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About Us

In 1999, a group of friends who shared a love of the outdoors and preserving its beauty and resources became aware of the dire humanitarian conditions existing among the Karen and other ethnic groups in eastern Burma. We formed Burma Humanitarian Mission to reduce the level of suffering. In December 1999, we traveled to the region and delivered six months' worth of medicine for 8,000 people living in camps for Internally Displaced People in the border areas of Burma. We also provided blankets, mosquito netting, clothes and other supplies. In addition, we provided emergency funds to a medical program for Burmese migrant workers. We acted to do something positive In the face of brutal oppression.

The following winter we returned to Burma with medical supplies for villages of 10,000 people for six months, and the funding to continue to supply these villages for the remainder of 2001.

Visiting Burma was both an inspiring and emotionally troubling experience. We fell in love with the spiritual beauty, integrity and commitment to freedom expressed by the people of Burma; however, having witnessed the living conditions of the internally displaced people in Karen State, the externally displaced people and refugees in Thailand, and having heard their stories of the horrors in Burma, we took on a commitment to expand our mission. BHM's efforts now include training medics and, on occasion, helping to build schools, dormitories to allow backpack health care workers to receive critical training. To enable this, BHM conducts fund raising within the United States and public awareness efforts to share the voice of the Karen with others in the U.S. and around the world.

All of the individuals involved with BHM are volunteers; there are no paid positions. BHM members, partners and supporters pay for our travel to the Thai/Burma border and for the operating costs associated with running BHM. All of the money raised goes directly to medicine, training and similar support for the Karen. While other organizations support and pursue a political solution, BHM is dedicated to providing critical humanitarian medical assistance. A few facts make BHM unique:

While other organizations support and pursue a political solution, BHM is dedicated to providing critical humanitarian medical assistance. A few facts make BHM unique:

• Our focus is on alleviating the suffering.
• In our interaction with the Karen, we help share their voice with the world by documenting their stories and struggles with pictures, video and audio recordings.
• We are non-profit as recognized by the IRS 501 ( c ) 3. We travel the region to assess the needs and impact of our support. Throughout the year, we are also in routine contact with Karen medical personnel to ensure we adjust to their needs. We are convinced we are making a difference in the lives of families who show bravery and character in face of tremendous suffering.

We appreciate your visit to our site and welcome your support - no contribution is too small to convey hope, opportunity and dignity to the Karen.

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Meet Burma Humanitarian Mission

Burma Humanitarian Mission is comprised of people from various backgrounds, joined in friendship. We enjoy a variety of outdoor activities -- from backpacking to rock climbing to skiing to many other endeavors. These activities also reflect shared values to shape the world as it can be, not accept it as it is. All of us have, in various degrees, been activists for a variety of causes from environmental to animal and human rights and health issues.

From these various starting points, we have joined and actively commit our time and talents to safeguard the world around us while also helping the Karen who have the courage to stand for their liberties in the face of brutal inhumanity. BHM members collectively contribute across a broad scope of work to ensure the organization's success. At the same time, we also take on lead responsibilities for key tasks.

Jen is the Director of Operations and is a founding member of Burma Humanitarian Mission. She oversees the dollars and guides donor relations to ensure our supporters maintain awareness of what BHM is doing and will do. She travels to the Thai/Burma border as often as possible. She is also a life coach, artist and published author. She's an accomplished rock climber, yogi, an avid organic vegetable gardener and lives with her husband and Tibetan Mastiff in the Washington DC area.

Mehmet is a founding member of BHM and serves as the Director of Membership and Community Outreach. He connects BHM with other Burma relief organizations while establishing links with faith groups, community and college associations to create strong support for the Karen and other Burmese ethnic groups. Having made multiple trips to the Thai/Burma border, he also screens potential Mission participants for future trips with BHM. He also is the Director of Wildplaces, an ecological restoration and education non-profit in California. An avid hiker and rock climber, Mehmet has been a champion for preserving nature's purity and beauty.

Mike is Director of Development for Burma Humanitarian Mission. He assists other BHM members with new initiatives. He coordinates media opportunities and press releases. He develops grant requests for foundations and Corporations while also preparing BHM's annual report. An avid, life-long runner, he leads BHM's 'Run for Burma’ awareness/fundraising effort as he brings the team together to run the 33rd Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. He's a strategist in a Washington DC think tank.

Scott is Burma Humanitarian Mission's Program and Creative Director. His innovative talent drives BHM's website, brochures and similar public images. He coordinates the efforts of the BHM team, assisting everyone with overcoming obstacles and ensuring the consistency of BHM's messages. He also guides a number of key fundraising events. He is a professional architect based on the west coast and also an expert cook. In addition to BHM work, Scott has travel to Indonesia to assist building orangutan protective habitats.

John is a founding member of Burma Humanitarian Mission. He has made numerous trips to the Thai/Burma border a half dozen times. He’s maintained close contact with Karen leaders to ensure BHM’s support is tailored to their needs. He is dedicated to helping the Karen live secure, free and with the best chance of a healthy life.

We are also fortunate to have a number of partners and volunteers who rally support for our work from time to time. Please see the Acknowledgements page for more information.

Assisting the Karen with medicines and medics is one manifestation of who we are as a group. We gain strength from each other and inspiration from our collective past.

One key element of who we are today is our friendship with Jeremy. While he has passed, he lives within each of us and the character of Burma Humanitarian Mission resonates with his goodness. Please click here for more on a human who has and will have a positive impact on the world around us.