To get the camp population to come to our classes, the refugee camp section leaders would organise the people under their supervision to attend mine awareness lessons. After the classes were over the Rice Ration Book (these were important documents that allowed the refugees to collect food and other basic supplies for their families) would be stamped to show they had attended (it was a veiled threat which was never planned to be followed up). To reinforce the messages we produced a series of videos (produced by Yannick Jorris) which were shown publicly. For several months our cars drove to different spots and played the landmine awareness videos. Later we also produced and showed human rights and UN information videos on repatriation just prior to their return in 1992. Parts of the LMAP video are still being used in Cambodia to teach mine awareness and are often broadcast on the national television network. | |
For the children we held classes in the schools using competitions, role plays and storytelling which were supported by posters, coloring-in books and games. EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPED MY VIEWS |
To facilitate the production of teaching materials I made many poignant photographic excursions to the camp hospitals and rehabilitation centres. The power of these experiences in dirt-floor, bamboo walled rehabilitation centres and cold concrete floored operating rooms, was at times overwhelming. Most of the victims were young men in their late teens or early twenties. Despite their suffering and traumatic amputations, many were still quick with a smile and a joke. This made the visits a mixture of pleasure and pain. Here in the hospitals, surrounded by their peers and fellow victims they all seemed to quickly come to terms with their loss. Although I knew it would be very different when they were returned to their home villages. There will be inadequate medical facilities and no free medicines, but more importantly there will be no moral support from any of their new friends. |
After awhile I started to actually enjoy my visits to the hospitals because everyone there seemed to appreciate a foreigner taking more than a passing interest in their situation and welfare. It was hard at times to remain impartial and I had to 'turn-off' many times to be able to cope with the tragedies before me. They were so young and now their lives have been torn apart, more than they could possibly comprehend at that time. I used to visit the hospital most days to try and be there to photograph a recent injury. I was given permission from ICRC Geneva to photograph in their hospital and the head nurse organised for me to be able to shoot in the operating theatre. One day I arrived and was quickly led into the theatre, very apprehensive about what to expect. A mask and hair-net were thrust into my hands as I was directed into the surgery. |
For the next 2 years I worked with LMAP visiting all the Cambodian refugee camps spread along the border, including the 3 Khmer Rouge camps. We carried out formal lectures, informal media presentations in the form of printed media, posters, audio plays, theatre productions, videos, T-shirts and other materials.
Regular monitoring and an extensive evaluation were carried out to assess the effectiveness and impact of the program. The results of these surveys showed that the refugees were receiving the messages and retaining most of the information. Although some areas such as minefield extraction techniques (prodding, retracing and first aid) needed more practical exercises and clearer details. NB. These are contraversial areas which caused much debate in the international Mine Risk Education sector.