Grassroots Human Rights Education held a small ceremony to commemorate International Teachers’ Day on October 5^th, 2007. The event took place at the Bang Niang Learning Center, one of the five small schools that GHRE runs for the children of migrant workers in Phang Nga province.

The ceremony started at 10:00 AM, when GHRE Education Coordinator Ko Hla Phone gave an opening speech. U Min Thein Kyaw then gave his own speech about the purpose of the ceremony.

In Burmese school tradition, annual celebrations are made to show respect and gratitude to teachers. Today's celebration was an act of sowing the seed of tradition among migrant young people.

After the speeches from Ko Hla Phone and U Min Thein Kyaw, the rest of the teachers delivered words of counsel to the children assembled at the ceremony. Then, students offered gifts to each teacher. The teachers in turn honored the students with snacks and refreshments. There were about 90 attendants at this ceremony.

The ceremony was concluded at 1:30 PM with a moment of silence in honor of the national martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the Burmese public during recent protests and the severe military crackdown that has followed.

Similar ceremonies were held in other GHRE schools in Phang Nga province, including the Kuraburi, Park Weep, Pakarang, and Khok Kloi Learning Centers.