Book fair to help camp kids learn English

Reporter Amy Wang with Darryl Reardon, president of Rotary Club Epsom. Picture / Dean Purcell

Refugees in an overcrowded camp on the Thai/Burmese border will get help to learn English, thanks to a monster book fair in Auckland this weekend.

About 9000 refugees of Burma's minority Karen ethnic group are packed so tightly into the 6.5ha camp that most of their bamboo-and-plastic houses are perpetually dark, says Massey University student James Nyan who returned from the camp this week.

"Many of them are not in good health. When I was there they had flu and also their houses are very close and polluted," he said.

"Many kids suffer from malnutrition. The United Nations gives them food but it's very limited rations. If you want to eat fresh vegetables or other meals you have to buy them, and many people have not got money."

Asia Down Under reporter Amy Wang, who visited the camp last month, has launched an appeal for clothes and books - and has found a treasure trove in a Rotary book fair at Marcellin College tomorrow.

Rotarian David Taylor said Ms Wang would be able to pick the best books for the camp at the end of the fair.

"They need dictionaries, scientific books, non-fiction books which could teach them general knowledge, English writing books, maybe some classical novels and language teaching books. They specifically asked for old National Geographic magazines," Ms Wang said.

She is also looking for warm clothes, and for a volunteer to teach English in the camp.

Mr Taylor said proceeds from the sale of more than 30,000 books will go to reading programmes for needy schools in Auckland.

"The whole thing is taking books from readers, sending books back to readers and stimulating reading in the children's environment through the schools," he said.

"If there is any cause like a refugee cause, or if a school has a special need, we invite them to come and collect books."

Mr Nyan, who was a refugee in Tham Hin Camp himself in 1997-98, took clothes and money to the camp this month after saving for two years in part-time cleaning work and a holiday job for a flower distribution company.

"It was so sad to see my people," he said.

"I had a water bottle with me and even the children said, 'Give me, give me water.' They do have water but I think for the drinking water it's somehow limited."

Ms Wang has organised a seminar on conditions in the camp in the Old Choral Hall at Auckland University at 7.30pm on March 23.

* Rotary book fair, Marcellin College, Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 8.30am-11am.