Empowering Communities through knowledge and advocacy
At the heart of our mission is the empowerment of communities through tailored capacity-building programs designed to address the unique challenges posed by ongoing conflict. Our comprehensive workshops cover essential areas such as health, education, and gender-based violence prevention, all aimed at fostering resilience and self-sufficiency.
Over nearly two years, our collaboration with local partners has reached tens of thousands of individuals, including rural villagers and vulnerable groups across Myanmar. Our training has equipped them with vital skills to navigate and withstand the complexities of conflict, contributing to their safety, resilience, and long-term stability.
By empowering communities through targeted education and practical support, we are working towards a future where they can independently address and overcome the challenges posed by conflict.
Risk Reduction and Safety
Our training programs in landmine and bombardment risk reduction are crucial for mitigating the immediate dangers posed by conflict, although these efforts alone cannot resolve the underlying political crises. Nonetheless, they play a vital role in saving lives and reducing civilian casualties from landmines and aerial attacks.
Health Education
Our health-related workshops address urgent needs and provide a sense of hope. These sessions cover First Aid, reproductive health, family planning, and trauma-informed care, empowering community members to manage health crises effectively and promote long-term well-being.
Educational Support
We tackle the educational challenges faced by children in conflict zones by implementing trauma-informed teaching methods, adaptive curricula, and culturally responsive strategies. Our goal is to foster academic achievement and resilience, creating supportive learning environments that leverage community resources.
Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Prevention
Our training on gender equality and reproductive health not only supports women but also engages men in understanding the systemic impacts of gender roles. This shift in awareness helps transform community attitudes and promotes gender equality across all societal levels.
Democracy, Human Rights and Federalism
Our training programs on democracy, human rights, and federalism are designed to educate grassroots communities on these fundamental concepts. We focus on empowering individuals with the knowledge they need to understand their roles as responsible citizens in fostering a democratic, inclusive, and equitable society in Myanmar. Through our sessions, participants learn how to actively contribute to and advocate for democratic principles, human rights, and federalism, ensuring a fair and just society for all.
Empowering Communities
Impact of Our Training Sessions
Our training sessions have significantly transformed local communities by equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for their rights and well-being. Through comprehensive training sessions on risk reduction, health, education, gender equality, democracy, human rights, and federalism, we have fostered a culture of resilience and empowerment. These sessions not only enhance personal development but also contribute to broader social justice initiatives, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in a fair and just society.
What Our Participants Say
“Some trainees came up with their prior knowledge on landmine and bombardment risk mitigation based on what they’d read on social media. But, they were unable to do anything when they were asked to do some demonstrations as pre-assessment on their practical skills about how to make themselves safe from landmines and aerial bombardments. They’ve only earned complete skill sets through our training sessions where they were allowed to practicalize their knowledge.”
– Civil Society Leader and Trainer, Ayadaw Township
“There’s been a significant increase in the female population entering puberty since the 2021 military coup. Due to the prolonged armed conflict, many of these young women have not had access to essential health education regarding hormonal changes, menstruation, and safe practices during puberty, including hygiene and sexual health. Consequently, numerous individuals have faced unintended pregnancies and resorted to unsafe abortions, leading to social ostracization and long-term health consequences such as reproductive issues, depression, and tragically, suicide. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize similar health education initiatives to mitigate these risks and enhance women’s health, particularly in rural areas.”
– Training Participant, Yinmabin Township
“People never stop having sex and reproduction for the reason of war or conflict. It’s logically more evident in rural communities with relatively lower education on sex, reproduction, and family planning. This ‘Reproduction and Family Planning’ training has happened at a perfect timing when local people, including teen school children and early drop-outs, have long been unable to access such similar awareness-raising trainings due to the Covid-19 pandemic and post-coup political crises. We’ve educated them to understand how safe sex, reproduction, and family planning are critical to their social well-being and trained them to follow conception methods very systematically through this training. The more similar trainings we can do, the better it is for local communities.”
– Community Leader, Kalay Township
“Only a three-day Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) training has enlightened us a lot. I myself used to view a husband’s beating of his wife as customarily acceptable. Only after attending this training, I clearly understand that it’s terrible domestic violence. Most importantly, I used to think gays and lesbians were socially abnormal and religiously unacceptable. Admittedly, I now feel ashamed of myself who used to mock their identities and existentialism until I joined this training.”
– Training Participant, Kanbalu Township