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Mission to Myanmar
23-27 March 2006

Vision (WV), an international NGO for development. As an associate organization, APCD collaborated with WV in their HRD by providing SHG and CBR training to the Area Development Program (ADP) staff (2 persons from APCD's SHG course and another 2 persons from APCD's CBR course in 2005). Some of these ADPs have accommodated support for people with disabilities (PWD) as part of the Health Activity under ADP. WV used to have more specific disability projects, which now tend to be merged into the ADPs for sustainability.

The Mission had an exchange of information concerning deaf persons with Dr. Kyi Minn, the new Operations Team Leader for Health. Mr. Ko Kyaw Yu, President of Yangon Association of the Deaf (YAD) and a former participant of APCD's 2003 SHO and 2004 SHG training, was invited for this meeting, since he joins WV's specific disability project for deaf persons in Yangon. As WV and APCD recognize that further development of YAD is very important, YAD was encouraged to review regular activities so they can organize themselves, prioritize necessary external supports required, and contact WV and APCD for consultation regarding additional necessary support and how it can contribute.

The Mission organized a monitoring meeting with former participants at JICA's NGO Room in Yangon and individual interviews with others who were unable to attend the meeting. Through this plenary meeting at JICA in Yangon, both CBR and SHG participants could get to know each other and establish a foundation for networking. Most former participants joined the meeting/interview and shared their post-training activities and plan to further their activities.

Among 8 townships in Mandalay, WV has been organizing ADPs in 4 townships. All 4 ADPs in Mandalay strategically focus on supporting PWD. "Chan Mya Thar Zi", the township where a CBR project had been conducted by WV from 1996-1999, has merged with ADP since 2000. Ms. Khaing Khaing Htun, Resource Person (RP) Assistant for the APCD's CBR 2005 Training, is engaged in the CBR project, and continues to work as the Community Development Facilitator under the ADP in the township. It is near the center of Mandalay with an approximate population of 20,000 persons including many factory and construction workers. The ADP has dealt with issues such as HIV/AIDS, Mother-Child Health, Mental Health, and Disability under "Health Activity". They also cooperate with various international organizations such as UNIFEM, UNDP, CARE and local groups including SHG of Women, etc. A SHG of PWD has developed as an outcome of the CBR project. The Mission had an opportunity to meet and learn about the SHG from executive members of SHG; who are role models for other PWD; persons such as one on the community's loan committee, a swimmer with a gold medal from the SEA Games in the Philippines, university students, and a popular tailor in the community. The SHG has approximately 100 members with half of them actively participating in SHG activities regularly. They have monthly meetings to exchange information and organize a common fund for micro-financing, from which the members can take a loan for their small businesses, etc. They are basically from poor families with an average monthly income of US$20-40. Through discussion with the executive members of the Chan Mya Thar Zi SHG, the Mission was convinced that they are fostering a strong self-help, and independent spirit, empowering each other.