Shalom (Nyein) Foundation 2009 Annual Report

8/4/2019 Shalom (Nyein) Foundation 2009 Annual Report

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORDear Colleagues and Friends,

It is with great pleasure to present everyone Shalom Foundations Annual Report 2009. This publication

highlights Shalom Foundation fervent quest to work toward sustainable peace and development for the

people of Myanmar.

In 2009, Shalom Foundation continued to expand its on-going programs, especially with its mediation and

peace education activities. Aside from these, Shalom officially launched several new projects in responseto the growing needs of its stakeholders from different parts and sectors of the country. These projects

include the Civic Education for Peace, the Interfaith Youth Cooperative Action for Peace, and the Kayah

Action Project.

Myanmar will go through big changes within the next few months. With the Border Guard Force proposal

and the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2010, Shalom Foundation vows to work harder in

strengthening its strategies and approaches, especially in providing awareness to local villages about the

election and how people can be involved, all in accordance to the 2008 Constitution. In line with this,

Shalom Foundation will carry on its grassroots initiatives, whatever the election result may be.

In this regard, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude for those who have been helping Shalomsince its inception in 2000. We fervently hope for your continued support and solidarity with the people of

Myanmar, particularly during this transition period.

Lets all join hands in making JustPeace possible.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Saboi JumDirector, Shalom Foundation


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BRIEF BACKGROUNDIn May 2000, a group of principled ethnic leaders from different parts of Myanmar laid down the first

steps to the establishment of Shalom (Nyein) Foundation. With the country deeply divided by armed

conflict for nearly half a century, the group decided to establish an organization that would focus in

supporting initiatives contributing in achieving peace in Myanmar.

From its humble beginning nine years ago, Shalom Foundation has continued to work toward the

attainment of peace and development for the people of Myanmar. Since its establishment, Shalom has

been continuously making efforts in creating a space for constructive dialogue between the military

government and the ethnic groups.

Aside from facilitating mediation talks, Shalom has also been building the capacities of grassroots-level

peace committees through its peace education programs. Community-managed development projects

are also continuously being implemented in the various ethnic states. Through its partnerships with local

and international organizations, Shaloms programs and projects have gradually expanded in terms of

geographic reach and strategies.

In 2009, Shalom Foundation continued to walk along the road less traveled the path toward a long and

lasting peace in Myanmar.

VISION

A just and peaceful society for all people in Myanmar.

GOALS People actively living and working together regardless of ethnicity and religion. A just resolution for all armed conflicts in Myanmar. Active community participation in the process of social change. Active community involvement in becoming self-sufficient and developing their own societies.

Shared understanding of human dignity within the communities.

OBJECTIVES To conduct peace education trainings for individuals who are potential peace builders. To actively mediated in armed conflicts. To facilitate dialogue in communities and enable them to actively participate in the peace process. To upgrade the living conditions of communities through the implementation of

community-based projects.


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Mediation

ACHIEVEMENTS

In 2009, ENMF members have been very active in

participating in discussions, meetings, workshops, andinteracting with parties involved in peace processes inseveral states. ENMF members have made advances in

some stalled peace processes and continued and

intensified dialogue in others.

In April 2009, the Myanmar government proposed totransform existing ceasefire groups into a Border Guard

Force (BGF). This proposal intends to divide the armed

forces of the ceasefire groups in smaller units, combiningthem with members of the military. This plan created

several new challenges to Shaloms mediation program,especially with the mediation activities between the

government and Kachin Independence Organization

(KIO). To address this proposal, Shalom conducted

several mediation sessions with the government and the

KIO mediators. These talks involved high ranking

government and KIO leaders, including Northern

OVERVIEW

The ENMF is a fellowship for state-level peace

mediators in various ethnic states to come together andshare their experiences and learn from one another. TheENMF came out of a 2002 meeting of mediators from

Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, and Mon states organized by

Shalom Foundation. The ENMF allows Shalom to be

indirectly involved in mediation activities throughout the

country and provides mediators with much neededsupport from fellow mediators and Shalom staff.

Through the ENMF, Shalom Foundation has been ableto initiate and sustain peace talks and open dialogue

between the government and several ethnic armedgroups. The ENMF has three to four members from every

state mediation committee, except in Shan State where

armed conflict still exists. One role of the ENMF in the

mediation process is to plan workshops for mediators

involved in the talk process

Shalom Foundation continues to be in the forefront in supporting the ongoing peace process between the

Myanmar government and the ethnic armed groups. For several years now, mediation talks have been

organized and facilitated together with the members of the Ethnic Nationalities Mediators Fellowship

(ENMF). Established in 2002, the ENMF serves as a venue where different states mediation committees canshare and learn from each others experiences on working towards peace. The group now consists of

state-level mediators from ceasefire and non-ceasefire states of Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Chin, and Mon.

PHOTO: The ENMF mediators at a meeting in Myitkyina in December 4, 2009.

Practical Mediation and the Ethnic Nationalities Mediators Fellowship (ENMF)


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Command commander Major General Soe Win and

Military Intelligence Chief Lieutenant General Ye Myint.

Through the ENMF, other ceasefire groups are also

planning for mediation talks with the governmentregarding the BGF proposal.

Another great success for the ENMF in December 2009was the resumption of talks with the non-ceasefire group

Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP). The KNPP

agreed into a ceasefire agreement with the

Government in 1995, but due to a misunderstanding with

the local command they returned to armed struggle the

same year.

Aside from these, Rev. Dr. Saboi Jum, SF Director,have continued to establish networks and look for

feasible solutions from other countries through sharing

information and experiences on the ethnic armedstruggles to the international community.

WHATS NEXT?

Shalom will continue to support the ENMF in their

mediation efforts, as one way of working towards aholistic peace in Myanmar.

This annual dinner is organized by Shalom and held in

Myitkyina in Kachin State. Shalom organizes the dinnereach year in order to bring people of different ethnic

groups together and create a space for mutual trust andconfidence building. The dinner is also intended to

promote reconciliation by celebrating and understanding

identity and cultural diversity. Also, Shalom uses this

opportunity to raise issues to local communities. For this

year, Shalom highlighted its reforestation and

community forest activities in Kachin State.

This year, the events guests included KIO leaders,

SPDC representatives, ENMF mediators, communityleaders and civil society groups. Among those present inthe event were KIO chairman Salang Kaba Zawng Hra,

Northern Command Commander Major General Soe Win

and Lieutenant Colonel Mangkyi Dau Hkawng, Director

General of NDAK (New Democratic Army) a group who

split from the KIO in 1974 and have already joined the

BGF as Kachin Special Region 1. The La Sang Awng Wah

group, a splinter group from the KIA now incorporated asa civil defense militia, was also present.

The Kachin Traditional Harvest Dinner will also be heldagain in 2010.

Celebration of Fifteen Years Ceasefire

Agreement in Kachin State

On February 24, 2009, Shalom Foundation organized

a celebration dinner in honor of the 15 years of the

ceasefire agreement between the KachinIndependence Organization (KIO) and the Myanmar

government. The event was held in Myitkyina in the

northern state of Kachin, and among the attendeeswere Brigadier General San Tun, the Deputy Com-

mander of the Northern Command, together with a

number of high ranking military officials, state level

local authorities, key KIO leaders, religious leaders, and

local network involved in the peace process.

During the event, Rev. Dr. Saboi Jum convinced all par-

ties to foster sustainable peace in Kachin State. He alsohighlighted the significance of the 15-year ceasefire

resulting to the improvement of social services in the

state. Moreover, the ceasefire has brought about

meaningful coordination between the KIO and the gov-

ernment

Kachin Traditional Harvest Dinner

Major General Soe Win talking with KIO chairman Salang Kaba Zawng

Hra at the Kachin Traditional Harvest Dinner in December 5, 2009 (top).Some participants in the 2009 Kachin Traditional Harvest Dinner

(bottom).


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Another Step to JustPeace:Promoting a Culture of Dialogue

PHOTO: Peace committee members in a capacity building

training in Yangon.

OVERVIEW

In order to effectively promote peace, reconciliation,and conflict transformation in the grassroots level, peace

committees were established in different ethnic statesthrough the Another Step to JustPeace (ASJ) project.

Launched on the 5th anniversary of Shalom in 2006, ASJ

aims to mobilize communities in forming local peace

committees and, in turn, giving space for dialogue in the

community on local political, economic, or social issues.

Shalom Foundation helps build the capacity of these

local peace committees through various trainings and

workshops.

ACHIEVEMENTS

To date, Shalom has established 21 PEACE

COMMITTEES with 162 ACTIVE MEMBERS in Kachin,

Kayah, Mon, Chin, and Kayin States. FIVE REGIONALCOORDINATORS have also been assigned to help in the

facilitation and coordination of the different peace

committees. Using this mechanism, constant dialogue

with regional state peace committees have also be

mobilized.

Members of these local peace committees have also

been exposed to a number of trainings and workshops.

Among these trainings are on strategic peacebuilding,

Conflict Early Warning and Early Response System(CEWERS), laws and other paralegal concepts, and on

constitution awareness. Several members have alsoattended relevant trainings and forums in Cambodia,

Thailand, China, and the Philippines.

Moreover, through this project, two books have been

translated into Burmese language in 2009. These includethe Peacebuilding Lexicon and Strategic Peacebuilding.

Copies of these books were distributed to peace

committee members and other peacebuilding practitio-

ners.

WHATS NEXT?

The project now plans to extend its community

mobilization activities to Rakhine and Shan states. Initial

coordination with local key persons has been started.Aside from this, Shalom also intends to conduct a Peace

Committee conference, so peace committee members

can share and learn from the experiences of other

members from other ethnic areas. More community

awareness workshops and capacity building trainings are

also in the works for implementation in 2010.


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In the pilot stage, the CE project will be targeting the

project beneficiaries of Shalom. The project has already

organized a pool of trainers. A training curriculum is alsobeing designed which would be ready for

implementation in 2010. Shalom plans to conduct several

Training of Trainers (ToT) and participants of these

training shall, in turn, conduct more trainings in theirrespective communities. Shalom will continue to support

these activities in the community level.

Now on its third year, Shalom Foundation is taking

part in the PeaceComm Exchange Program of the

Norwegian volunteer organization Fredskorpset. In this

program, participating civil society organizations in Asia

and Africa exchange its staff from different fields andprofessions to do development work.

Shalom first participated in this program in 2007, when

it sent two staff to Philippines and South Africa. In 2008,

Shalom sent again two staff for a year of exchange

fellowship in South Africa and the Philippines. In that

year, Shalom also hosted two exchange fellows from

Indonesia and the Philippines.

This year, Shalom sent two of its staff to Philippines

and Indonesia, while it is also hosting two participantsfrom the same countries.

The current PeaceComm partners are the

Environmental Broadcast Circle of the Philippines, Peace

Building Institute of Indonesia, Tarayana Foundation of

Bhutan and Shalom Foundation.

Partnership ProgramsShalom continues to work with various international institutions in an effort to provide a moremulti-dimensional approach in advocating for peace and development in Myanmar. At present, Shalom has

project in partnership with the Norwegian volunteer organization Fredskorpset and Centre for Peace and

Conflict Studies (CPCS) in Cambodia.

PeaceComm Exchange Program

OVERVIEW/WHATS NEXT?

As part of its commitment in providing an ample space

for reciprocal dialogue on peace and reconciliation in the

country, Shalom Foundation started to implement itsCivic Education for Peace project in October 2009. This

project focuses on empowering citizens in making sound

decisions that may eventually contribute the gradual

transformation within the Burmese society. This projectprimarily aims to inform its participants on their rights

and responsibilities as citizens based from the 2008

Myanmar constitution.

Civic Education for Peace

The different PeaceComm exchange program batches from 2007 (top),

2008 (middle) and 2009 (bottom).


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local communities. The requests for training and the in-

creased local financial assistance show that local com-

munities desire and value Shalom Foundations PBT.

WHATS NEXT?

Peacebuilding Training is being planned to be

extended to ethnic Bamar areas including Mandalay,

Sagaing, Magwe, and Bago divisions starting in 2010.

New training materials are also being designed that willintegrate PBTs with Conflict Early Warning and Early

Response System (CEWERS). The integration of

CEWERS into the PBTs is designed to encourage

participants to reflect on their communities and consider

the importance of research and analysis of basiccommunity data in addressing community issues and

conflict.

Peace Education

Peacebuilding Training (PBT)

OVERVIEW

The objective of Peacebuilding Trainings (PBTs) is

that through changes in individuals attitude and

personal perceptions toward peace, they will be able tochange their communities prevailing understanding onpeace and conflict. The PBTs is divided into three levels

and participants must complete the previous level of

training before advancing to the higher levels.

ACHIEVEMENTS

From January to December 2009, Shalom conducted

29 PEACEBUILDING TRAININGS (PBTs) with 360

PARTICIPANTS in Kachin state and Yangon andAyeyawady divisions. These trainings focused on

concepts related to peacebuilding and conflictmanagement. PBT has become very popular, with

more and more communities requesting training from

Shalom Foundations Peace Education program has shifted its focus with its program areas. In 2009, the PeaceEducation program has linked their Peacebuilding Trainings (PBTs) to other action-oriented projects of Shalom.

It is hoped that this change will enable the Peace Education program to work towards peace on both an

individual and community level. The four program areas now are: Peacebuilding Training (PBT), Modular Courseon Conflict Transformation, Building Peace Actors in Communities, and Capacity Building for Local Trainers.

PHOTO: Shalom staff conducting a peacebuilding

training (PBT) in Singaung Village, Pathein.


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OVERVIEW

The Modular Course on Conflict Transformation is

designed to enhance the capacity of peacebuilding

practitioners who are middle level leaders from different

community-based organizations (CBOs),non-government organizations (NGOs), business

institutions and religious groups in Myanmar. The courseaims to create leaders who promote peace in their

respective communities and organizations. The course is

divided into four modules, with the third module held in

Phnom Penh, Cambodia in partnership with the Center

for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS).

ACHIEVEMENTSIn 2009, the Modular Course on Conflict

Transformation had 22 PARTICIPANTS from variousorganizations in Myanmar. Among these organizations

are Myanmar Institute of Theology, The Myanmar Times,

Thingaha Gender Group, Myanmar Council of Churches,

Karen Baptist Association, Diakonia, Swe Thaha

Network, and Myanmar Baptist Association. Through

this, participants have been able to expand their network

and meet with other like-minded individuals andorganizations working in Myanmar.

WHATS NEXT?

Now on its third year, Shalom Foundation still intendsto offer the Modular Course on Conflict Transformation,

with the first module starting on September 2010.

Modular Course on Conflict Transformation

OVERVIEWBeginning in 2009, the Peace Education program

offered Peacemaking Trainings (PMTs) to Community

Forest User Groups (FUGs) and to MAS groups orShaloms community-managed project volunteers. In its

first year, Peacemaking Training programs ran in Kachin

and Kayah states, and focused on the use of the ConflictEarly Warning and Early Response System (CEWERS).

The main objective of the PMTs is to strengthen local

communities through building the capacity of PBT alumni

to enable them to organize people at the community

level to talk about local issues and prevention of

communal conflict.

Peacemaking Training is divided into three levels. After

the first level, participants plan and implement study

research projects related to conflict or important issues intheir local communities, with assistance from Shalom

staff. After which, this research is drafted into a report.

Building Peace Actors in the CommunityShalom Foundations peace education trainings.

ACHIEVEMENTSPeacemaking Trainings (PMTs) including CEWERS was

conducted in Kachin state with participants from

Myitkyina, Kamaing and Waimaw. CEWERS iscontinuously being used by was also used with

Community FUGs and MAS groups. In Waimaw and

Kamaing, research conducted by the participants focusedon issues ranging from population and economics to

intravenous drug use. In Mytikyina, the study research isstill in the planning stages.

WHATS NEXT?

Peacemaking Training will be expanded to include Mon

and Chin states. The Peace Education team will continueto tailor trainings to the needs of specific communities

and provide resources and guidance for community

research efforts.


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Capacity Building for Local Trainers

OVERVIEW

The objective of this program is for local trainers to be

able to be solely responsible for Peabuilding Trainings

(PBTs) in their communities. Currently, local communitiestrainings are conducted by Shalom Foundation staff

members and local trainers. In the future, the Shalom

Foundation trainer will be phased out as local capacity

increases, so that local trainers are providing training to

their home communities.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Several workshops and a training of trainers (ToTs)

were conducted for PBT trainers in 2009. Local PBTtrainers continued to work alongside Shalom Staff forPBTs in their communities, observing Shalom staff and

actively learning through co-leading PBTs.

WHATS NEXT?

Shalom Foundations training design manual for

Peacebuilding Awareness Training has been drafted and

will be published in 2010. The training will be a five-dayprogram, some of which will be integrated with CEWERS.

Shalom Foundations peace education trainings.


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OVERVIEW

With the aim of fostering interfaith solidarity amongyoung volunteers from the different religions, Shalom

Foundation officially launched the Interfaith YouthCooperative Action for Peace (IYCAP) Program this year.

This program gathers Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and

Hindu youth to plan and implement small

community-based projects.

Through interfaith work, this project allows the youth

to better understand each others faith and, in turn,

slowly remove their stereotypes and prejudices towards

people of different religion. At this end, the project alsohelps the youth to appreciate the important role theyplay in nation-building. Senior Buddhist, Christian,

Muslim, and Hindu leaders, collectively called Interfaith

Working Group (IWG), serve as the projects advisory

committee.

ACHIEVEMENTS

To start off the project this year, a Core Active Youth(CAY)was established to serve as the implementing

team of the project. The group consists of five members

that were former volunteers and participants of pastpeace building trainings by Shalom. This group attended

a capacity building program to enhance their skills and

build trust and good relationship among each other. With

the help of partner organizations, the CAY was trained ontopics such as community management, leadership,

volunteerism, and public peace concept.

Youth volunteers from FIVE COMMUNITIES were

initially mobilized by the CAY to participate in the

interfaith cooperative activities. After this, an Interfaith

Awareness Training for Youth was organized and was

attended by 123 PARTICIPANTS from different

religions. The volunteers were trained in interfaith

awareness and other peace and conflict management

courses.

With the help of the CAY and the volunteers, several

action point projects were implemented this year. Some

volunteers ventured into small income-generating

projects such as raising chicken, making handicrafts, and

setting up a small coffee and snack shop. Aside from this,

some volunteers participated in social-oriented activities

such as summer courses for children, tree-planting, andyouth fellowship activities in various communities in

Yangon.

Interfaith Youth Cooperative Action for Peace(IYCAP)

PHOTO: IYCAP fellowship activity with schoolchildren

at Wayluwun Monastery in Kyauktan Village, Bago Region.


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These interfaith activities allowed the youth volunteers

to work together, despite their difference in faith.

Through these activities, confidence and trust amongeach other have been strengthened.

WHATS NEXT?

Now entering its second year, the IYCAP plans to

conduct additional skill trainings for both the CAY and its

volunteers. There are also plans for exposure visits to

other youth-led business and social initiatives. Proposals

for new business and social activities for the year shallalso be drafted and planned accordingly. The program

team plans to conduct an interfaith youth forum on

2010.

IYCAP enlightened my life and reminded me of my

individual and social responsibilities. Actually, I was

an intolerant person before but I came to realize

that I will not be able to work with the community

with this kind of mindset. Although we are still hav-

ing different perspectives, a good relationship andunderstanding has already been built with the team.

I am continuously feeling warmth and comfortable

working with the team.

-- A member of the Core Active Youth (CAY)

IYCAP volunteers in various social-oriented and youth fellowship

activities in different communities in Yangon.


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OVERVIEW

On its steps towards peace in Myanmar, Shalom

Foundation continued to carry out its Trauma

Management (Fear Treatment) Program in 2009. Thisprogram aims to bring about inner peace for people

traumatized by armed conflicts, natural disasters,

disabilities, and domestic violence, among others.Through its network of local therapists, this program

helps adults and children from different parts of

Myanmar to cope up with their mental/emotional

wound from their traumatic experiences.

Local trauma healers trained by Shalom Foundation

regularly conduct house visits to different villages toassess trauma patients in the area. Once identified, thetherapist shall diagnose the patients type of trauma and

carry out the appropriate healing exercises. The whole

healing process lasts for about ten to 20 sessions whichare usually conducted on the patients house or in the

church area.

With the help of experts from Germany and United

Kingdom, more than 200 volunteer trauma healers have

now been trained all over the country. These trauma

healers are assigned to the different healing centers thatwere established by Shalom Foundation in the states of

Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Shan, and in Yangon

Division.

ACHIEVEMENTS

In the field visits in 2009, local therapists have

discovered that many people in ethnic communities have

been suffering from fear disorders and psycho-trauma,

social phobia and depression. All of these are perceived

to be caused by the increasing ethnic tensions in theircommunities.

With this program, a total of386 PATIENTS were

treated by Shaloms network of trauma healers. Of these,

Trauma Management (Fear Treatment) Program

PHOTO: Through Shalom Foundations network of local therapists,

more patients from remote villages are being reached.


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STORIES OF CHANGE

I am a victim of a landmine explosion and I have lost my

right leg in November 2009. I felt hopeless and desperateto end my life because of my disability. Then, I met with a

local therapist who helped me recover and heal from my

suffering. I was deeply hurt and thus I had ill feelingstowards people then. Now, my attitude has been changedand I found inner peace within me.

-- A 51-year-old man from Laiza, Kachin State

I was a victim of human trafficking in Thailand. I worked

as a domestic helper and I was sexually abused by myhouseowner. When I arrived back home in Pha-an, I didnt

want to meet or talk with anybody, even with my familyand neighbors. I kept myself alone and didnt attend

worship services. After receiving the treatment from a localtherapist, I have gradually changed. I now feel comfortable

talking with my family and I have started attending

worship services again.

-- A 28-year-old woman from Pha-an, Karen State

No one was home when Aye, 22 years old from Yangon,came home one night after buying groceries for her small

store. She, then, took a bath and fixed her hair in front of

the mirror. Then, her stepfather got home drunk and

raped her. Her mother witnessed what happened whenshe got home that night and killed her husband with her

own hands. Her mother was sentenced to prison for

seven years. After that traumatic experience, Aye hated

all men. She trusted no one. She became aggressive andfelt like she was guilty and even tried to commit suicide.After three months of healing treatment, she started to

talk to others. She still cried when she told her story to

her healer. Now, she got back to her normal life again

and was running her small business.

Two lovers from the border areas in Kachin State wereforcefully separated by their families. Still madly in-lovedwith each other, the couple decided to see each other in

secret. After a few days, the brother of the boy went to

look for them and saw the couples bodies in a house andit seemed like they shot each other. The boys brother

could not believe his own eyes. After what happened, he

could not eat, sleep, and had nightmares. One of local

therapists was able to meet him. After building trust with

him, the therapist helped him by giving him the

treatment. Every time he feels stressed or traumatized,

he continue to practice the healing methods he learnedfrom the therapists. Eventually, that young man

recovered from his trauma and started to work again.

224 ADULTS and 162 CHILDREN were included. After

the healing sessions, 279 TRAUMATIZED PERSONS

have already recovered. This was based from the

assessment of the local trauma healers using the IES(Impact of Event Scale) scores analysis.

After the healing sessions, the patients were observedto be more at peace with themselves and have a better

outlook in life. Because of this, most of them have

regained the trust and confidence with and from their

families and communities. Most of them are able to work

again and become productive members of the

community.

Aside from the healing sessions, 40 TRAUMA CAREAWARENESS TRAININGS (TCATs) have also been

conducted in 2009, having a total of1,356

PARTICIPANTS. These trainings are aimed at raising theawareness of villagers on trauma and its effects on the

patients. Because of these trainings, people, even from

remote villages, were able to help identify trauma

patients in their communities and encouraged those

patients to get competent help from the local healingcenters.

WHATS NEXT?

Due to a large number of patients visiting the local

healing centers, the program plans to train more local

therapists and conduct trauma caregiver trainings.Shalom will also continue coordinating with local health

offices, community-based organizations, and youthcorrection centers, in order to conduct more TCATs in

other areas.

Shalom Foundations trauma healer at a healing session.


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OVERVIEW

Shalom Foundation was among the first to respond tothe victims of Cyclone Nargiss deadly wrath in May

2008. Mindful of the trauma and other adversepsychological impact to the storm survivors, trauma

healers were immediately deployed to the Ayeyawady

region immediately after the storms aftermath. These

trauma healers were mobilized to conduct trauma

recovery activities to severely-affected communities.Aside from these, volunteer trauma caregivers from the

communities were also trained to help Shaloms trauma

healing efforts.

ACHIEVEMENTSIn 2009, the project was implemented in 62 VILLAGES

in the Delta Region, 27 villages in Mawgyun and 35

villages in Labutta. In total, 3504 TRAUMATIZED

PEOPLE have worked with Shaloms trauma healers.With this, 2692 PEOPLEHAVE RECOVERED from their

trauma, roughly 77 PERCENT of the Shaloms Nargis

trauma patients. These people have finally restored their

sense of hope and their desire to be productive and have

also improved their relationships with family and with

their communities.

Through the project, local social workers and potential

youth volunteers were trained to provide traumarecovery services to their own communities. These

participants assisted the trauma healers, especially inpromoting trauma care awareness, collecting data from

the traumatized persons and organizing them to meet

the project team.

FOUR HEALING CENTERS were also built to easilyreach out potential clients and give them close

treatment. The project brought up awareness of trauma

healing to many villagers by providing leaflet for

disaster survivors and setting up village discussions ontrauma healing. The project team also distributed somehealing assistances to the villagers such as longyis, shirts,

lamps, rain covers, school supplies, and other supplies.

Moreover, the villagers actively participated in various

community activities like joining worship service,repairing village road, and building bridges.

WHATS NEXT?

The project still plans to continue its trauma recovery

efforts in the region. However, the project is now shifting

its focus in building the capacity of the communities inproviding trauma healing to villages, and preparing them

for trauma first aid, in case of another disaster.

Trauma Recovery Support Project for Nargis Victims

PHOTO: Volunteer trauma healer working with

children in Labutta Township, Ayeyarwady Region.


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ACHIEVEMENTS

As of 2009, a total ofTWENTY (2O) VILLAGES in

Kachin State have been implementing communityreforestation activities. In total, TWENTY-FOUR (24)NURSERIES have been established in the 20 project

sites. From these nurseries, seedlings of hardwood tree

species and other fruit-bearing trees have already been

replanted, covering a total of1139.5ACRES of forest

area. These forest areas were maintained and protected

by FUGs from 1543 HOUSEHOLDS.

THREE (3) FUG CLUSTERS were also established tobuild capacity linkages among the different village FUGs.

Regular meetings were conducted by the FUGs and thecluster FUGs in order to share their experiences and

lessons from the field.

FUGs members also participated in various trainings in

order to enhance their knowledge and skills in forest

management. One of these trainings is a peace-buildingtraining where they were introduced to the Conflict Early

Warning and Early Response System (CEWERS). Using

this system, they were able to identify and discuss

several conflict issues on the project implementation.Other trainings that were conducted were on

participatory green mapping and civic education. Aside

from these, FUG leaders also had an exposure trip to Pyin

Reforestation and Community Forestin Kachin State Program

PHOTO: Forest plantation activity with Shaloms volunteer FUG.

OVERVIEW

Shalom Foundation continues to implement its

community-based forest development and reforestationproject in an effort to help restore patches of forest areasin Kachin State. Since 2005, Shalom has been organizing

various communities to carry out forest conservation

efforts.

This project primarily advocates for the use of

agro-forestry, an approach that is known for its

economic and ecological benefits. The agro-forestry

technique of planting different crops in a single land areaprovides farmers more income, thus, encouraging them

to continuously participate in the conservation activities.This method also reduces the risks of soil erosion and

degradation and, in turn, provides long term benefits for

the community living within the area.

Several Forest Users Groups (FUGs) from participating

villages have already been established. Members ofthese village committees are continuously consulted in

drafting sustainable forest management plans for their

own communities. Trainings on forest and natural

resource management and other agro-forestrytechniques have also been conducted with the help of

local partner organizations.


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Oo Lwin in Mandalay Division where they learned more

on different forest management technologies and

forest-related income generation activities.

Through this project, FUG members have been

observed to participate more in the decision-making

processes in their villages, even on issues not related tothe reforestation project. Also, communities have

continued to protect their forest areas, since most of

these communities are dependent on local forest

resources as their source of livelihood. There has also

been a marked improvement on the coordination with

the Forest Department in Kachin State, through the

regular monitoring by township level forest departmenton the project sites.

WHATS NEXT?

Shalom now plans to extend the project to morevillages in Kachin State. Also, Shalom has been working

to establish a FUGs web, a network of FUG villages for

continuous coordination and capacity building through

knowledge and experience sharing from different

villages. Skills development trainings on livelihoodopportunities from the reforestation efforts are alsobeing explored.

After the ceasefire agreement was established between

the government and the KIO, many foreign businesses

came here for illegal logging saying that they have legal

permission from the authorities. They exploited our localresources and we were not able to stop them. At first,

they took timber, followed by other forest resources such

as bamboo and rattan. Then, they cut all the trees tomake charcoal. We, the local people, were very muchaffected. The forest is our life and we lost it. But now, we

have support from Shalom Foundation to implement a

community forestry project to restore our forest again.

The project is helping us to gain recognition from local

authorities for access to our lands, so that we can now

protect our forests.

-- FUG leader from Wu Yan village

Community forest monitoring and

nursery raising activities in remote villages in Kachin State.


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OVERVIEW

The CCA project primarily aims to strengthen the

capacity of primary school teachers from remote villagesin the ethnic states on effective teaching and learningmethods. Using the child-centered approach, teachers

are trained to use education techniques that encourage

active learning among their students.

Starting as a pilot project in 2006, the CCA project has

been successfully expanded to various primary schools in

remotes areas in Kachin State in coordination with thelocal education officials. Aside from honing the skills of

the teachers, CCA also focuses on promoting the

involvement of the community in improving their localeducation system. In 2009, CCA extended its activities to

several Mon national schools in Mon State.

ACHIEVEMENTS

In Kachin State, a total of260 COMMUNITY-BASED

SCHOOLS are currently implementing the CCA inprimary school classrooms. Aside from this, 350

TEACHERS have been trained with the CCAmethodologies, so that they can also apply these in their

respective schools. School supplies were also distributed

to 17,990PRIMARY STUDENTS to help them with their

studies.

In Mon State, 437 TEACHERS have been trained on the

CCA techniques. With the help of the Mon National

Education Committee, most Mon national schools have

started practicing CCA in classrooms. Furthermore, basic

school and teaching-learning materials (TLMs) have been

distributed, benefiting a total of24,778 PRIMARY

STUDENTS. These materials include textbooks (inMyanmar and Mon languages), exercise books, pencils,

crayons, etc. MINI-LIBRARIES IN 33 SELECTED MODEL

SCHOOLS have also been established to improvereading habits of the children.

Shalom Foundation has maintained regular

coordination with local education officials, school

committees, and parents to ensure the successful

implementation of the project. Livelihood supportprojects have also been implemented with the help of the

Primary Education Enhancement Program:

Child-centered Approach in Teaching and Learning Process

PHOTO: Community-based school teachers

at a CCA training in Myitkyina.


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local school committees. These projects include rubber

plantations, livestock breeding, and seasonal cash crop

plantations.

Primary school teachers from the project sites have

been observed to be more creative in developing their

lesson plans and teaching learning materials. CCAteaching methods, such as using games and songs, have

also encouraged the active participation of students.

Parents are also much more active in supporting the

educational activities in schools.

OVERVIEW/WHATS NEXT?

The continuing conflict situation in Kayah State has

resulted in the much stalled development in the area,

affecting thousands of Kayah nationals. Because of this,Shalom is now planning to implement the Kayah Action

Project starting in 2010. The project hopes aims to

enhance the villagers understanding on action projectplanning with special emphasis on sustainable

agricultural development. The project specifically aim to

to improve food security in the area and to provide

income and livelihood for the villages.

The project plans to educate communities on the useof agro-forestry and organic farming in agricultural

lands. Agro-forestry basically involves planting a mixture

of fruit-bearing trees and other woody perennials in a

single area. Known for its ecological and economic

benefits, the use of agro-forestry and organic farmingshall provide villagers with a stable income while

preserving the health of their land.

Capacity building trainings shall be conducted starting

next year. These trainings will cover discussions on

agro-forestry, nursery management, use of fertilizers and

organic fertilizers, and basic agribusiness management

techniques. Aside from these, a demonstration

agro-forestry farm will also be established.

Kayah Action Project

CCA trainings for primary school teachers

in different villages from Mon and Kachin states.

WHATS NEXT?

The CCA project intends to train more primary school

teachers from community-based schools in remote

areas. Moreover, additional skills development trainings,especially for the livelihood support projects, and

awareness trainings are also planned to encourage more

participation from the community in the educationimprovement activities.


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OVERVIEWFor three years now, Shalom Foundation has

maintained its pledge in supporting and facilitatinggrassroots development initiatives through its MASYouth Fellowship Program. Highlighting the importance

of participatory decision-making processes in the

community, the project continues to mobilize

marginalized villages in Kachin and Kayah states,

addressing issues such as education, health, and

livelihoods. With this, Reflect Circles (RC) have been

established in each village to facilitate the planning and

implementation of development activities.

Conscious of the vital role of youth in communitydevelopment, Shalom has also trained a number of

young leaders, through its network of local

organizations. After attending various capacity building

trainings, these fellows are sent to different villages to

help the RCs in their activities.

ACHIEVEMENTS

In 2009, a total of39 FELLOWS have been mobilizing

and facilitating community-based projects in 87VILLAGES in Kachin and Kayah states. Another 30 NEWFELLOWS have been trained this year to support the

RCs in the different villages. With these, RCs havecontinued to identify and address several community

issues based on their consultations with the community.

Shalom has been working with various organizations

and groups in Kachin and Kayah states in monitoring the

activities of the fellows. Collectively, they are called

Operational Work Groups (OWGs). In 2009, Shalom

worked with about 20 ORGANIZATIONS AND

GROUPS in Kachin and Kayah States. Among these

groups are the Kachin Baptist Convention, Shan

Literature and Culture Group, Karuna Myitkyina, UrbanRural Mission, Anglican Diocese, Sasana Shakat Youth

Group, Mingalar Foundation, Bhamao LocalDevelopment Organization, Karenni National People

Labour Front, Karenni National Peace and Development

Party, Karenni National Democratic Party, Karuna

Loikaw, Kayah Baptist Association, Kayah Phu Baptist

Assiocation, Kehto Bo Youth Group, and Kayah Litera-

ture and Culture Group.

All in all, there are 1,674 RC MEMBERS in Kachin State

and 1,284 RC MEMBERS in Kayah State. Aside from

MAS Youth Fellowship Program

PHOTO: MAS fellows at the Third Fellowship Program

in Myitkyina in November 9, 2009.


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OVERVIEW

Shalom has been supporting communities in Kachin

State through its Food-for-Work (FFW) project incoordination with the United Nations World FoodProgramme (UN WFP). Primarily integrated with the

Community Forestry project, the FFW project specificallyaddresses the long-standing issue of food security in the

communities. This is done by distributing food supplies

to communities who help in infrastructure and livelihood

improvement activities intended to improve the living

situation in their villages.

Since 2008, the project has mobilized communities to

identify and work on a particular activity based on theirexisting community assets. After this, food aiddistributions to these communities are organized with

the help of food monitors and village food management

committees. Trainings on warehouse management and

logistics for food distribution are also being conducted.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The FFW activities in 2009 have covered a total of37VILLAGES with 4,084PARTICIPANTS. These villagers

participated in SEVEN DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES meant

to improve the existing community assets. As a result,about 650 METRIC TONS of rice and other non-food

items where distributed to the villagers.

The following are the community improvement activities

finished in 2009:a. One bridge constructed;

b. One canal constructed;c. Two primary schools constructed;d. Two road renovated;

e. 300 toilets built;

f. 221.5 acres of farm/cultivated land developed; and

g. 2,816 acre of forest area replanted.

WHATS NEXT?

More food aid distribution and basic infrastructure

activities are being planned and organized in line with theprojects expansion in 2010.

Table 1. MAS fellows action projects by sector.

Continuous support and assistance shall also bemaintained, especially in strengthening the capacity RCs

and fellows. Coordination among and within

communities will also continue by creating a network orvillage clusters.

in Kachin State:Food-for-Work Project in collaboration

with the UN World Food Programme

Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation

these, Shalom also has 147 VILLAGE VOLUNTEERS in

Kachin State and 89 VILLAGE VOLUNTEERS in Kayah

State.

To date, basic infrastructure projects and literacy

projects for children and adults have already been

implemented. Furthermore, saving loan groups havebeen established in some of the communities. The funds

collected are then used for community livelihood

initiatives, such as livestock breeding and opening of

retail shops, to gather more funds to be used for the

other activities.

WHATS NEXT?Looking forward, the project hopes to expand to more

marginalized villages around the country. However, the

project still intends to continue monitoring the existing

project sites and move towards the implementation ofthe action plans that were developed in 2009.


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Working in a country like Myanmar, Shalom Foundation operates in a rapidly changing environment. Just within the

last few years, Shalom experienced major growth in both the number of program activities and its staff members.

In 2009, Shalom has a total of 13 operating projects around the country. Alongside this, Shalom now has a total of 94staff members in its offices in Yangon and in Myitkyina in Kachin State and regional offices in Kayah, Mon, and Chinstates. With this, Shalom has been sending some of its staff members abroad for capacity building trainings, with

which, the goal is to grain practical skills and access new ideas relating to peace and conflict in the global arena.

With its growing number of staff and projects, Shalom underwent a major change in its organizational structure in

2009. The new structure was designed to bring about a more effective way of implementing Shaloms programs and

projects.

Shalom has five offices a head office in Myitkyina, liaison office in Yangon, and three regional offices in Chin, Mon,and Kayah states. The three regional offices act as field offices for Shaloms projects especially for mediation, peaceeducation, and other development projects.

About Administration

Financial Report


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CONCLUSIONShalom continues to be in the forefront in supporting the ongoing peace process through its mediation, peace

education, and other development works. For nine years now, Shalom has been organizing and facilitating mediation

talks and has been building the capacities of grassroots peace committees. Aside from these, development projectsare continuously being implemented in the ethnic states of Kachin, Kayah, and Mon.

As a result of its peacebuilding efforts since 2000, Shalom has been gradually seeing the changes in the attitudes,perception, and behaviors at the individual or personal level of the people involved in Shaloms activities. The interest

and participation of our stakeholders have also gradually increased. This is of great importance to Shaloms future

programs and also especially with the impending general elections in 2010.

This year, Shalom has been able to work with both key people such as high-ranking military and government

officials, as well as leaders of ethnic armed group through the mediation program. With its peace education program,

Shalom has also been working to change the perspectives of its project beneficiaries in the grassroots level toward

peace and social change in their own communities. Also in 2009, Shalom has ventured into helping variouscommunities through its community-managed development projects. All these activities embody ShalomFoundations multi-level and holistic approach in working toward peace in Myanmar.


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Shalom (Nyein) Foundation 2009 Annual Report

Documents

Transcript of Shalom (Nyein) Foundation 2009 Annual Report