Mine Risk Education
Background

Students study about mines. ADPC MRE Team conducted training in Mine Risk Protection Camp, Mae Hong Son. 19-21 July 2006.
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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.

ADPC Mine Risk Education Program