Refugee Youth Take the Stage at Mae La Camp in Thailand

Mae La, Thailand – Inside a modest church nestled beneath Mae La’s steep limestone crags, deep within the Mae La camp on the Thai-Myanmar border, the voices of nearly a hundred refugee youth rose in harmony, carrying a traditional Karen song.

This wasn’t a typical church service. It marked the opening of the camp’s annual Youth Talent Show – a celebration of creativity and youth empowerment prepared by young people over several weeks.

When the song ended, two young hosts rushed onto the stage, excitedly introducing the competing teams. Over the next hour, the audience and panel of four judges watched an array of skills and talent: traditional dances in colorful attire, soulful folk songs, modern hip-hop routines, and even a powerful play warning against alcohol and drug abuse.

Mae La camp is home to over 29,000 refugees from Myanmar – the largest out of the nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Around 5,500 are refugee children and youth, many of whom were born and raised in the camp.

The Youth Talent Show is one of many activities led by UNHCR’s partner, the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR). It forms part of a broader initiative, funded by the European Union and other donors, to empower refugee youth from Myanmar and promote their physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.

The event comes at a time of uncertainty when refugee youth are anxious about their future as humanitarian funding declines and services in camps are reduced.

“The goal is to ensure youth empowerment and give every child and young person an equal opportunity to express their talents and creativity,” says Kitti Saichonapiban, COERR’s Program Supervisor who plays a key role in organizing the activity.

“It helps children and youth build stronger bonds and friendships, especially among those with shared interests and talents. Working together in teams encourages cooperation, mutual support, and a sense of belonging.”

By focusing on personal strengths and community solidarity, the talent show shifts attention away from fear of losing services towards confidence in their own abilities. It inspires youth to lead and initiate their own creative activities, learn to use their free time in positive and productive ways, and teach healthy coping mechanisms that can reduce exposure to harmful behaviors. As formal services shrink, peer networks become vital - creating informal support systems that help fill the gap.

Past winners have motivated others to explore new talents, which reflected in the variety of performances this year, including ones that address important community issues such as concerns around alcohol and drug use.

“This shows that youth are not only developing their talents but are also becoming more aware and engaged with social challenges in their community,” said Kitti.

After nine team performances, judges praised the contestants for showcasing not only skill, but cultural heritage. Cheers erupted as the top three winners were announced, and representatives proudly accepted their special “Mae La’s Got Talent” plaques.

Among them was Naw Yin Yin Aye, 19, whose team wowed the crowd with a blend of traditional dance and vocal performance.

“This was my first time participating—and my first time winning,” she beamed. “When our teacher told us we were entering, we got very excited.”

Naw Yin Yin shared that preparing was no small feat. “We practiced for three weeks while studying,” she said, explaining that the team had been living together in the camp’s school dormitory for around a year, making the collaboration easier. Outside rehearsals, she and her friends keep busy with drama, dance and night study classes – but drama and singing are what she enjoys most.

Like many youth in the camp, Naw Yin Yin is thinking about her future. “I want to be a translator,” she shared—a goal she discovered this year. She’s learning Chinese online, building on the English and Burmese she already knows.