Thar Thar, Blossom and Gagu Become Part of Myanmar Children's Literature

By Barbara Kolucki (bakoluck@aol.com)

Thar Thar, Blossom and Gagu are three of the latest additions to children's literature in Myanmar and they represent children with disabilities and other children rarely represented in literature, such as children in orphanages or those belonging to minority ethnic or religious groups And where were they before in books for young children in Myanmar? In most cases, as in most countries, especially in the developing world, they were either absent, or often presented in the stereotypical ways that children with a variety of disabilities and differences have been presented.

Innovative project
To launch new beginnings, an innovative project was begun in February 2005 supported by UNICEF Myanmar in collaboration with several Ministries within the Government as well as Non-Govermental Organizations, and creative media talent. The overall goal was to reach families of infants and young children, especially those who are most vulnerable. This meant reaching families who had low literacy skills, those who were disadvantaged due to poverty, conflict, emergencies like the tsunami and those whose children had a variety of special needs. These children could be disabled, or could also be children under the care of a variety of other caregivers such as orphanages or monasteries.

The strategy was to develop innovative media and materials for young children that would at the same time include messages for their caregivers. These materials would be used as tools in training with the health, education, social welfare sectors – and also be used in a variety of innovative venues and ways to motivate as well as build the confidence and competence of caregivers and children.

All children have been included in the project. This includes Thar Thar, Blossom, Gagu and other friends in difficult circumstances, with disabilities and a variety of ethnic, religious, economic and other differences. Just as gender is always portrayed in a non-stereotypical way – each and every child is included, nurtured and portrayed as equal, curious, able, competent and resilient. Here are the stories of some of them…

Selected stories
Thar Thar is a young infant – around a year old. He is full of fear – perhaps his family is one that was affected by the Asian tsunami. He is most definitely afraid of water and of taking a bath. This fear, if not addressed, can grow and affect him in many ways emotionally, socially, physically and cognitively. In this simple Board Book for children, Thar Thar's mother slowly encourages him to look at her face in the water, to feel drops of water trickle down his face, and slowly he overcomes his fear.

Blossom is a child with cerebral palsy. He and his sister love to play and put thanaka on each other – the powder from a local tree that Myanmar people use on their faces and bodies after a bath and that is a natural protection from the sun. Blossom's transportation ranges from a homemade wheelchair, to a sling his grandmother uses to keep him close to her, to the basket on his father's bike.

Gagu is a true story of an actual child who has tremendous resilience. He has a difficult time but does not give up – he faces his problem in a healthy way. Gagu just started kindergarten. He has difficulty speaking, says only one word over and over and his new classmates ignore him. He tries many ways to make friends with them – offering them a toy, a sweet – and each time they reject him – he does not give up. Finally, Gagu uses his artistic skills to draw an expressive and joyful picture of himself with all of his classmates in school – and the other children love this picture. They want Gagu to draw more pictures – and they begin to be friends with him.

Creating "safe havens"
Many girls and boys in Myanmar live in difficult circumstances. Very young children with disabilities and other learning needs or those in very vulnerable situations, like those who have experienced the tsunami or other emergencies now have new resources that can be a "safe haven" for them. These books can allow them to see themselves, to see children who are playful, courageous and resilient. Other Myanmar children can also see children who typically are portrayed as being in greatest need – as being competent and confident.

Two distinct audiences
The goals of the project and the materials developed have had two distinct, but simultaneous audiences. Yes, the primary audience is children themselves. But the families who are most vulnerable are also those who are the least literate. And these new materials for children have proved to be exciting and interesting and useful for parents and other caregivers who have low literacy skills or those for whom Myanmar is not their first language.

In addition to the books, posters like the ones below have been produced as part of diversity campaign that includes children from various ethnic and religious groups as well as those with disabilities.

Radio and television spots extend project coverage
Radio and television spots for children and adults are part of the project. The topics cover everything from helping children learn to use their imagination, healthy eating habits, skills necessary for entry to school and the proper way to wash hands. All use songs, rhymes and the routines of daily life that can be encouraged as part of a typical day in rural or urban Myanmar. When children are depicted, they include children who are disabled. Here are a few of the images from one of the first ever animated TV spots for children on handwashing.

So, Thar Thar, Blossom and Gagu are pioneers. They are not extraordinary kids. They are simply leading the way, as kids and adults have done in most countries around the world to ensure that every child, is not only included but also is portrayed as someone who can and does contribute to the world. The economic or social or disability divide simply will not, does not, apply when we are talking about social justice and equality for all.

 printer-friendly format