A Lin Eain (The Lighthouse) and CAFoT

Ex-child soldiers experience.
Recently, we had the privilege of conducting a transformative training session with a group of ex-child soldiers from the conflict in Myanmar. These young individuals, some as young as 11 and 12 when compelled to join armed forces, have endured unimaginable

 horrors that no child should ever witness. Despite their traumatic pasts, their courage in seeking a new beginning is nothing short of inspiring.

One particularly poignant moment during our training was when we saw a powerful drawing created by one of the child soldiers.
The artwork depicts him standing over the grave of his friend, a tragic victim of the military junta, with the heartfelt caption,
"I miss my best friend."
This artwork serves as a stark reminder of the profound loss these young adults carry with them, and it fuels our determination to support them in their healing journey.

Conducting this training outside of our Monte Ball Training Centre in Chiang Mai was a profound experience for us. With the assistance of a translator, we introduced our students to culinary skills rooted in their cultural heritage.

They expressed a wonderfully enthusiastic interest in our lessons, particularly in making spicy sausages infused with flavours from their villages, as well as accompanying hoagie rolls, cookies, and cakes.
The intention behind this training is for them to open a coffee shop offering snacks and food based on their village tastes. It was heartwarming to see their excitement, which serves as a powerful reminder of the healing power of food and skill development.

Currently, these young adults face challenges in travel due to legal restrictions in Thailand, but applications have been made for them to join us in Chiang Mai as potential students later in the year. We remain committed to providing them with the support they need to rebuild their lives through culinary arts.