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YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP PROJECT


AKF facilitates leadership training both in Victoria and on the Thai-Burma border.

In 2010 AKF facilitated an ambitious pilot program of leadership training for 20-30 year olds.

12 Australian-based Karen and 12 Karen from the Thai-Burma border came together in Thailand for 16 days during which time.
  • they learnt together about Karen border organisations
  • they lived together as a learning community in human rights
  • they created solidarity between them for peace-building

Plans are underway to repeat and develop the project for Jan. 2012.          


Can you help us make the Karen dream of enabling young people develop leadership for their future come true?

      Young Adult leadershop program   

   In 2011-12:

In Victoria... a group of Melbourne young people will acquire leadership skills and experience during the year in workshops designed to increase their confidence and leadership abilities

On the Thai-Burma border... In January 2012 a program will commence that is similar to the leadership training pilot, 2010.


   THIS PROGRAM URGENTLY NEEDS FUNDS

    

Firm friendships were also formed within and between members of the groups, creating a sense of a trans-national identity. Electronic communication was maintained between border and Australian participants after the training

             - from the professional final evaluation

 

 

Participants from the 2010 pilot project share their stories of hope for the future within the context of struggle.

A Thai Burma border participant wrote:

My name is Htoo Eh. I was so pleased to learn increased skills in organising and facilitating groups to benefit our work on the border and in Burma. Our analytical skills got better and I now understand about strategic planning in community work.

What really inspired me was hearing of the challenges of being a refugee in Australia... They have not abandoned our people but are returning to offer support... This makes me happy.

One of the workshop facilitators spoke of the power of the interaction between the two groups:

The learning that occurred went two ways.  Activism was demonstrated by the border group in their day-to-day involvement in organizations working for their people, often involving great personal risk.  The growing depth of understanding of this work amongst the Australian group resulted in an increase in their own activism on return to Australia and an ongoing commitment to the leadership program.


HELP   the next  K -YALP

THE KAREN YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP PROJECT

BECOME A REALITY……


It will have two parts  ….

Donate to the Leadership Training Module for Victorian Karen, 2011

and/or to the Thai-Burma border Program January 2012.

         

Leadership Training is key to growing healthy communities

for refugee people.  




 
 
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