Life.Culture.Discovery.

Hong Kong artists support Myanmar refugee students – make a donation to sponsor their education for a chance of winning an artwork

A print by Australian artist Simon Fuller, a painting by Hongkonger Man Chi-loy and a work by Zimbabwean-born Marc Standing are among the prizes

Funds raised will pay for teacher stipends, stationery and classroom supplies, utility fees and the cost of transporting goods to the schools

2-MIN READ2-MIN

A photo by Gary Jones. He and other Hong Kong artists have donated works to Karing Frontiers to offer as prizes to donors who give money to support refugee students from Myanmar living in camps in Thailand. Photo: Gary Jones

Published: 5:15pm, 25 Jun 2021Updated: 5:15pm, 25 Jun 2021

Hong Kong artists have come together to back a fundraising campaign supporting education opportunities for young migrants and refugees on the Thai-Myanmar border.

They have donated works to be offered as prizes by Karing Frontiers, a Hong Kong-based student organisation that hopes to raise HK$302,000 (US$38,900) from donors, with all proceeds going towards sponsoring 534 students and 60 teachers.

“With the escalating tensions in Myanmar, the education of these refugee and migrant students is essential for the rebuilding of Myanmar from the bottom up,” says Karing Frontiers co-founder Angelica Cheng.

It’s been nearly five months since the military seized power in Myanmar, with the elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of her National League for Democracy party among those detained.

It’s been nearly five months since the military seized power in Myanmar. Photo: TNS

Since the February 1 coup, violence and protests have swept the country, with more than 820 people killed, according to the non-profit organisation Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Cheng says funds raised will support five postsecondary schools in refugee camps on the Thai-Myanmar border.