Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsConclusion of Mon Community Development Training celebrated

Conclusion of Mon Community Development Training celebrated

-

Independent Mon News Agency – Earlier this evening, a ceremony marking the conclusion of a three-month “Community Organizing and Community Development (COCD) Training” was held near the Thailand-Burma border. The event hosted about 100 participants, including community and political leaders and members of Mon civil society groups.

The COCD Training was organized by the Civil Society Development Program and welcomed 18 community development workers to learn about and prepare rural development initiatives in ethnic Mon areas. The training was also designed to compliment current peace objectives in Burma (Myanmar).

Nai Sunthorn Siripanngern, Chairman of the Mon Unity League (MUL), led the ceremony and stated, “People have been suffering for decades. They are behind in development if compared with other ASEAN countries. It is great for development workers to help rural communities and those who endured conflict for a long time.”

Also in attendance was Mr. Seri Thongmak, Executive Director of the Thai development NGO Pattana Rak Foundation, who delivered a speech urging trainees to work with community members in rural villages to ensure that local people participate in their own development projects.

Training coordinator Mi Seik Jon Dae said, “Pattana Rak provided two weeks of training, and it was great. The trainees understood the concept of development, the role of development workers, livelihood and agriculture, and micro-credit and saving.”

Mehm Lyi Rot, a 25-year-old trainee from Mudon Township, said, “We are now completely clear on how to approach the community. Sustainable development is our goal, and I expect this to benefit all people, not just a small group or company or crony.”

Female trainee Mi Pakao Malay of Yebyu explained that she appreciated the method they learned for making natural fertilizer. She said this knowledge would benefit farmers in her village as well as preserve the environment and ecological harmony.

During the training, students visited many Mon and Karen communities along the Thailand-Burma border to learn about rural development projects. Several trainers were involved in the instruction to give students a broad view of political and social developments in Burma (Myanmar) and to identify opportunities to engage with and work for the people.

Trainers included Dr. Aung Thu Nyein from Bahu Institute, who explained the Burmese President’s Poverty Reduction agenda, and Mr. Ashley South, a consultant for the Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI), who taught about developing needs assessments in the post-conflict communities along Burma’s eastern border.

At the conclusion of the training, the students established the “Mon Community Development Network,” and plan to implement small-scale development projects in their home communities to support school hygiene, children’s health, and sanitation.

Related articles

Stay Connected

29,347FansLike
0FollowersFollow
409FollowersFollow
20,700SubscribersSubscribe

Latest posts