NEWS RELEASE
PROJECT UMBRELLA BURMA
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Join us on Monday, Aug. 13 for a Karen national flag-raising ceremony and traditional Karen dancing.
We'll raise the flag outside the Orillia Opera House at 11 a.m., then go inside the Green Room for brief speeches and a traditional Karen dance performance. We hope to wrap up at noon, and everyone is welcome to come down to Couchiching Beach Park for a barbecue lunch.
Project Umbrella Burma held the first Karen flag raising in 2008, and most years after that until 2014. We're restarting the tradition this year with a lot of enthusiasm and support from the Karen community of Canada.
This event aims to raise awareness about Karen culture and the current situation of Karen people, one of the many ethnic minority groups in Myanmar.
Project Umbrella Burma works with Karen youth living along the border in Thailand, where they are not able to raise the Karen national flag or sing the Karen national anthem.
This flag raising will symbolize the freedom to express their own culture and diverse Karen identities and to live peacefully in their own territory. It is an important opportunity for Karen Canadians living in Ontario to gather and see the flag flying high over Orillia.
All are welcome to join us, learn, and show your support.
With any questions please get in touch with Project Umbrella Burma board members, email us at [email protected], or see more details on the Facebook event page.
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