Advocate. Educate. Empower.
Work hard, play hard, and eat well together.
August 12 – 15, 2021, Lopez Lake, Arroyo Grande, CA.
Be inspired. Be inspirational.
Under the California blue sky, young Karens around the Golden State gathered at a nature camp near the coast, escaping the summer heat of the valley while enriching their body, mind and soul through learning and playing in nature.
We, the California Karen Youth, come together as a community to grow in learning. This year annual summer conference, we headed outdoors for a fresh air, for safety.
In time of global pandemic, annual conference at a campground was a no trivial undertaking. We wanted to adhere to health guidelines for the safety and well-being of the participants while wanted to explore, share, and play hard in nature.
On top of CDPH and SLO county guidelines, we added up some culturally relevant rules, no handshaking, no hugging, or no kissing, rather to only elbow-bump, wave or smile for exchange of greetings. Participants also presented their proof of vaccine or test results, and signed acknowledgement on hazards of nature camp prior to joining the conference.
Presentations and talks were all live and in-person but there were background noises, bird-chirping, animals tredding, oak leaves rustling from coastal breeze, uncontrolled rhythm of nature.
Presentation One
Tar Nay Tha, a participant of the conference, presented a brief history of Karen people in advocacy perspective. He covered historical accounts where our foregone leaders such as Sir. San C. Poe and Saw Ba Oo Gyi advocated for Karen cause in a peaceful mean. They had expounded the idea of Karen people having a self-determination in order to survive as a people and advance as a nation.
Ta Nay Tha is a college student in his junior year. His presentation itself embodies empowerment — learners also being teachers — underpinning our theme of this year conference: Advocate. Educate. Empower.
Ta Nay Tha was well prepared and well presented with academic tone. His fellows teasingly lauded him as little professor.
This is the time for our generation where we are to write our own stories, learning to advocate our own cause. No prism nor preconceptions that warp powerful stories about ourselves, either as individuals or as a nation, when we are capable of telling them our own.
The Drive
Participants drove from various cities, from the south, San Diego, from the north, Sacramento, Manteca, San Francisco, Oakland 5-6 hours drive and Bakersfield being the nearest, 2 hours and half.
The great state of California is vast and the drive may be long, but the picturesque scenery made the drive worth it.
Young and Old
This conference had remarkably diverse range of participants. From middle school students to college graduates who are well into their professional careers, majority are in their high school and in college. from the newly arrivals to this Land of the Free to who were born native here, everyone has something to learn from as well as share with other.
One can even see some graders running around chasing each other in the camp ground.
Presentation Two: Education and Empowering One’s Future with Daily Life Decisions
The presentation packed with wisdom from life lessons, ranging from social, financial, to education. It enlightened adolescents how to avoid pitfalls in life and the importance of utilizing a one-time will power in making life choices in order to thrive.
Every hour or about of an intense learning, there was a long break full of fun activities. When one failed, they got a funny punishment.
Mini-hiking at lunch break: Ample of breathtaking views around the base camp.
Never stop learning and never stop playing are the charming character of youthful energy.
The success of learners comes from the support of our parents.
Presentation Three: Activities of Karen Organization of America (KOA)
KOA – Organizing Karen communities in the U.S.A
Presentation Four: How Education Empowers Advocacy (by Evan Taw)
Evan Taw excels in history and music. Even though the two subjects are not usually found together as a person’s expertise, Evan has been participated in competitions in both subjects in state level as well as national level, representing California in his 7th Grade in National History Day after receiving California Championship award. The following years he was still in finalists. Also, he competed in California Music Teacher Association. He is a gem of the people, one person with multiple talents.
In this conference, his presentation began with a bold statement that a person is a burden to society until they educate themselves and contribute back to the society.
Lunch for the hungry souls.
Chicken fried for hungry souls. 
Traditional Bamboo Porridge
Topic Five: Notes on Current Situation in the Homeland of Karen People
By Saw Lahkbaw
The state of current situation in our ancestral land is overwhelming to share in a short time frame. The discussion became heated with afternoon sun where participants explored the choices of Karen people having self-determination.
Only charm of the presenter could handle such passionate inquiries with grace.
Activities (Fun Fun Fun)
Naw Snow is a master in activities. She has endless creative ideas for fun activities to re-energize campers from valuable but consuming topics.
Dinner isn’t the last meal of the day. 
evening activities 
Eventing activities 
The summer sun ceases to shine for the day, but the campers don’t.
Waxing moon is saying goodnight to campers. The moon is taking rest for the stars to shine.
10 P.M. to 6 A.M. is quiet time, the camp rule.
Campers gathered around right until quiet hour began, bursting with laughters and claps, cheering the displays of hidden talents by electric bonfire.
Celebrating Our Roots,
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes.
Day 2: Karen People Martyrs’ Day Ceremony and talks
Master of Ceremony, Saw He No 
Opening Speech from Peace Hsin 
Honoring the fallen heros with memorial wreaths 
Voices of the martyrs, musical 
Article Reading, Martyr is a day of honor, Celebrate with respect 
Reading Letter of Felicitation from VCS
The celebration of Martyrs’ Day was a solemn one with variety of activities, speech, letter of facilitation, songs, memory, reminder, and talks about current state of ongoing sacrifices in the Karen Homeland.
Day 2 Continue and Participants’ voice about the conference
Evaluations
What to keep and what to improve for coming years.
3 P.M – 6 P.M. was free of schedule. Any activities of choice: hiking, playing, shower, water spots, nap, chat, running an errand to the city or doing nothing.
Group hike
Portrait of the campers
The energy and beauty of the youth does not come from hard work nor inheritance, but by a virtue of youthfulness. Being youthful seems everlasting, yet deceptive. Time cannot be redeemed, hence enriching one’s mind through education augments the value of youthful years.
Behind the scenes: Worker bees.
Boy Scout Rule
“Always leave the campground cleaner than you found it”. The moment before we finally departed the camp, campers picked up all non-biodegradables in the campgroup, honoring the land we live in.
Amid uncertainties, the three night the eighth annual conference of California Karen Youth Forum concluded successfully for the year of 2021.
Thank you and hope to see more of you from California next year.
May the grace of the Most High, Ywah, keep you safe till we meet again.
Compiled and composed by Saw Lahkbaw (California Capital) – August 19, 2021
Karen People in California 