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ANJEZArtProject

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ANJEZArtProject

Anjez Art Project (charity) brings arts and hopes to the Burmese refugee community in KL, Malaysia. We provide arts education in refugee classrooms.

In 2020, we started working with refugee families to help raise funding with their handicraft skills. Anjez Art Project (AAP) comes from the loving memory of Jinn Lau’s infant daughter who left this world in 2018. All the love and care and yearning for her were channeled through this project to other children in need. Jinn hopes that through art and AAP, more young lives could realize their potent

ial. Art for Refugee
Since 2018, AAP has been working with MyDance Alliance to educate young refugee students on different types of arts and discipline- in the form of art lectures, dance, music, and handicraft class. AAP students have been invited to attend and performed at various local art performances, as well as volunteered in art markets & events. These treasured opportunities give these marginalized refugee students a platform to connect with the local community, helped them build a sense of independence, value and belonging. Refugee Artisan Program
In an August 2020 visit to the students and their families, Jinn learned that the MCO has put the refugee families in an even more dire situation. Many in the community have lost their jobs and income source, and many of the students are unable to continue schooling. A few of her students and their mothers relied on selling handicraft for basic living, which has seen very little income since MCO. The situation is urgent and quick action is needed, so she is leveraging on the AAP platform to help these students and their mothers earn some basic survival income through handicraft. Together with like-minded friends, the AAP Refugee Artisans Program is created. The program's first project- The Founding Fund- is 45 embroidered masks. The fund's priority is to help provide our students and their families with an immediate, basic living income. Fund in excess of basic needs will be used to purchase tools and materials for new products. We hope that in the near future, the program can be a self-sufficient social enterprise, where our refugee artisans can earn a living wage with their work, further develop their skills in handicraft design, English/ Malay, computer literacy, and e-Commerce/ small business management.

11/03/2026

Culture dance archive-Kachin

“The Kachin people believe they come from the sun and once married a dragon princess.” 🐉☀️

During the sharing session, James and the students shared t the meaning behind the silver ornaments on Kachin women’s traditional clothes. These aren’t just for show; they represent the scales of a dragon. This is a way for them to honor their history and their ancestors.

While the jingling sound of the silver happens naturally during dance, it isn’t a rule that you must make them move. It is simply a symbol of who they are. Whether they are performing the Manau or the Htwang Ka, the costume tells a story.

❤️More than a Costume:
These clothes are very special and are worn for big life events like weddings and engagements. Today, many people wear modern Western clothes, and some costumes are now factory-made, but the traditional design is still a huge part of their identity.

🧍‍♂️Traditional Men’s Clothing:
James also cleared up that many people think Kachin men wear the longyi, but that actually came from India and was adopted into Burmese culture later. Traditionally, Kachin men wear long black trousers. The more decorated outfits you see leaders wearing during festivals are specific to Manau leaders.

📸: Goh B**g Hiang, Connie Chan, Intern Students.

🗡️ The Meaning of the Sword:
In these dances, men often carry a sword. This isn’t just a weapon; it is a symbol of protection and strength. Historically, it was used to clear paths in the mountains and protect the family.

04/02/2026

Last week we welcomed students from Han Xin College for their CSR program with CSO! 💛 This time, they started by visiting the school and sharing their own ideas for activities with the students, instead of following pre-set requests. Their creativity, passion, and enthusiasm for working with refugee students was truly inspiring. Can’t wait to see what they create together! ✨

30/01/2026

🌿7th Culture Dance Sharing-Shan

The Toenayar Dance is a traditional performance from Shan State, featuring two dancers; one at the head and another at the tail. Its movements are guided by the rhythm of the accompanying song rather than a fixed style, and it is performed at festivals and important occasions, such as welcoming official visitors or celebrating the end of Buddhist Lent.

According to Shan belief, the dance commemorates a key event in Buddhist history: the Lord Buddha’s ascension to Tāvatiṃsa Heaven to teach the Dhamma to His mother, Queen Māyā, followed by His return to the human world. The Toenayar Dance embodies this sacred moment of welcome, expressing reverence, joy, and devotion through gentle, rhythmic movements.

Unlike other animal-inspired dances, its focus is on respect for the Buddha, religious faith, and community unity. Today, it continues to be performed during Shan New Year and religious ceremonies to honor tradition and pass cultural knowledge to younger generations.

Some sources compare the Toenayar Dance to the lion dance, but the comparison is limited. The lion dance is primarily a festive performance with minimal religious connotation, whereas the Toenayar Dance has a clear spiritual narrative. There is also uncertainty about which animal the Toenayar represents; some suggest it may be a sheep but the emphasis is less on the animal form and more on the ceremonial symbolism.

Thanks to information provided by .

09/01/2026

🌿6th Burmese Culture Dance Sharing-Shan

Nang Lao, the only Shan student in our group, generously prepared and shared her culture on her own. She introduced the geography of Shan State, the meaning of the Shan flag, Inlay Lake, the Thadingyut festival, mythical beings such as Kinnari and Kinnara, and traditional Shan musical instruments. Due to time limits, her sharing took place over two sessions.

In the first session, after her presentation, Nang Lao taught us a simple Shan cultural dance. She was a little shy at first, but we learned basic gestures and steps together.

The second session deeply moved me. Nang Lao invited members of her community, including a dancer who performed the Kinnari–Kinnara dance and brought the original costume. In Shan and wider Buddhist tradition, Kinnari and Kinnara welcome Gotama Buddha when he descends from Tavatimsa heaven, and they are represented as peacocks. The costume features a handmade peacock-tail fan worn at the back, secured with a belt, and is extremely heavy, requiring at least two people to help put it on. She shared that it is around 100 years old, handmade in Myanmar, and impossible to remake locally. Witnessing this up close felt truly special.

The dancer also shared that the dance is largely improvised, responding to live musicians, with moments of interaction when audiences offer donations. To close, Nang Lao shared Shan potato rice she cooked herself, served with coriander, spicy tomato sauce, and fried garlic. The familiar Southeast Asian flavours, paired with something new, made it a beautiful ending and a meaningful glimpse into living Shan culture.

30/12/2025

As part of Local Gathering 2025 with Mekong Culture Hub, I hosted an intimate, invitation-only gathering with Burmese refugee youth from the Chin, Kachin, and Mon communities. Through cultural dances and traditional snacks, they shared pieces of their heritage, memories, and everyday lives.

This gathering grew out of our World Refugee Day 2025 work, supported by COBEM , .my and and continues through weekly dance classes with students from different learning centers. What started as my curiosity about their cultural dances and histories became a space for internal sharing, learning from one another, and building trust together.

These sessions are not just about learning steps, but about listening to the body, reconnecting with cultural memory, and finding confidence through movement. The students also brought and shared their own traditional snacks, adding another layer of care and storytelling.

Grateful to everyone who danced, cooked, supported, and showed up 🤍

27/12/2025

Congratulations to both of you on your wedding. 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

I still remember when I first met him. He was the CSO teacher, only 22 years old at the time. He shared with me that he couldn’t continue his studies, yet every time I went to class, he would quietly help take care of my child drawing with her or spending time with my kids. That kindness stayed with me.

In 2018, I brought them to MyDance Festival. He was the teacher-in-charge and also played the guitar. He told me he had learned it by himself, and I was truly amazed. During our car ride, we had the chance to talk, and he was the first person who openly shared his family story with me. He has always been humble, sincere, and easy to connect with. I was very happy to work alongside him.

After the pandemic, he became the headmaster. It was a huge responsibility to take on at such a young age, but he stepped in for the sake of the students when there was no one else. And he did an incredible job. During that time, we worked very closely together. He supported almost every project I was involved in and became a strong connector between myself, the students, and the community. I truly appreciate his dedication, coordination, and trust.

What touched me most was how he related to the students; not as a distant headmaster, but as someone who laughed with them, played with them, and moved alongside them. I remember hiking together, and even a moment when the students joyfully threw him into the pool. The students were truly lucky to have someone like him leading the school.

Seeing him get married was deeply touching. From the bottom of my heart, I want to congratulate him and his wife. It was beautiful to see so many students and members of the community attending the wedding; proof of how much love and respect he has built over the years.

Wishing you both a lifetime filled with love, partnership, and joy.

20/12/2025

Weekly dance class

Our class before the Christmas break focused on continuity and transition. We moved slowly from technique into a dance combination, allowing the body to connect structure with flow. It was a moment to integrate what we’ve been practicing and carry it forward into movement, before pausing for the holidays.

08/12/2025

So happy to have back with us for dance class after World Refugee Day. Throughout the class so happy witness the students’ shift from stuckness to flow. Keep moving and flowing.

30/10/2025

MY Rootopia: The Journey
Dancebox September 2025

Choregrapher: Lau Beh Chin
Performers: , Ho Ai Ling , Ja Nu Awng,
Multimedia designer: Elroi

A Re-work-in-progress excerpt from My Rootopia which presented on World Refugee Day 2025, it traces the journey of refugees from Myanmar to Malaysia. This reworking allows space and time to settle into lived memories, translating stories of displacement into movement while opening space to rediscover resilience.

📸: , Goh B**g Hiang.

Acknowledgements:
Andrew, ._.xuan , , &

18/10/2025

October 18th, 2017
I gave birth to my twins in the hospital. But just an hour later, my little girl left this world peacefully. I held her in my arms; her passing left an empty space in my heart that could never be filled.

Then I met a refugee girl who somehow filled part of that emptiness though not completely, but enough to bring light back into my heart. That was when I began working with a group of refugees in Malaysia. I named my project after her, Anjez, because I want your name to be heard, to continue to live.

Sometimes I think, instead of saying I’m helping them, it’s actually they who helped heal me and transforming my sadness into love and giving me strength. I truly believe this was something my little girl arranged for me.

It hasn’t been an easy journey working with them, but whenever I face challenges, I speak to her ans asking her to guide me to a place where I can find strength again. And somehow, she does.

Today, sitting in the , I suddenly realized it’s been 8 years. I’m still doing this, even though there were so many moments I wanted to give up. Listening and meeting so many beautiful souls; fighting for the communities, heritage, land, and environment, which recharged me deeply. I felt proud of myself.

Yes, mummy did it. Even though this year I can’t celebrate your birthday at home, I know that’s you is the one guiding me here.

I’m truly grateful for and the team that helps me refill my strength and reminds me that I’m not alone. To my local gathering fellows for all the support, and to my beautiful refugees students I worked with since 2018 who are the precious gifts my girl brought into my life; thank you. I don’t know how far I’ll go, but for now, I’m still walking, still trying, still not giving up.

Happy Birthday, Anzej and Anjez. ❤️

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