June 2009 - The Durgas, an activist band for social justice and community change visit Mae Sot, Thailand area to perform for the Burmese migrant community

The primary objective for this trip was to empower children through interactive music, and to promote structured education for all Burmese migrant children.

The Durgas performed a repertory of interactive songs for students to sing along with at a total of 15 schools and learning centers, at Dr. Cynthia’s The Mae Tao Clinic, and at the AAPPB headquarters. They performed to over 5,500 students and individuals in the community. The band was interviewed on local DK radio, as well as for DVBYV (Democratic Voice of Burma Youth Voice), a youth oriented television program broadcast on local Thai TV. They returned to their home communities with audio and video recordings of their musical exchange, which they have formatted for Internet video sharing sites, enabling them to contribute to the global advocacy campaign and continue to draw attention to the needs of this migrant community.

Most of the schools that were visited have been established spontaneously and without the benefits of a structured support from the Thai or Burmese governments. These schools provide learning environments for Buddhist, Christian and Muslim children from the Karen, Mon and Burmese ethnic minorities of Burma. Many of these learning centers are struggling to meet the most basic needs of the children, from educational materials to meals. Many of children are orphans and live at the schools year round.

On the 19th of June the Durgas performed to an audience of both Thai and Burmese students at the Wat Done Kae’ School. This cultural exchange event was unprecedented in this area, and in honor of its magnitude, the occasion was attended by the Mayor of Mae Sot and other local Thai officials, as well as Dr. Cynthia, one of the most prominent members of the local Burmese community. The mayor spoke about the importance of developing bonds of support between the two groups of constituents --there were ten performing groups of both Thai and Burmese students, followed by a rousing show by The Durgas.

In honor of Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday, The Durgas were invited to play at the Mae Tao Clinic. During the show candles were passed out to the crowd and when the band performed “Send the Wind,” dedicated to Daw Suu, the candles were lit and the audience swayed as they sang along to the Burmese refrain “Le Ne Yu Song.”

At the Association of Burmese Political Prisoners headquarters, The Durgas played a show for all the friends and families of the organization. On their previous visit in 2008, they were asked by the AAPPB director Bo Kyi to write a song dedicated to the Burmese democratic movement, and on this trip they premiered the requested song, entitled “Face the Sun” to Bo Kyi as he joined them on stage and sang along to the quickly adopted anthem for democratic change and peace.

At the Agape school, The Durgas arrived and were greeted by the school’s director David playing guitar with his students singing The Durgas song Face The Sun which they had learned to pronounce phonetically overnight. The Durgas were so inspired by David’s work with the children that they identified his program as being one that will be receiving support through Music In Action.

In a scouting trip to the Mae Sot garbage dump to locate the Sky Blue School, The Durgas played an impromptu acoustic set of several songs to a dozen Burmese living there, collecting recyclable materials until the rain ended the encounter.

The Durgas are committed to bringing live music and interactive arts to communities affected by violence, poverty and fear around the world. Recently they have played shows in Kosovo (as a reunification effort in an ethnically divided city), for the children living on construction sites in Mumbai and to the tsunami ravaged communities in Sri Lanka, to name a few of their musical outreach efforts. They have witnessed first hand the powerful effect that music can have to allow audiences transcend, to inspire and provide affirmation to the disenfranchised to continue the struggle in their own plights. The Durgas music speaks to the heart as we celebrate life together, and raises spirits through active participation. They have witnessed that music can build bridges of peace by fostering compassion and insight within and between diverse communities, and even spur us into action.

The Durgas are an international global-rock band with fifteen years of experience playing concerts for children in areas of conflict or distress. They are committed to an ongoing relationship of exchange with the Burmese migrant community of Mae Sot. By bringing music performances to this community, The Durgas hope to inspire the next generation, as well as to draw attention to the needs of this community and to promote the chance for the structured education of all Burmese migrant children. The title of their upcoming album is Burma.

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