Kayin school children learn to identify, avoid and report landmines

By Macarena Aguilar

Decades of armed conflict in Myanmar’s Southeast have left farming land and forests contaminated with landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), which pose a major risk to children and their communities. This is particularly true in Kayin State, where all seven townships are plagued with explosive devices and accidents are still frequent.

Raising awareness among children in their schools about the many dangers of mines has become a flagship strategy for UNICEF and its partners since 2016. Children aged 8 to 14 are those most at risk and mine risk education (MRE) sessions have been designed with them in mind. 

“This age group is especially vulnerable,” explains UNICEF’s Child Protection Officer Danee Luhar. “They are eager to explore and play in hideouts and will take more risks to do so. But also children this age are often in charge of fetching firewood or water for their families so will wander from the beaten paths.”

During 2017, only in Kayin state, together with DanChurchAid – Norwegian Church Aid and in collaboration with the Departments of Social Welfare and of Education, over 6000 school children have been reached.

©UNICEF Myanmar/2017/Khine Zar Mon

Teachers play a key role facilitating these sessions in the schools. After undergoing a rigorous training-of-trainers course, where they learn a mix of techniques to engage children, they are encouraged to run as many sessions as possible in their respective centres. “We have already trained 210 teachers and the results are pretty impressive,” says Danee. 

©UNICEF Myanmar/2017/Khine Zar Mon

Today, during a session in Chaung Taung State high school in Kawkaraite Township all eyes and ears are on the lively presentation. Large banners depicting imaginary scenes through comic strips as well as posters decorate the main hall where children are learning how to identify, avoid and report landmines. Teachers use a common MRE toolkit that was developed with the European Union’s support, then carefully tested and rolled out across the country for all organizations to use. It’s made up of a handy colourful flipchart helping facilitators to structure the session.

A leaflet distributed to the children uses simple images – examples of unexploded ordnances, injuries that can result, and the risk of death represented by a skull and crossbones. The children engage with the teachers, answering and asking questions. They sing along to re-purposed popular songs with catchy lyrics that get the messages across. 

“They learn simple rules. If they see something suspicious they should stop, retreat, go home and tell their parents – who should contact local authorities,” explains Danee. 

©UNICEF Myanmar/2017/Khine Zar Mon

Children are also encouraged to share the leaflets with their parents and caregivers, and to continue discussing with them how their immediate surroundings may actually be affected. 

On average, nationwide, the past two years have seen landmines claim a new victim every third day. One out of every three victims is a child and many cases go unreported. In Kayin for example, many victims cross to neighbouring Thailand to seek treatment there.

Scaled-up mine awareness education activities have already reached over 200,000 children across Myanmar. Moving forward, the goal is to weave dedicated modules into the school curriculum, especially in the nine States and Regions known to be littered with mines. “This is the most effective way to ensure we reach all children,” says Danee. “Neighbouring countries like Cambodia have already reached this stage with mine risk education mainstreamed into their teaching programs.”

Working with community based organisations and volunteers, UNICEF is also conducting mine awareness directly with communities most affected by Myanmar’s many conflicts, with Shan, Kachin and Kayin States highest on the list. Assistance to landmine victims is also being provided with two centres in Kayin run by Handicap International. 

But the ultimate solution to Myanmar’s landmine problem is demining, a process that many fear will still need time. “Myanmar shouldn’t wait for all aspects in peace negotiations to be solved to make progress on demining. Especially in Kayin, where there’s no active fighting. The sooner this process begins the sooner we will see children spared from injuries and death,” said Danee.