Hi Keiko San,
Greetings! Thank you for your message and interest of our on-going
activities. Here's information I think that might be useful for your
and
your network.
TAG has been dissolved since July 2005 its relief and mid term assistance
to the tsunami effected Burmese migrant workers. Since most Burmese
migrant workers had had no support before TAG started its activities,
migrants want programs which supported migrant workers to be continued.
In particular, migrants have identified strong needs for education
programs, women's and children's programs, health education, and para-legal
assistance. TAG's participating organizations have therefore decided
to develop their own long-term programs in co-operation with each
other.
Grassroots HRE
Grassroots HRE has opened learning centres for migrant children to
provide an educational foundation for children of migrants. 5 Learning
centers in:
Pakaraing, Pawee , Ban Noung, Ban Naiung and Ban Nam Kham village
and another 5 centers in Khok Loi district and Kolaburi. Total numbers
is around
300 children. 2 Nursery school in Ban Naiung and Pawee village. There
100 children under 5 year's old who are being provided with meals
three times a day.
MAP Foundation
MAP Foundation has started projects to empower migrant communities
to access health, legal and social services and exercise their rights.
MAP Foundation is organising trainings on women and labour rights
to migrant communities, and facilitating forums for migrants to share
their experiences and develop strategies to address their own situations.
MAP continues to assist migrants accessing health care services and
broadcasts radio programs for migrants on two community radio stations
in the area.
HREIB
HREIB is taking a community organizing approach to its long-term programs
in Burmese migrant communities. Through innovative and participatory
training methodology, HREIB is conducting workshops with migrant workers
to identify and prioritize community needs and to develop action plans
to meet those needs. HREIB then assists the communities to implement
the designated action.
Because health is a high priority area, HREIB facilitated a health
team that is focusing specifically on the issue of malaria. The health
team provides medical consultations and clinics, health education,
and arranges for residual spraying to combat the spread of malaria.
HREIB is also providing resources on child rights and child-centred
teaching techniques to volunteers at the learning centres for migrant
children.
Because of HREIB's involvement in relief efforts with communities
affected by the December 2004 tsunami, our networks among the migrant
communities in Southern Thailand have strengthened. HREIB is now a
trusted and respected organization within those communities, and this
project on women's rights will complement the other work we are implementing
with those communities, particularly with community organizing and
health education. Migrant communities know HREIB for its relief efforts,
but also for its reputation for effective, participatory teaching
methodology and popular education to empower grassroots communities.
HREIB is currently running a health education project, with a health
team that provides health education and assistance to more than 3,000
migrant workers including women and children.
For the HREIB, we are currently operating two specific programs, one
is a continuous health education program and second one is women participation
in community leadership as well as to stop violence against women
in the community.
Health education program
Health Education Program was initiated and has been launched by the
health education team of the HREIB since August 2005, with a support
of the SHARE (Thailand). In the beginning of the program, it reached
a limited population of around 700 individuals, however, it has reached
to 1,632
individuals (Male- 823 and Female 571 and children 236) individuals
by the end of 2005. In fact, it reached more individuals than expected
from the
original proposal. In addition, HREIB health team was able to reach
so many more affected people because the team launched the health
education
program at three learning centers for Burmese migrant children, gaining
access to new communities that have not been reached before.
Throughout the program in the communities, HREIB health education
team always focus on community involvement, by practicing participatory
approach
to controlling/interrupting Malaria transmission. As a result of this,
six local workers turned as the health team volunteers and working
full time
with the team. They have volunteered to work with the team providing
information about new communities, acting as local organizers for
meetings,
translating Burmese to local Mon languages and organizing some communal
health education activities.
HREIB strongly believes that there is a need to continue to develop
some program for promoting their health and education status in the
Burmese
migrant communities in the Southern part of Thailand. Migrant communities
in Thailand live on less than the basic survival minimum (they are
paid
less than the minimum wage, live on work-sites in less than adequate
housing and sanitation, have no access to formal social support systems.
The addition of migrants in trauma to migrant communities thus was
an added burden which few communities could support, although all
were willing and supportive. There is a great need to provide primary
education program or children, health education program for women
and children health care and preventive measure on diseases such as
HIV, TB etc.
Now our health team is continuing the last year's health education
program supported by the SHARE (Thailand) among Burmese migrant workers
in Southern Thailand in communities affected by the December 2004
tsunami in Phangnga. HREIB is continuing its health education program
with the
migrant, however, it expands its mandate on Malaria preventive measure
to other health issues which are widely taken place, such as STDs,
TB,
reproductive health, child malnutrition, and physical-social approach
to the violence against women and children.
One female coordinator is administering the six-member team who are
former migrant workers and now health team staffs in this project.
The team
members have already trained and oriented about the new health issues
and ready to work. However, the team has been given a training on
women health and effect caused by violence. They are trained how to
approach the women and children on these health related issues in
this kind of situation.
After this training, they are carrying out their on-going health education
program with special attention to the women and children. Discussion
sessions on women health issues with women migrant workers will be
separately organized. The phase will be followed by small programs
run by
the women in their communities, such as women's discussion groups,
community shelters for women and children in need, literacy classes,
or
small income-generating initiatives. Before any training is carried
out, HREIB will use 'community organizing' methodology to help communities
to
identify and analyze their problems and needs.
The number of people benefited from this program will be 3214 individuals
(Male 1429, female 1027 and children 758) in 52 communities in 4
sub-districts. (Kheuk Khak, Bang Muang, Bang Sai, Kho Kau Khao Island).
This number is derived from a survey conducted by the HREIB health
education team and these areas have been accessed.
Stop Violence against Women program This program is aiming to empower
Burmese women migrant workers to be more
involved in community decision-making and to take on leadership roles
and to initiate some actions against the violence against women.
In the first stage of this program, basic gender trainings are being
taken place among male and female Burmese migrant workers. After the
basic gender
training, women's empowerment trainings and leadership skills trainings
will be provided to female Burmese migrant workers, followed by small
programs run by the women in their communities, such as women's discussion
groups, community shelters for women and children in need, literacy
classes, or small income-generating initiatives. Before any training
is carried out, HREIB will use 'community organizing' methodology
to help
communities to identify and analyze their problems and needs.
In order to break this cycle of violence and discrimination, HREIB
seeks to
promote migrant women's leadership skills as a long-term approach
to addressing women's rights in general and violence against women
in
particular, empowering women to take a strong role in their own community
affairs.
Pls let me know of you need any additional information.
best,
MYO |