100th Anniversary of International Women's Day

We had the honor of being invited this past Tuesday evening to the Women's Center where we were treated to dinner and an amazing tea (which takes hours to brew and it the best hot drink I have ever had) which the Burmese women prepared in honor of the anniversary of International Women's Day. The pouring rain did not deter this celebration which was staged under a small hut-like building with posters and pictures hanging and electrical wires rigged up (kind of scary amidst the thunder and lightning) so that we could watch a power point presentation of the founding of the Center and another of a documnetary filmed in Africa, exhibiting a way in which local women can enpower themselves by taking charge of their own financial well-being by having a community bank.
There was a "game" sponsored for the group, wherein the right answers to questons about health care, domestic violence, visa renewal dates and fair wages, were awarded with wrapped presents. The Burmese commumity, men and women both, enthusiastically  participated . I found  this method of teaching very effective and learned much myself.
What was really compelling and heartfeltt for us as volunteers, was how little the local Burmese community knows about their own rights, but also how much we take for granted our own human rights, the very basic ones. Everyone wants the same thing for themselves and their children. Food, freedom,educational opportunities and safe honorable work conditions. 
One young local woman gave a speech to the group about her own experience of coming to Thailand and originally working 15 hour days for a restaurant earning $100 baht a day ($3 a day, yes $3!). She later learned that she is entitiled under Thai law to not only earn a minumum wage, but can only work a maximum number of hours before being entitled to overtime pay.  She works elsewhere now.
The Burmese community has embraced us and is so genuinely happy when we come to these events, This weekend we are all going on a fishing boat (as opposed to a tourist sailing boat) for an adventure.