English and Computer School
Mae La Refugee Camp

The Anglican Language & Computer Centre (ALCC ) provides English and computer training classes for post- year 10 students. Commenced in 2006, there are over 70 students in the school. Most of the students have had some secondary education and must pass an exam to be accepted by ALCC. The students are generally aged between 19 and 26. Their classes are taken by teachers from Mae la camp, mostly from Myanmar. AKF is a funding partner along with the Brackett Foundation, and St Stephens Anglican Church, Werribee, Victoria.

English Conversation Program

This program helps ALCC students improve their English conversational skills, by talking with 'conversationalists'. Utilising videochat technology, students are encouraged to converse with the conversationalist and with the other students.

Volunteers have been assisting since 2018 and converse with the same group of approximately 5 young people each week for 30 mins. ALCC does have breaks for exams, and for the students to return to their families. Some preparation is required however the idea is to try to have a conversation around different topics, being culturally sensitive, and giving the students the encouragement to have a go at speaking English and answering open ended questions.

The students look forward to their weekly chats, and our volunteers have found it to be rewarding as well.

Laptops for Learning

The demand for cost-effective laptops keeps growing on the on the Thai-Myanmar border. We source quality assured second-hand laptops in Australia, which are then taken to the refugee camp by AKF members.

The laptops are used in computer and English classes, and in the English Conversation Program. Increasingly the laptops are being used to provide online learning for teachers and students.

Leadership Development

AKF facilitates leadership training both in Victoria and on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Young Adult Leadership Program (YALP)
The Young Adult Leadership Program focuses on giving young Karen the tools to clarify and strengthen their own identity and to build leadership skills to be activists in their communities in Australia and on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Mentoring
AKF mentors Karen leaders to develop their sense of leadership in the Australian Karen context.

Microfinance

AKF has facilitated the setting up of a small external microfinance project. Through a loan group Karen villagers receive training in managing savings and loans, and obtain small loans to assist them with their enterprises.

Supporting Vulnerable Karen Youth

AKF actively supports a community program reaching out to Karen young people, made vulnerable by substance abuse.

In 2018 the drug ice made its way through dealers into the Karen community in the south east suburbs of Melbourne. The effects of this drug on users and families can be devastating. Culturally, this situation precipitates a great amount of shame in the Karen families and networks and consequently requires sensitive approaches. In response to the situation the program commenced with a 6 month pilot in early 2019 and has continued since then.

The initiative involved a bi-lingual Karen family worker who gets alongside the young people in need and their families in a part-time role.

The work is systemic in that the worker has had to develop the skills to liaise closely with hospitals and mental health, churches, the police and the courts, community services and Karen leaders, and at times, schools and Centrelink.

Through cooperative work the program is designed to enable these young people to grow in needed self-esteem by means of the worker's support, and where appropriate to access rehabilitation services, in the pathway of overcoming addiction, and to return to a close belonging in family and to reconnect with the community.

AKF's role is to assist in finding funding resources and applications; by participating in the steering committee to ensure good supervision and support of the worker, as well as the program as a whole in terms of ongoing evaluation and review.