Special courses are organized for children and for youth, and special topics for parents have been developed and piloted.

All sessions are carried out in the language of the participants, usually with the use of interpreters. The training methodology used is highly interactive; participants are presented with situations and are challenged to find solutions themselves.

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