Oversea Karen Refugee Social Organization (OKRSO) opened ToT(Training of Trainer) in Klong Toei, in Bangkok on 10th March. The opening ceremony was held at Heart Convent School and more than 50 people were attended.

Saw Hsiet Plong, a culture and literacy committee chairperson said, “Our objective is to let young Karen people who are coming to work in oversea to maintain their language and culture, and to prevent from cultural assimilation with others”.

The length of the ToT teacher training will be two months on every Sunday. The courses include basic Karen language, Done dance, composing poem, learning harps, public speech and history. ToT will only be available in East Pwo Karen but for Sgaw Karen, it will be teaching in the coming year and it will depend on the possibilities of finding trainer(s). There are 8 trainers with 28 trainees who have registered in the opening day but more trainees would be coming to register.

OKRSO was founded in 1992 to preserve Culture and Language and it was the very first time to organize teacher training.