Burmese Water Festival in South Philadelphia!

Please join us in celebration of the Burmese Water Festival!

Saturday, April 30^th

12:00pm to 2:00pm

(Rain date: May 1^st)

Palumbo Park

723 Catherine Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

*It's a potluck - bring some food or drink to share!*

Program:

• Acknowledge REP volunteers & recognize the ESL students!
• Celebrate with local Burmese community
• Enjoy water activities for kids (water balloon toss and bobbing for apples)
• Eat delicious food and enjoy Spring - a time of renewal!
• Collect donations for the ESL School

Please bring school supplies for the children or consider making a donation!

Anyone able to make a donation to help fund Refugee Education Partners (ESL Saturday School) and this special event (food, drink and activities), please consider contributing! Our organization does not have a funding source and is usually only funded by the USCB Philadelphia members. To donate to this event, please use PayPal - it's very easy! Let's make this event a success!

USCB Philadelphia local chapter meets February 27, 2011

Join us this Sunday at 3:30 PM at Susan Zingale-Baird's home 3950 Vaux Street, Philadelphia, PA to generate ideas on how to raise awareness of Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma. Other agenda topics include:

•  an update on the Saturday School in South Philadelphia, Kim Leichtner, coordinator will provide us with an update
• US Campaign for Burma Annual meeting to take place at George Washington University in DC, April 2 & 3, 2011. There is some talk of of a USCB officer from the national chapter attending the meeting (no confirmation as of yet).
• Current affairs in Burma update by our dear friend Arn Spector

Please spread the word and bring a friend. The work is not done until the cows go home (AKA the generals step aside and the people's voice is heard).

Call Susan 215-848-1382 for directions.

April 2 & 3, 2011 - Save the Date!

U.S. Campaign for Burma's National Organizing Meeting to be held at George Washington University, Washington, DC

Click HERE for more information!

The U.S. Campaign for Burma would like to invite you to its annual National Organizing Meeting which will be held on April 2 & 3, 2011 at George Washington University in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this meeting is to raise awareness about Burma's ongoing human rights abuses in Burma, to implement a post election strategy, and to educate and empower activists and supporters of Burma's pro-democracy movement to speak out and to take a stand.

We would like everyone who is, or would like to be, active in Burma issues to gather in Washington DC to learn how to build a stronger movement for democracy and human rights in Burma.

 At the National Organizing Meeting you will:
* Get updates on Burma's post election strategy and release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
* Hear and engage with leading human rights practitioners, policy makers and scholars.
* The screening of a brand new documentary, "The Burma Soldier", directed by Nic Dunlop.
* Learn about campaign and lobbying strategies.
* Learn about how you can get more involved in our campaigns.
* meet and network with others in the movement.
...and more.

Here is a glimpse of the tentative schedule:April 2, 2011 - Plenaries, workshops and film screening
April 3, 2011 - Advocacy training day (optional)
April 4, 2011 - Lobby day (optional).
More details will follow.

Please sign up early to get a discounted price.

Thanksgiving with South Philly Refugees, Sunday November 21, 2-5pm, Stiffel Senior Center

Philadelphia Chapter of US Campaign for Burma is helping again this year with HIAS and Council's Thanksgiving Dinner as we share the holiday with newly arrived refugee families many from Burma.

Please join us on Sunday, November 21, 2010 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Stiffel Senior Center, 604 Porter Street in South Philadelphia (corner of 6th and Porter).

Please bring food (no meat!) to share with 5 people! If your name starts with letters A-M, bring a main dish. If you name starts with letters N-Z, bring a dessert/fruit.

For more information contact Marina Merlin, 215-832-0903, mmerlin@hiaspa.org

Benjamin Franklin Thinking Society

A discussion on Burma will take place on Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 10:30 am at the Flying Monkey Cafe, 1112 Locust Street in Philadelphia.

Why does this date sound so familiar? It is the the date the generals have selected for thier sham elections. Come honor Aung San Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy as they boycott the election by raising your awareness of her and the people of Burma on this day. We plan to have lunch following the program. Contact Susan 215-848-1382 for more information and/or if you need a ride.

Volunteer Opportunity at Saturday ESL School with Burmese kids in South Philly!!

The US Campaign for Burma, Philadelphia Chapter has identified a need to teach English and tutor Burmese refugee children who have been relocated to South Philadelphia. Children vary in ages and some speak very little English, but all are very eager to learn. Some have been in the United States for only several months, so teaching should incorporate use of pictures & body language, as well as cultural education about food, holidays, geography, etc. It's a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in helping and making a difference in people's lives who are struggling to make a new in America.

Please be sure to view our site: ESL School: Refugee Education Partners!

Ideally, we are looking for volunteers who can commit 2-3 hrs on Saturday, at least once per month so that the children can develop a rapport with you. If you have time constraints and can only volunteer once, we are happy to have you too!

If you are unable to volunteer, but would still like to help, we appreciate donations of school supplies, books, educational materials, English Language learning games.

For more information and to sign-up, please contact Kim Leichtner via email at kim.leichtner@gmail.com or by phone at 267-687-1740. 

Planning Meeting in West Philly on Wednesday, 9/22/2010

Back-to-Burma-Fall-Action-Planning-Meeting in West Philly

Please Plan to Attend!

4235 Osage Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19104

for directions, call Veronika at 267.752.7254

Meeting begins at 6:30pm

Topics include:

• helping Burmese refugee children in South Philadelphia
• discuss upcoming scam election in Burma and ways to protest
• documentary preview of "Burma VJ"
• brainstorm and plan events

Please try to bring school supplies ranging from $1 to $5. These donations will be collected for the Burmese children in South Philly.