The UK Department For International Development (DFID) has funded the DFID Global School Partnerships (DGSP) programme since 2003. DFID Global School Partnerships promotes partnerships between schools in the UK and schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The programme provides advice and guidance, professional development opportunities and grants to schools that are using school partnerships as a means for developing a global dimension within their curriculum.

The programme aims to raise young people’s awareness of global development issues and equip them with the skills and knowledge to become active global citizens.

In 2005 the City of Edinburgh gave the Freedom of the City to Dau Aung San Suu Kyi and Chris Robinson, Anglo-Burmese artist exhibited his drypoint etching of Burmese life in Edinburgh. He started to work with Forthview Primary School and linked Forthview with Hle Bee School in Mae Sot, where Chris had also worked.

Over the last 3 years, Hle Bee and Forthview children have been linked as penpals. They have exchanged many letter, cards and drawings. They have taken part in joint art and writing projects. They have learnt about each other’s countries and cultures. This was further supported when Dr Thein Lwin came from Thailand in 2008 to visit Forthview and trained Forthview staff in critical thinking and when Sheila Laing, Headteacher of Forthview visited Hle Bee School sharing friendship and learning in art and music with the children there.

Over the last year, Hle Bee and Forthview children have worked again with Chris Robinson to create an exhibition called OUR LIVES. Each child has etched and written about an aspect of their life. Over 70 etchings and stories in Burmese and English have been exhibited in Ocean Terminal Shopping Mall, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. On 19 June 2008, the same works have been exhibited in Borderline Gallery, Mae Sot, Thailand.

This work was made possible with DFID Global Schools Partnership funding. The funding has enabled Hle Bee and Forthview to embark on an amazing learning journey together.

Opening reception: You are invited to join us and meet the children at the opening reception taking place at Borderline Gallery from 6 pm to 9 pm on Thursday 19th June.

The exhibition will close on 2nd July 2008.

Looking East, Looking West art works

The gallery is open every day except Monday, from 10 am to 6 pm. Sein Sein Lin is around to give information on artists and works, and other artists regularly drop by.

General Show art works

Most artists are exiled artists from Burma. Some of their natives are from lower Burma. Their families are still well but they feel very sad and sympathy to the people who are victims of the cyclone in Burma. So they want to donate from their selling art works as much as they can.

All art works are donated by member artists at Gallery. Also some women groups are donated from their selling items at Women Collective.

100% of proceeds and donations will go to providing relief for the victims of the cyclone with collaboration between Borderline Shop and Emergency Assistance Team (EAT). This team is leading by Mae Tao Clinic.

The exhibition will close on 4th June 2008.

Eternal Loss art works

Opening Reception: Borderline offered Burmese food and drinks supported by Borderline Tea Shop. As usual the opening reception was held in the evening between 6-9pm at the Borderline Gallery, Mae Sot. The exhibition will close on Thursday 22 May.

This is the beginning of an international tour for “Dreaming of Prayer Flags” which will travel to Washington DC, Bhutan, Cambodia, California, and Europe.

‘Dreaming of Prayer Flags’ opens a stunning portal into the heart of the cloistered Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Karma Singye Dorji’s stories are tender and intimate and Sandy Shum’s images of the country are filled with color, light and movement. The stories and images blend luminously to unveil grand Himalayan vistas, spiritually resonant festivals, and the unhurried rhythms of village life.

Dreaming of Prayer Flags art works

The photographs are by students in the MY STORY photo project 3, and were taken in the Mae Sot area, at Mae Ra Moe Camp, and Ler Per Her, from January through March 2008. Students came from Karen Youth Organization, Karen Agriculture Department, other refugee camps, IDP areas, and from Mae Tao Clinic. After intensive 2 weeks training in basic photo techniques, and the taking of hundreds of photographs, the students edited their work into the current exhibition, with two images from each participant. The photos reflect the lives of the photographers and how they see their world: boys playing, happy children, sad children, proud parents, men and women at work, students, the rivers, mountains and flowers they love.

This February, the MY STORY photo project and Borderline Gallery were delighted to bring visual artist Wayne Boucher from Nova Scotia, Canada, to work as artist in residence for 5 weeks. Working alongside Borderline artists, Boucher created a series of 10 vibrant abstract works, reflecting his impressions of the sights, sounds, and smells he encountered here.

Says Boucher, ‘We learned how to look through each others’ eyes’.

Borderline Gallery and MY STORY photo project would like to thank the following organizations for their support:

Canada Council for the Arts
Canada Fund
Help Without Frontiers
Karen Youth Organization
Karen Education Workers’ Union
Mae Tao Clinic
MSppa
Nova Scotia Arts and Partnership Council

The gallery is open every day except Monday, from 10 am to 6 pm. Sein Sein Lin is around to give information on artists and works. The exhibition will close on 30th April.

My Story photo project 3 art works

Wayne Boucher art works

The gallery is open every day except Monday, from 10 am to 6 pm. Sein Sein Lin is around to give information on artists and works, and other artists regularly drop by.

General Show art works

You can feel their work of watercolor, acrylic, oil on canvas and mixing medium for creative and their subjects are the many aspects of their home country, Burma.

We also sell Women Solidarity Bags. Each canvas bag has it own unique design. Hand painted by migrant women artists from Burma, Limited Edition.

The exhibition closed on 20th March. For the opening reception, Borderline offered Burmese food and drinks supported by Borderline Tea Shop. As usual the opening reception was held in the evening between 6:00pm and 9:00pm.

Solidarity Women art works

Unfortunately for him, February is a dry month in Thailand so he needs to get his inspiration from other places.

In his native land Canada, Wayne is a respected and accomplished artist whose work has been exhibited in many places. He has received many grants, including grants from the Canada Council, and won many awards like the Nova Scotia Portia White Prize.

Besides painting Wayne is also very active in promoting the arts as an essential part of the community, serving as Chair of the Annapolis Royal Region Community Arts Council and on selection committees and juries for the province of Nova Scotia and the Canada Council. Especially this last aspect makes him an excellent partner of the Borderline Collective.

With the support from Susan and Nat Tileston from the My Story Project, the Canada Fund, Canada Council, and the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Wayne will be staying for the month February 2008 at the Borderline as a resident artists.

He will talk and work with the artists of the Borderline, hold workshops (the first one was on February 2), and exchange ideas.

Workshop photos

The gallery is open every day except Monday, from 10 am to 6 pm. Sein Sein Lin is around to give information on artists and works, and other artists regularly drop by.

General Show art works

He is looking for more opportunities to exhibit his art. He respects all artists.

“All artists are my teachers”, he says.

He misses his native land. He is yearning to the atmosphere and aurora of Burma. He searches for reflections in the objects, and livelihoods of the people of Burma and remarkable happenings inside Burma.

The exhibition will close on 21st February. For the opening reception, Borderline offered Burmese food and drinks supported by Borderline Tea Shop. As usual the opening reception was held in the evening between 6:00pm and 9:00pm.

Yearning to the Native Land art works