Karen Youth Organisation

The KYO (Karen Youth Organization) was re-formed on 23rd May 1989 to respond to the real needs of the young Karen people in Karen community. For many years the KYO has performed valuable work on behalf of the Karen community, helping young Karen to develop their potential to work in and on behalf of the Karen community. There are currently 40,911 KYO members.

In March 2001, the organization was revived at the first KYO congress, new leaders elected and membership renewed. Its leadership has become younger and has included more young Karen women. In 2005 the second KYO congress was held and new leaders elected. KYO's role in the community has become more important for the younger generation. It is structured to maximize youth's participation in and ownership of our entire programs. The KYO currently has committees at four levels, they are Central, Districts, Townships and villages.

We provide training in education and formation of youth, leadership & management, social protection, community development, community organization, political education, and other relevant programs within Karen community to ensure that local needs are met by local solutions. Our main goal is to empower and equip youth with skills which will enable them to respond to the ever-changing needs of the community.

Civil war and oppression of Karen people have caused it to become difficult for youth (particularly IDPs) to join together for the betterment of themselves and their communities. KYO acts as a unifying body for Karen Youth, finding ways to promote higher education and to nurture leaders to ensure that Karens have the capacity to create economic and government infrastructures, as well as an active civil society in a future democratic union of Burma.

As the KYO succeeds in organising youth, they are able to spend more resources on education, empowerment and community development.

Empowering and equipping youth through democratic leadership & socioeconomic development for a better world for establishing a place of justice and peace.

Formation and Education of young people, to play a vital role for a just and peaceful society.

We intend to empower young people to actively share their current and future livelihoods in order to achieve the targets of development. E.g. Environmentally sustainable; politically and economically accessible and socially just.

To help today's youth in becoming democratic national leaders
To educate the youths about their responsibilities
To raise the living standard of the youths by improving their physical and mental power
To maintain, upgrade, and encourage participation in the various cultures of the ethnic nationalities within Burma, while promoting fellowship and cross-cultural exchange
To support the achievement of unity among the different ethnic nationalities, which are presently being oppressed
To help establish democracy throughout the country while promoting the concepts of a Federal Union

Community Organising and supporting Community Organisations are the most important work that KYO carries out.

To discover feasible ways for the Karen youth to acquire higher education
To provide training for the prevention of AIDS and drug abuse among young Karen people
To conduct training in politics, leadership & management, human rights, community development, vocational training, environmental education, and basic computer skills
To organize cultural, educational, recreational and social activities for youth development
To create a committee to research the history and culture of the Karen people, as well as chronicling the atrocities they face today
To publish a KYO magazine, educational book, bulletin, and /or newsletter
To be involved in or, participate in and assist Burma in its struggle for democracy
To cooperate closely with national and international organizations engaged in similar activities
To implement the second Karen Youth Conference

Decisions are made by committee at the village, township and district levels. The Central Committee then gains consensus of opinion, working with district leaders.

KYO has committees in all districts and townships in Karen State and in all Karen refugee camps. It is therefore known by all at these levels. KYO is organised in many villages in Karen State, but not yet in all villages due to security and logistical difficulties. Where KYO is organised, it is well known.