The Weaving Vocational Program is implemented in collaboration with the refugee camp’s schools, so that vocational training is provided directly to the students, who thereby form a youth-driven artisan group. Since then 50 Burmese refugee students of the Karen people, ages 10-18, have participated in The Weaving Vocational Program each semester, receiving instruction from experienced weavers. Students learn traditional Karen weaving techniques and produce intricate bags and scarves that are sold in the U.S. and in the camp to raise funds for the program.

In Kawthoolei (or Karen State, Burma), the area the refugees left behind, weaving was something that every woman did on a daily basis. Every piece of clothing was woven. However, life in a refugee camp makes it very difficult to keep alive cultural traditions, identities, and values. Used western clothing is shipped from overseas and distributed by aid agencies, and there are not much materials to use for traditional weaving. Our effort, in collaboration with local schools, has three goals: 1) to keep the traditions alive among the younger generation, 2) to provide the youth a chance to acquire vocational skills, and 3) to provide a sense of ownership and self-esteem in an environment where it is difficult for young people to establish their identity both as individuals and as members of a strong cultural tradition.
The products themselves serve as a vehicle of artistic expression for the students and adults who create them. Certain colors hold both traditional and personal significance among the weavers, and most Karen patterns have a basis in their extensive folklore.

Click here to see a gallery of the students weaving products.

The Karen weaving tradition is unique in its use of color and distinct designs for men and women. Click here to see a gallery of the students weaving products.