Mon Youth Progressive Organization begins two-month Women’s Empowerment Training in Sangkhlaburi

July 16, 2015

WCRP: On June 29, 2015, the Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO), a youth organization affiliated with the predominant Mon armed group, the New Mon State Party, began a two-month-long Women’s Empowerment Training in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand. Fifteen women, aged 15 to 35 years old and from various areas of Mon State, are attending the training, which aims to empower women by strengthening both their knowledge and leadership skills.

During the training MYPO will focus on eight target issues, which will include human rights, women’s rights and gender. According to MYPO, a unique element of the training is that participants are required to hold weekly debates on issues they have studied.

MYPO staff explained that they have made conscious efforts to recruit a diverse group of participants for the training. The 15 trainees come from a large range of townships, including Ye, Mudon, Thanbyuzayat, Pha An, Paung and Balu Kyine. In particular, MYPO attempted to recruit participants from areas that have been poorly served by such trainings in the past. Participants are also of a variety of ages, ranging from Grade 4 of school to Year One of university.

MYPO training organizer Mi Pakao Mrok Son explained, “We tried to choose participants from different areas and from areas where we haven’t given trainings before. The students are very new [to the issues in the trainings] and it is a little bit difficult for them to understand the issues. We don’t have any qualification requirements for the Women’s Empowerment Training. We mainly just want to support women who can help the community and who are interested in the training. After [the participants] finish the two months of training they have to go back to their village and give a day-long training on issues they are interested in. We will do follow-ups after they give these trainings”.

Mi Moe Chan, a trainee from Kyar Kan quarter, Thanbyuzayat Township, shared her experiences, “I am interested in the empowerment training because I am developing knowledge from it. We have attended the training for two weeks now and we have learned about three issues: human rights, women’s rights and gender. The Women and Child Rights Project gave us trainings on women’s rights and gender issues. I am interested in all of these issues. Because I had the chance to join this program, I know about rights that I never knew about before”.

MYPO was founded on 18 November, 2001, with the aim of endorsing democracy and supporting activities related to Mon national liberation. In particular, MYPO works to empower future leaders, to build a strong community, to preserve Mon literature and culture, and to create unity among Mon youth. MYPO usually runs around 2 or 3 months of trainings per year.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News