Solidarity with the Burmese People

Burma's military dictators have suppressed democracy for many decades, creating a community of refugees and political exiles that live on -all Burma's borders. Chan Chao, originally from Burma, visited the border areas and made portraits of the people who hope for a better future.

Exquisite Safaris Burma: A Delicate Balance

Exquisite Safaris has created discreet alliances in Burma to provide clean water and primary schools that support hundreds of villagers. We do not send our business payments into the country of Burma via the electronic SWIFT funds system. By directing funds through other countries our intention is to keep your payment from lining the pockets of the military junta.

Philanthropic Travel donations to build clean water wells and primary schools is hand delivered directly to the projects. In this way, we are supporting the people of Burma without contributing hard currency to the military regime.

About Travel to Burma in 2006

To raise hard currency reserves, the military regime has opened the country to tourism and has implemented elaborate steps to insure tourist safety and the currency that brings. You are statistically safer in Burma than in high crime neighborhoods in the United States. Many tour companies will wire your funds directly to Burma, in those circumstances, a portion of those funds support the military leaders.

We believe that sanctions harm the dishwashers, taxi drivers, chambermaids, and those who can least afford to lose their income. Just like the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq, the dictator's continue to thrive and the people of the country suffer. Exquisite Safaris is committed to supporting the people while working to support the democratically elected party and leader currently under house arrest.

Your visit and donation to Burma will help keep hope alive. Please bring pencils, clothes, shortwave radios, and functioning computers as gifts and consider donating to our projects to support education, clean water and micro credit programs throughout the country.

In the last of a series of articles from inside Burma, the BBC's Kate McGeown asks whether tourism helps or hinders the local people: Should tourists go to Burma?

Do you think tourists should visit Burma?
Have you been to Burma as a tourist?
Send us your comments and experiences.

Be the Change
Hope Burns Brightly
Water Projects in Burma
Burma: Mystic Ball and the Sport of Chinlone
Affluent Parents Dedicated to Instilling Philanthropic Values in their Children
Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel Donor Tours
Becoming a Philanthropist
My First Philanthropic Travel Experience
The Wisdom of Stone Soup