Culture usually reflects the value of the social behavior of a community that has been developed through a long time. It served as living tools in many forms such as tradition, wisdom, arts, etc. COERR treasure the culture as well as the senior members of the community as the transmitters who share the knowledge to their younger generations for their participation and conservation benefit. COERR Social Service Centers in all Temporary Shelters for Displaced Persons then have been established served as Cultural Centers where Elderly Groups meet together and express their culture and traditions through arts and performance and share with the children and youth. During February-March 2020, COERR Mae Sarieng and Mae Sot did organized several workshops in which cultural activities were proudly presented and shared by the elderly for the benefit of the younger community members, such as Weaving and Basketry, Teaching folktales, Songs and Poems, Making Traditional Recipe, Making Herbal Treatment, etc.

   COERR Mae Sarieng organized 4 events of Karen cultural conservations regarding traditional songs and poems learning in which wisdom, belief, and ways of living were described. The events were organized in Ban Mae Lama Luang, Sob Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province, on February 13, 2020, for 58 participants of 38 females and 20 males; and on March 14, 2020, for 39 participants of 27 females and 12 males; in Ban Mae La Oon, also in Sob Moei District, on February 12, 2020, for 40 participants of 26 females and 14 males; and later on March 12, for 34 participants, of 23 females and 11 males.

   COERR Mae Sot organized 12 events of Karen Cultural Conservation: 4 in Ban Mae La, Tha Song Yang District; 4 in Ban Umpiem, Phop Phra District and 4 in Ban Nupo, Umphang District, Tak Province.

In Ban Mae La, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, COERR Mae Sot organized another 4 activities:

Event 1:  “Cultural Conservation and Traditional Wisdom Learning” was organized at COERR Social Service Center (SSC) in Ban Mae La, on February 6, 2020. There were 28 participants, consisting of 21 females and 7 males, attending.

Event 2:  “Cultural Conservation of Bamboo Weaving Techniques in Making Wastebasket” was organized on February 18, 2020, in which 26 persons, 18 females and 8 males participated.

Event 3:  “Traditional Herbal Steam Bath Treatment Workshop” was organized in Ban Mae La on March 12, 2020, as knowledge sharing among the elderly about benefits and methods of herbal treatments for healthcare, in which 20 interested, of 17 females and 3 males, attended.

Event 4:  A Compilation of Folklores, Songs, Poems and Tales as Community Treasure for Conservation towards Generations. This was organized in Social Service Center of Mae La on March 24, 2020 in which 20 women participated.

COERR organized 4 activities in Ban Umpiem, Phop Pra District

Event 5:  “Cultural Activities – Compilation of Folk Songs” organized on February 21, 2020. There were 25 participants, consisting of 16 females and 9 males attending.

Event 6:  “Cultural Conservation in Making Traditional Backstrap Loom” which has been invented and used for more than a century. This Karen symbolic weaving workshop was organized in Ban Umpiem on February 24, 2020, for 25 interested persons, consisting of 22 females and 3 males.

Event 7:  “Cultural Conservation in Backstrap Weaving” was organized in Ban Umpiem on February 25, 2020 with 25 participants of 23 females and 2 males.

Event 8:  “Cultural Conservation in Cooking Karen Curry Recipe Ta Ka paw” which is usually prepared for ritual ceremony, was organized in Ban Umpiem on March 9, 2020 with 26 participants of 19 females and 7 males.

In Ban Nupo, Umphang District, Tak Province, COERR Mae Sot organized another 4 activities

Event 9:  “Cultural Conservation in Making Traditional Backstrap Loom”. The workshop was organized on February 6, 2020, in which there were 25 participants of 20 females and 5 males.

Event 10:  “Cultural Conservation in Backstrap Weaving” was organized in Ban Nupo, on February 7, 2020, with 25 participants of 20 females and 5 males.

Event 11:  “Cultural Conservation in Cooking Sticky Rice with Perilla Seeds” which is usually prepared for ritual ceremony or cooked and packed for travelling or when going to work in farm but no time to cook. The activity was organized in Ban Nupo on March 11, 2020 in which there were 26 participants of 24 females and 2 males attending.

Event 12:  “Cultural Conservation Workshop together with the Saturday Activities for Children’s learning - how to Thatch a Roof” was organized in Ban Nupo, on March 12, 2020. This was aimed to equip the children and youth with skills in tying thatch roof so they could learn the traditional way of making shelter for their own house and help to replace the ruined roof by themselves. There were 50 children and youth, of 41 females and 9 males, attending this skills learning activity.