Mine Risk Education
Background

The awareness of dangers from landmines has emerged significantly throughout the world, and become a serious humanitarian emergency. Thailand is one of the major mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) affected countries in the world with an estimated area of 2,560 square kilometers. These afflicted areas are found along the borders of Thailand with her neighboring countries.

ADPC, as a member of Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines, has been involved in mine awareness activities since 1999. When the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested ADPC’s assistance, ADPC organized Thailand’s First National Seminar on Mine Action on 17 December 1999 in Bangkok, with the objective to raise public awareness at the national level on the existence and dangers of anti-personnel landmines, and also to identify and assist those organizations involved in the various aspects of landmines. Upon the request made by 150 people from all the government ministries and NGOs participating in the seminar, ADPC took the lead in the field of mine awareness training and education at national and in particular at the community levels.

After successfully completing mine risk education training program in Sa Kaew province during July 2000, ADPC started implementing the Mine Risk Education Training Program for Schoolteachers in Mine Impacted Communities along the Thai – Myanmar Border, focusing on Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai province in 2004, with support from UNICEF. One training course on Mine Risk Education was organized for 82 schoolteachers, school administrators and Educational Supervisors from those five districts located near the border. The training aimed to transfer knowledge on mine dangers and risks to schoolteachers, together with basic safety procedures to protect children and their families. Once the teachers are aware of the serious mine threat, they can educate schoolchildren living in areas affected by explosive weapons of war, especially landmines, booby traps or UXO (e.g. unexploded bombs or shells) and change their high risk behavior to more cautious behavior through lessons and activities provided by mine risk education.

In continuation of the mine risk education program in mine affected communities along the Thai Myanmar border and in response to the request for MRE training courses for children. Mine Risk Education Program for Students in Mine Affected Communities in Mae Hong Son Province with support from UNICEF has been conducted. ADPC sees that it is of great benefit to provide mine risk education to students in the form of learning camps; particularly in Mae Hong Son where the number of teachers is limited and support from ADPC on MRE is needed. According to data from Provincial Educational Office Area 1, there are only 86 teachers responsible for 2,106 students in five mine affected districts, namely Muang, Koon Yuam, Mae Sariang, Pang Ma-Pa, and Sob Moey in Mae Hong Son. So as to achieve the objective in promoting mine risk education among students, the project applies an integrated approach for building children’s awareness and providing them with knowledge and correct information on mine dangers. Trained teachers have participated as facilitators and instructors for the activities. This one year program has been implemented in five high risk districts, namely Muang, Koon Yuam, Mae Sariang, Pang Ma-Pa, and Sob Moey in Mae Hong Son.

Mine Risk Education

The Mine Risk Education Program for Students in Mine Affected Communities in Mae Hong Son Province project (MRE) has three main objectives as follows:

Objectives 1: To build awareness of the mine threats, dangers of mine and basic safety procedures for students in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand
Objectives 2: To revise and translate manuals (Thai to English) on danger of mines and basic safety procedures
Objective 3: To produce teaching and learning materials for raising mine risk awareness

Accordingly, Three main activities were initiated in order to reach the objective.

Activity 1: Mine Risk Education Learning Camp
The purpose is to impart knowledge on mine risks and dangers and to make children aware of mine threats and how to protect themselves from mine dangers, along with basic safety procedures.

Activity 2: Revise and Translate Manuals on Dangers of Mine and Basic Safety Procedures
The purpose is to revise and translate (Thai to English) the manuals on dangers of mines, and basic safety procedures, and produce for benefit of these working on Myanmar side of the border.

Activity 3: Develop Mine Awareness and Teaching Materials
The purpose is to develop materials for MRE teaching and raising awareness on mine risks.

Mine Risk Education

ADPC Educates Primary School Students on Landmines

Border Patrol Police 336 assumed the role of trainers to present case studies.
Students were presented Certificates of Completion.

On 19-21 July 2006, MRE team went to Mae Hong Son to conduct a Mine Risk Protection Camp in mine infested areas at Namtok Mae Surin National Park. 130 people participated -- 88 students, 22 teachers, 15 other government officers and 5 staff). Opening and closing ceremonies were conducted by Mr. Sitthichai Prasertsri, Deputy Governor of Mae Hong Son. The programme aims to help people living along Thai – Myanmar borders to avoid being land mine victims. Children are the main targets, and UNICEF is providing financial support to the programme.

The first day of the training highlighted educating students at primary school level on general knowledge about landmines, the physical appearance of landmines, the detrimental or negative effects of landmines, warning signs, mine affected areas, how to observe a landmine, how to avoid treading on the mines and basic first aid. ADPC trained schoolteachers and Border Patrol Police 336 assumed the role of trainers. The second day involved case studies by Border Patrol Police 336. The last day focused on student presentations on their landmine knowledge after training. Finally, the students were presented Certificates of Completion.