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Youth Empowerment Programme
Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) is an ongoing KYO programme to raise the skills and knowledge of Karen youths so that they may develop their communities, manage their lives in peace and with justice, and participate effectively in political and developmental interventions by other agencies.
Our approach to youth development uses sustainable, participatory methods to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the programme.
In 2009-10 we are focusing on political training and empowerment in SPDC-controlled areas of Karen State to enable these young people to understand the current political processes affecting their lives, in particular the SPDC and KNU constitutions and the upcoming elections.
Objectives
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To develop the training, public speaking and leadership skills and self-confidence of the youth to develop their work in their communities
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To increase the youth’s knowledge of Karen Youth Organization, Burmese politics, federal union and democracy issues
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To create opportunities for Karen youths to share their knowledge and experiences with the young people who live outside Burma
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To educate the youth about the process of the development of the Karen constitution, which is an initiative of the Karen State Coordinating Body (KSCB)
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To help Karen youths find out the needs of the IDP youths and find ways to help them
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To promote human, women and child rights among the youths
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To provide Karen youths with general knowledge of IDPs from other countries so that they can manage and regulate their lives better
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To provide more opportunities for youths to be able to organise public meetings for the matters that the community face
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To create opportunities for the KYO Executive Committees from every level (Central, District & Township) to meet and cooperate effectively in their work
YEP is co-ordinated by a member of the KYO Central Executive Committee and has been active in the refugee camps and inside Karen state since 2003. So far, around 1,000 youths have participated in this large-scale youth training programme and many of these have gone on to directly use the skills and knowledge gained in their work.
Despite SPDC restrictions on KYO and its activities inside Burma, hundreds of youths have risked their security to participate in this programme from SPDC occupied areas and gained valuable knowledge to help them understand their rights and work to claim freedom and justice.
We believe this programme is essential for building the necessary skills and knowledge among youths for a fair, democratic Burma, so we will continue this important programme for as long as we are able to secure the necessary funding.