RANGOON — Teaching English after hours to immigrants newly settled in the United States, Erika Berg was so moved by the stories of injustice told by her students that she resigned from her 24-year publishing career to work full-time with refugees. Eventually she was hired to find potential foster homes in Seattle for refugee children, many of whom were from Burma, living in refugee camps without an adult caregiver.
With the publication of “Forced to Flee”, a collection of 196 artworks drawn by refugee youths, Berg has chronicled the stories, the trauma and the hopes of the Burmese diaspora’s youngest generation.
“Their visual stories illustrate common roots of conflict and forced displacement,” Berg said. “Their paintings illustrate that, in Burma, whether one is Buddhist or not has often determined if one is—or at least feels—welcome. In the case of refugees, and internally displaced people, that can also determine if one feels safe, or not.”
The book will hit the shelves at the end of March, and all royalties from its sale will be donated to peace building efforts in Burma. More information about the publication can be found at the Burma Visions for Peace website, and those living inside Burma can order the book online here.
