BANGKOK: A little Christmas cheer is coming to some of the thousands of refugee children along the Thai-Myanmar border by way of gifts gathered at a Church-run stage production in Bangkok.

Around 100 young Catholic performers staged a musical at Assumption Cathedral recently titled "The Gift," focusing on the spirit of giving.

Instead of paying for tickets, the 500 or so members of the audience donated toys, games or other children's playthings to gain entrance. Some 600 dolls, toy animals, jigsaw puzzles and other games were collected and will be distributed to refugee children by the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR).

The intention of the event was to "raise awareness about the situation of refugees and their difficulties," said Father Vorayuth Kitbamrung, chaplain of the performing group. "This event promoted the true spirit of Christmas which is giving, which each person did according to his ability," he added.

Life for thousands of refugee children living in camps near the Thai-Myanmar border is bleak, as they lack many of the material things that other children enjoy.

According to Chalermchai Tungjaroenkitkarn, chairperson of the charity event, a Church team went to some of the camps to learn more about the situation there. They reported that children in the camps lack many things needed in life such as a proper education.

"They don't even have toys," he said. He added that he hopes the gifts collected will help the children develop the physical and mental skills needed for their psychological development.

Father Rattanasak Kitsakul, who heads COERR in Ratchaburi province, said the refugees live mainly on handouts because they are forbidden from working or seeking employment, and cannot travel freely outside their camps. "They just remain there every day without hope or any aim in life."

The priest said while the UN's refugee body the UNHCR provides rice, chili paste and salt for refugees, COERR helps them grow vegetables to boost nutrition.

"We also teach them to make candles since there's no electricity in the camps. We give basic education to the children such as lessons in the English and Myanmar languages so that when they are able to go home they can eventually find work," he said. So far 20,000 refugees have been resettled in other countries such as Australia, USA and Finland, he added.

The UNHCR in October said there were 108,144 Myanmar refugees in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border in Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Maehongson and Tak provinces. According to COERR staff member Krittika Kittipittayakorn, COERR has been providing help in all the camps since they were established 20 years ago.

The recently collected toys and games will be distributed to children in one camp in Ratchaburi and two in Kanchanaburi. The three camps have a total of 11,200 refugees.

Courtesy: UCAN