Chin Refugee Students Performed Traditional Dances in Malaysia
09 December 2012: Hundreds of Chin refugee students gathered at their ‘Year End Concert’ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday, displaying their talents by singing and performing traditional dances.
About 400 participants including teachers and parents turned up to the event organized by the Chin Student Organization (CSO) with financial contribution from Rev. Ro Choung Hai, from the Republic of Korea.
Some student groups from CSO’s learning centres performed Chin traditional dances such as Ruakhuatlak and Conglai zawnh while others sang solo, duet and group songs in Chin dialects, according to the CSO teachers.
“Our main aims are to help Chin refugee students educate and develop amid various difficulties facing them and their families as refugees in Malaysia. We also want our children to remember their mother tongues and cultural values,” said a Chin teacher.
One of the Chin community leaders, who went to the event, said the ‘Year End’ celebration provided such wonderful spaces and opportunities for refugee children to play together and share their skills through various different ways.
“I am particularly happy and thankful to CSO for their works. They not only teach them education but also help them to remember and practically learn our cultural values and language,” said a Chin mother in Malaysia.
Prizes were given to students who won the first, second and third places in their talent shows at the event.
Khamh Bawi Hum, Chairman of CSO, expressed thanks to Rev. Ro Choung Hai for his generous contribution for the concert, adding: “We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chin communities, churches and individuals as well as other friends who have supported.”
Currently, CSO runs five learning centres with about 430 students and 28 volunteer teachers across Kuala Lumpur such as Loke Yew, Sentul, Puchong, Cheras and Imbi.
The Chin Student Organisation (CSO), a community-based group formed in March 2005 by a group of Chin university students, provides informal educational services to Chin refugee children stranded in Malaysia.
Reporting by Thawng Zel Thang
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