July 7th 24th-27th, 2012
A precious moment
Homma Kancho with construction crew
Homma Kancho made his way to Huaye Park Village, located about one hour from the border of Myanmar in Thailand to check in on the construction of the “Dream of Stars” Community Church being built by the Myanmar Karen tribe. Planning for this project began in March 2012 and construction began in early June.
Homma Kancho and AHAN’s involvement in this project began with the meeting of Christal, a Karen refugee currently living in Denver. Christal told Homma Kancho, “My people, the Karen tribe refugees now living in Thailand must to learn the Thai language and customs to be able to survive in their adopted land. When peace returns however, the Karen people will return to Myanmar and the children must not forget their native Karen language and culture. My hope is to someday be able to return to our country of Myanmar too. We need a place where we can teach and pass on our Karen culture as we wait for the day when we can return to Myanmar. This is extremely important to us. I want to build this kind of place in Huaye Park Village where my mother lives”.
It took Homma Kancho only 2 weeks to put a plan into action to help build the Dream of Stars Community Church and AHAN Learning Center in Huaye Park, Thailand.
Homma Kancho designed the layout and graduate uchideshi Luca drew up the designs in a 3D format. From these design ideas, Lukai, the Karen architect, who had drawn the plans for the AHAN Bilay House Orphanage, drew up the construction plans in Bangkok.
Huaye Park Project partners in AHAN
Homma Kancho traveled to Huaye Park directly from Japan and Mongolia. Despite a grueling travel schedule, he still had the energy to help with the foundation and framing of the new facility with other Myanmar Karen refugee volunteers.
Homma Kancho arrives at the construction site
Excavating the land by hand with other Karen refugee volunteers
In just a couple months time, almost 80% of the construction has been completed. July is rainy season however and everything must wait until October for the dry season to complete the mortar work.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to be held at Christmas of this year.
Thank you Homma Kancho for all of your guidance and suggestions.
Watch the video on the construction of the Dream of Stars Community Church in Huaye Park
Written by
Huaye Park Thailand
Project Coordinator
Sunai Htoo
Editor’s Note
Building the church is only one purpose of this community project. The overall purpose is educational and cultural support which is reflected in the projects name: AHAN Huaye Park Learning Center Construction Project.