Y Care International has launched a new project dedicated to improving and sustaining the economic prospects and security of poor young people in Myanmar, in addition to enabling greater social interaction.
The new initiative will support 400 young people in achieving employment with safer working conditions, increase their income and job security, while also empowering 3,600 young people to understand their rights and engage them in the democratic process, including voting in the 2020 elections.
Using a holistic approach, Y Care International will help young people to:
- Build skills in literacy and numeracy, as well as business and vocational skills.
- Enable access to equipment or grants to support the establishment of enterprises.
- Create peer network from regional and national business people.
- Build resilience through the promotion of savings clubs and educating on issues that affect the community.
- Promote participation in Myanmar’s democratisation through civic education, voter education, responsibilities and youth-led work in the community.
The programme has been made possible thanks to a grant of more than £600,000 from UK Aid Direct, the Department for International Development (DFID) fund supporting civil society organisations to achieve sustained poverty reduction.
Myanmar ranks 150 out of 187 of the least developed countries in the world. A quarter of the country’s residents still live under the national poverty line and this doubles in rural areas, which is where 70% of the population lives.
Leigh Daynes, Chief Executive of Y Care International, said:
“This important new partnership with the British Government means marginalised young women and men in rural Myanmar have a path out of poverty in to sustainable livelihoods.
“Every young person has the right to fulfil their potential. This project is one step towards ending the global pandemic of capable and able youngsters being forced to survive on less than £1.50 a day, unable to realise their aspirations.”
Elena Marin-Yanez, Programme Manager for Asia, Middle East & Latin America, said:
“This project is the result of a comprehensive, youth-led Needs Assessment carried out by Y Care International and YMCA’s in October 2014. The evaluative nature and holistic approach of Y Care International enables our projects to forge effective change on a micro-level that is a catalyst for young people to feel empowered and amplify change in their communities and on a national level.”
The project will run in partnership with local YMCAs in four specific rural areas of Myanmar and will run until 31 March 2021. Find out more by visiting Y Care International’s website.