Friday, 11 April 2014
Graduation
I did not get to go to this ceremony, as it took place when I was away in Bangkok, but my coordinator went on my behalf and took some photos. This is graduation from nursery school, Thai style, complete with gowns and certificates, presented by the local government chief official. Serious stuff!!
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Flying the flag for girls and women
An important part of the school day is the 9:00am gathering under the flag to sing the national anthem. This patriotic ritual is repeated in schools, colleges, military and other institutions every morning throughout the country.
I could not help noticing that it is always a little boy who is chosen to pull the rope to raise the flag, while a little girl stands next to him, looking ornamental, with the upward-moving rope gliding effortlessly through her hands. I asked the director about this one day, wondering out loud whether it might not be possible, perhaps, from time to time for a little girl to raise the flag. She looked at me in a rather puzzled way and said that this was simply the way it was done in the whole country, and that it reflected their way of thinking about men and women and their roles in life. Men are considered to be stronger then women, so there are certain things that are more appropriate for them to do. (Heavens! How heavy is that flag, I thought to myself!)
I nodded thoughtfully, aware that we were on delicate cultural territory here. I pointed out that these days in Thailand, as well as many other countries, girls and women actually have the opportunity to do many things that traditionally were only acceptable for men to do. She agreed, and added that in all girls schools the girls have to raise the flag because there are no boys to do it. I suggested that, as teachers of young children, it is important not to give three-year old girls the message that there are certain things that they are inadequate to do simply because they are female. Rather, they should be given the same opportunities and encouragement as boys to test their abilities, solve problems and meet challenges. She seemed in agreement with my reasoning, and even said that maybe she might allow the girls to have a go with the flag sometimes, though I have yet to see any evidence of that. I guess old habits die hard.
While Thailand may still have a way to go in terms of attitudes to gender equality, girls here do have the same opportunities as boys to attend school and university and are able to go on to have successful careers and take up positions of influence in many different fields.
This is not the case in many parts of the world, where girls continue to be denied their right to education because of attitudes to their role; because they bear the burden of domestic work, sibling care and early marriage; and because they experience violence at or on the way to school.
At the VSO meeting last week, delegates were all given attractive spiral-bound notebooks to write in. The books are produced by UNGEI (United Nations Girls' Education Initiative - East Asia and Pacific), and contain at intervals pages with examples of simple but effective ways for teachers, schools and policy-makers to improve gender equality in education:
"Girls' interest and participation in math and science are negatively impacted at an early age by the stereotype that boys are better in these subjects. Teachers can ensure that they do not perpetuate such gender bias, and encourage all children to fulfil their potential."
"Girls and women are underrepresented in text books, and gender roles are often reflected in highly stereotypical ways. Teachers can review and create new classroom materials that include girls and represent both girls and boys positively."
"Gender responsive teacher policies that ensure there are female and male teachers at all levels of education help promote gender equality. The enrolment of girls in secondary education is higher in countries with high proportions of female teachers in primary education."
"Girls often receive less attention from teachers. Studies have demonstrated that boys are asked more questions, placed in priority areas of classrooms and given more leadership opportunities. Teachers can equally motivate and encourage boys and girls to perform."
Lack of equitable access to education, and traditional attitudes about the role of women are key factors that contribute to the huge disparity between men and women in terms of the opportunity to participate in public and political life and to influence decision-making processes. This is the subject of VSO's Women in Power campaign, launched in March for International Women's Day.
Women are estimated to account for almost two-thirds of the people globally who live in extreme poverty. Women perform two-thirds of the world’s work and produce 50% of the food, but earn only 10% of the income and own only 1% of the property. This deep-rooted and persistent inequality not only violates women's rights but also acts as a barrier to progress towards a world where poverty is eradicated and women and men are able to build sustainable and secure futures for themselves and their families.
The Women in Power campaign seeks to bring influence to bear on the global process which is currently underway to develop a new international development framework after the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015. VSO is calling specifically for the post-2015 development framework to include a standalone goal on gender equality and women's empowerment, with a target of eliminating discrimination against, and increasing the participation of, women at all levels of public and political life.
You, too can fly the flag for girls and women by taking action on the VSO website
I could not help noticing that it is always a little boy who is chosen to pull the rope to raise the flag, while a little girl stands next to him, looking ornamental, with the upward-moving rope gliding effortlessly through her hands. I asked the director about this one day, wondering out loud whether it might not be possible, perhaps, from time to time for a little girl to raise the flag. She looked at me in a rather puzzled way and said that this was simply the way it was done in the whole country, and that it reflected their way of thinking about men and women and their roles in life. Men are considered to be stronger then women, so there are certain things that are more appropriate for them to do. (Heavens! How heavy is that flag, I thought to myself!)
I nodded thoughtfully, aware that we were on delicate cultural territory here. I pointed out that these days in Thailand, as well as many other countries, girls and women actually have the opportunity to do many things that traditionally were only acceptable for men to do. She agreed, and added that in all girls schools the girls have to raise the flag because there are no boys to do it. I suggested that, as teachers of young children, it is important not to give three-year old girls the message that there are certain things that they are inadequate to do simply because they are female. Rather, they should be given the same opportunities and encouragement as boys to test their abilities, solve problems and meet challenges. She seemed in agreement with my reasoning, and even said that maybe she might allow the girls to have a go with the flag sometimes, though I have yet to see any evidence of that. I guess old habits die hard.
While Thailand may still have a way to go in terms of attitudes to gender equality, girls here do have the same opportunities as boys to attend school and university and are able to go on to have successful careers and take up positions of influence in many different fields.
This is not the case in many parts of the world, where girls continue to be denied their right to education because of attitudes to their role; because they bear the burden of domestic work, sibling care and early marriage; and because they experience violence at or on the way to school.
At the VSO meeting last week, delegates were all given attractive spiral-bound notebooks to write in. The books are produced by UNGEI (United Nations Girls' Education Initiative - East Asia and Pacific), and contain at intervals pages with examples of simple but effective ways for teachers, schools and policy-makers to improve gender equality in education:
"Girls' interest and participation in math and science are negatively impacted at an early age by the stereotype that boys are better in these subjects. Teachers can ensure that they do not perpetuate such gender bias, and encourage all children to fulfil their potential."
"Girls and women are underrepresented in text books, and gender roles are often reflected in highly stereotypical ways. Teachers can review and create new classroom materials that include girls and represent both girls and boys positively."
"Gender responsive teacher policies that ensure there are female and male teachers at all levels of education help promote gender equality. The enrolment of girls in secondary education is higher in countries with high proportions of female teachers in primary education."
"Girls often receive less attention from teachers. Studies have demonstrated that boys are asked more questions, placed in priority areas of classrooms and given more leadership opportunities. Teachers can equally motivate and encourage boys and girls to perform."
Lack of equitable access to education, and traditional attitudes about the role of women are key factors that contribute to the huge disparity between men and women in terms of the opportunity to participate in public and political life and to influence decision-making processes. This is the subject of VSO's Women in Power campaign, launched in March for International Women's Day.
Women are estimated to account for almost two-thirds of the people globally who live in extreme poverty. Women perform two-thirds of the world’s work and produce 50% of the food, but earn only 10% of the income and own only 1% of the property. This deep-rooted and persistent inequality not only violates women's rights but also acts as a barrier to progress towards a world where poverty is eradicated and women and men are able to build sustainable and secure futures for themselves and their families.
The Women in Power campaign seeks to bring influence to bear on the global process which is currently underway to develop a new international development framework after the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015. VSO is calling specifically for the post-2015 development framework to include a standalone goal on gender equality and women's empowerment, with a target of eliminating discrimination against, and increasing the participation of, women at all levels of public and political life.
You, too can fly the flag for girls and women by taking action on the VSO website
Sunday, 6 April 2014
... and here's another thing!
I have decided if I am having a moan I might as well get everything off my chest in one go.
After a night in which I was first kept awake by the cacophonous cicadas, who have returned from their winter break, and later woken several times by dogs fighting in the street, I became aware, some time before six, of a new and unidentified noise competing with the cockerel for my auditory attention. It was a persistent, repetitive and somewhat erratic hammering noise coming from across the road. For a while I tried to ignore it, but eventually my curiosity and irritation got the better of me and I threw on some clothes and went outside to investigate.
The lady across the road was in her front yard, which also serves as a kitchen, making an early start on her Sunday cooking, pounding away with a pestle and mortar. I refrained from doing a repeat performance of my little outburst with the landlady yesterday, though the words were all there in my head - "Hasn't it occurred to you that some people might want to rest on a Sunday morning? And while we're on the subject, can't you just strangle that *$X*&~#$** cockerel?!" No, instead I let out a deep sigh and trudged wearily back inside and back to bed, pausing on the way to open the kitchen tap and place a bucket under it, in the forlorn hope that the water might come back on.
Was I ever ready to pack it all in and come home!!
The water did come on around 7am; I heard it trickling half-heartedly into the bucket so I leapt out of bed, topped up my water-storage bin in the bathroom, had a quick shower and washed my hair, washed yesterday evening's dishes and some of my clothes from the Bangkok trip, saving the used water, of course, for flushing the toilet later. Nothing like making an early start with one's Sunday chores, as I'm sure my neighbour with the pestle and mortar would heartily agree.
It does make you realise, though, just how much water we merrily throw down the drain when we have a reliable supply - pause for thought for us all.
After a night in which I was first kept awake by the cacophonous cicadas, who have returned from their winter break, and later woken several times by dogs fighting in the street, I became aware, some time before six, of a new and unidentified noise competing with the cockerel for my auditory attention. It was a persistent, repetitive and somewhat erratic hammering noise coming from across the road. For a while I tried to ignore it, but eventually my curiosity and irritation got the better of me and I threw on some clothes and went outside to investigate.
The lady across the road was in her front yard, which also serves as a kitchen, making an early start on her Sunday cooking, pounding away with a pestle and mortar. I refrained from doing a repeat performance of my little outburst with the landlady yesterday, though the words were all there in my head - "Hasn't it occurred to you that some people might want to rest on a Sunday morning? And while we're on the subject, can't you just strangle that *$X*&~#$** cockerel?!" No, instead I let out a deep sigh and trudged wearily back inside and back to bed, pausing on the way to open the kitchen tap and place a bucket under it, in the forlorn hope that the water might come back on.
Was I ever ready to pack it all in and come home!!
The water did come on around 7am; I heard it trickling half-heartedly into the bucket so I leapt out of bed, topped up my water-storage bin in the bathroom, had a quick shower and washed my hair, washed yesterday evening's dishes and some of my clothes from the Bangkok trip, saving the used water, of course, for flushing the toilet later. Nothing like making an early start with one's Sunday chores, as I'm sure my neighbour with the pestle and mortar would heartily agree.
It does make you realise, though, just how much water we merrily throw down the drain when we have a reliable supply - pause for thought for us all.
Saturday, 5 April 2014
The last straw
The phrase in English is "The straw that broke the camel's back", but for this story the Italian version seems more appropriate: "The drop that made the cup overflow."
After a very dry cold season, the water supply in Mae Sot at the moment is not good, with very low mains pressure and sporadic cuts in supply. Many households overcome this problem by having a large reserve tank and pump, which means they have water available even when the pressure is low.
The landlady who owns my house owns another five houses on the same street, and is also constructing a huge new block of apartments, several of which are already occupied. At the moment we are all sharing a single tank which, needless to say, is woefully inadequate for so many households. As a result, for the last couple of months the water supply has been completely erratic and unpredictable. The people in the house where the tank is located have been trying to manage the situation by keeping the pump switched off for most of the day so the tank is not completely drained, and only turning it on for an hour or so in the morning and evening. However, as all our hours and schedules do not coincide, this is a far from satisfactory solution.
Some of the tenants are Burmese, and do not seem inclined to complain about the situation. However, both I and a Spanish chap who lives down the road have been becoming increasingly irate and have complained several times to the landlady. At my last complaint, she assured me the problem would be resolved by the end of March. However, as she repeated this promise on 30th, I took it with a large dose of salt.
I left for my trip to Bangkok on 31st, and have enjoyed a week staying in hotels with reliable showers - bliss! I returned today - an eight hour bus trip at the end of which I was sticky, sweaty and grimy and feeling in need of a shower. (We are at the height of the hot season now.) So you can imagine my sheer exasperation when I got home to discover - NO WATER.
Before I continue, I should say that I realise that in many of the countries where VSO volunteers work, a regular water supply is a luxury only to be imagined, and bucket showers are the norm. However, what frustrates me is that this situation is down to the landlady being unwilling to provide an adequate system for her many properties. The frustration is compounded on days when I am without water to flush my toilet, and the man across the road (with his own reserve tank) is merrily hosing down his gleaming SUV.
So this evening, after screaming and banging my fists on the kitchen table, I contacted the young lady who acts as go-between and translator with the landlady. (She is the same young lady that I sometimes do language exchange with.) She duly contacted the landlady, who turned up almost immediately and "resolved" the problem by telling the people with the tank to turn the pump back on. She then came over to my house, all smug smiles and said "You've got water again now!" But I knew full well that within half an hour at the most the water would all be gone.
In Thailand, you are not supposed to show if you are upset or angry, but I'm afraid I threw all my cultural sensitivities out of the window and let rip all my anger and frustration. "So there's water now - but what about in an hour, or tomorrow, or the next day?!" I was close to tears, and I knew that in her eyes I was making a terrible spectacle of myself, but I just couldn't help it. It seemed to have some effect though, as she took me to the construction site to show me the huge, concrete-lined hole in the ground which is to become the new reserve tank. It will, supposedly, be ready in a week - so maybe by the end of the month....
By the time I had been down to the corner shop to get my drinking water and stopped off to talk for five minutes to the girl in the house with the tank, the water supply had drained, so I never got my shower. I have just had a bucket shower, feeling like a real VSO volunteer, and hoping the water might come back on again in the morning.
After a very dry cold season, the water supply in Mae Sot at the moment is not good, with very low mains pressure and sporadic cuts in supply. Many households overcome this problem by having a large reserve tank and pump, which means they have water available even when the pressure is low.
The landlady who owns my house owns another five houses on the same street, and is also constructing a huge new block of apartments, several of which are already occupied. At the moment we are all sharing a single tank which, needless to say, is woefully inadequate for so many households. As a result, for the last couple of months the water supply has been completely erratic and unpredictable. The people in the house where the tank is located have been trying to manage the situation by keeping the pump switched off for most of the day so the tank is not completely drained, and only turning it on for an hour or so in the morning and evening. However, as all our hours and schedules do not coincide, this is a far from satisfactory solution.
Some of the tenants are Burmese, and do not seem inclined to complain about the situation. However, both I and a Spanish chap who lives down the road have been becoming increasingly irate and have complained several times to the landlady. At my last complaint, she assured me the problem would be resolved by the end of March. However, as she repeated this promise on 30th, I took it with a large dose of salt.
I left for my trip to Bangkok on 31st, and have enjoyed a week staying in hotels with reliable showers - bliss! I returned today - an eight hour bus trip at the end of which I was sticky, sweaty and grimy and feeling in need of a shower. (We are at the height of the hot season now.) So you can imagine my sheer exasperation when I got home to discover - NO WATER.
Before I continue, I should say that I realise that in many of the countries where VSO volunteers work, a regular water supply is a luxury only to be imagined, and bucket showers are the norm. However, what frustrates me is that this situation is down to the landlady being unwilling to provide an adequate system for her many properties. The frustration is compounded on days when I am without water to flush my toilet, and the man across the road (with his own reserve tank) is merrily hosing down his gleaming SUV.
So this evening, after screaming and banging my fists on the kitchen table, I contacted the young lady who acts as go-between and translator with the landlady. (She is the same young lady that I sometimes do language exchange with.) She duly contacted the landlady, who turned up almost immediately and "resolved" the problem by telling the people with the tank to turn the pump back on. She then came over to my house, all smug smiles and said "You've got water again now!" But I knew full well that within half an hour at the most the water would all be gone.
In Thailand, you are not supposed to show if you are upset or angry, but I'm afraid I threw all my cultural sensitivities out of the window and let rip all my anger and frustration. "So there's water now - but what about in an hour, or tomorrow, or the next day?!" I was close to tears, and I knew that in her eyes I was making a terrible spectacle of myself, but I just couldn't help it. It seemed to have some effect though, as she took me to the construction site to show me the huge, concrete-lined hole in the ground which is to become the new reserve tank. It will, supposedly, be ready in a week - so maybe by the end of the month....
By the time I had been down to the corner shop to get my drinking water and stopped off to talk for five minutes to the girl in the house with the tank, the water supply had drained, so I never got my shower. I have just had a bucket shower, feeling like a real VSO volunteer, and hoping the water might come back on again in the morning.
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