Workcapms in Myanmar!! Organized by NICE and COM
COM (Charity-Oriented Myanmar) is a rural development NGO founded by youth in 2007 by language and computer training, raising awareness on health and HIV/ AIDS, educational support for orphans, etc. COM joined the General Assembly of NVDA in 2012 Feb. NICE successfully co-organized the very first workcamp in Myanmar in 2012 Oct.-Nov. and continue till 2013 to share know-how and networks.
Below is the report of the project in Myanmar last year!
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Dates / 2012 Oct.26th-Nov.4th (10 days)Place / Sobawte village near Loikaw, in the Kayah state (eastern part of Myanmar)
Work / A. Various farm work with villagers
B. Clearing glasses in the church
C. Cutting glasses and collecting peanuts in the neighboring village hall
Life / Church. Meals were cooked by the local mothers while the vols. also helped.
Vols. / 9 vols. (5 Japan, 3 Myanmar,1 Hong Kong). 4 students/ 6 female
+ Hundreds of local people joined!
< Schedule >
Date / Morning / Afternoon / Evening10/26 / Meeting
10/27 / Moving to Project (arrived 28th morning)
10/28 / Free, going around / Free
10/29 / Work A (peanuts) / Free
10/30 / Work B / Free (visiting Loikaw)
10/31 / Work A (garlic) & B / Exchange party
11/01 / Work A (rice harvest) / Free
11/02 / Work C & exchange / Farewell party
11/03 / Moving back to Yangon (arr. 4th morning)
11/04 / Evaluation / Optional orphanage visit
* Long bus trip for almost 24 hours! But the bus stopped even some hours where we could enjoy various types of dishes and fruits (and toilet)!
* Church we stayed (left) and river we took bath (right). This area has many Christian while about 90% of people in Myanmar are Buddhists.
The area has abundant green nature and quite cooler than Yangon due to high altitude, so we have less mosquito!
In this area, organic farming is normal and vegetables are delicious! But recently, Chinese companies are aggressively promoting use of chemicals. As well known, by chemical farming, production goes up in the beginning, but then gradually down since it kills life of soils.
Local young ladies joined our work to cut glasses in the church and they worked very well as you can see the result in the right picture. They kept coming to our place every day
Popular rock band came for our farewell party and we had a very participative and funny concert with them and the villagers under so many stars.
An old man started talking “this village hasa a terrible history with Japanese army in World War II since we are in British side. Elders never forget it. But it was really good that you have come to this village this time”. It may take some more time to heal injury from the war, but we’d try to create a new history even with a small step!
(written by Kai, co-leader from Japan with special thanks to host organizer, COM & Thazin)
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Work Camp in Myanmar 2013!!
We look forward to receiving lots of your motivated volunteers!
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W:Voluntary work
S : Study theme
A : Accommodation
L : Location
T : Terminal (The closest big international airport)
LA: Leisure Activities
SR : Special Remarks (if any)
PF: Participation Fees (if any)
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NICE&COM-13-22 Pyin Oo Lwin (* Myanmar) 02/27-03/12 KIDS, SOCI 15 vols. (5 int.)
W: We will do various work in the orphanage in and run by the Buddhist monastery such as playing with the orphans, join their educational activities, help to clean/ maintain the buildings, etc. We may also NVDA’s environmental common actions such as World Tanabata Action and/ or Eco Sponge Action.
S: Future plan of workcamps in Myanmar and global cooperation for it. Bring some info.!
A: Monastery or Guest house in the city. Be ready to enjoy simple life. Cooked by volunteers. Sleeping Bag is needed.
L: SiKar Village, Pyin Oo Lwin/May Myot town, Mandalay region
T: Yangon (You need to arrive by 12:00 on the first day and can leave after 12:00 on the last day).
LA: Sightseeing in the city, exchange with the youth of COM, etc.
SR: High motivation to work and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization! There are some possibilities to change the place and the project.
PF: 250 US$ to be paid on your arrivals
NICE&COM-13-35 Loikaw (* Myanmar) 03/15-03/28 AGRI, EDUC 15 vols. (5 int.)
W: We will mainly join farm work such as maintenance of rice fields, organic vegetables, community farms, etc. We may also so some educational activities to the children who cannot go to the schools and NVDA’s environmental common actions such as World Tanabata Action and/ or Eco Sponge Action.
S: Future plan of workcamps in Myanmar and global cooperation for it. Bring some info.!
A: Church. Be ready to enjoy simple life (incl. bathing in the small stream nearby!). CV. SB!
L: Small village near Loikaw town of Kayah state (Eastern part near Thai border). It takes nearly one day by bus from Yangon. Cooler than Yangon, but March is in a hot season! People are so warm and kind.
T: Yangon (You need to arrive by 19:00 on Mar. 15th and can leave after 12:00 on Mar. 28th).
LA: Excursion, cultural exchange with the youth, etc. Possibly, concert with popular musician as well!?
SR: High motivation to work and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization! There are some possibilities to change the place and the project.
PF: 240 US$ (may be changed) to be paid on your arrivals
NICE&COM-13-48 Yangon 2 (* Myanmar) 04/28-05/11 KIDS, SOCI 15 vols. (5 int.)
W: We will do various work in the orphanage in and run by the Buddhist monastery such as playing with the orphans, join their educational activities, help to clean/ maintain the buildings, etc. We may also NVDA’s environmental common actions such as World Tanabata Action and/ or Eco Sponge Action.
S: Future plan of workcamps in Myanmar and global cooperation for it. Bring some info.!
A: Monastery or Guest house in the city. Be ready to enjoy simple life. CV. SB!
L: The biggest city in Myanmar. In the orphanage, about 200 boys from all over the country live together with the monks. Also, local girls in low income families come to the school in the monastery.
T: Yangon (You need to arrive by 19:00 on the first day and can leave after 12:00 on the last day).
LA: Sightseeing in the city, exchange with the youth of COM, etc.
SR: High motivation to work and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization! There are some possibilities to change the place and the project.
PF: 200 US$ (may be changed) to be paid on your arrivals
NICE&COM-13-51 Taunggyi (* Myanmar) 05/14-05/27 MANU, AGRI, ENVI 15 vols. (5 int.)
W: We may work for environmental protection, farming, etc. in the farm, organize cultural exchange events, etc.Be flexible to do anything needed. We may also NVDA’s common actions such as World Tanabata Action to prevent climate change and/ or Eco Sponge Action to protect water environment.
S: Future plan of workcamps in Myanmar and global cooperation for it. Bring some info.!
A: To be fixed. Be ready to enjoy simple life. CV. SB!
L: One of major cities in Myanmar and it takes nearly one day by bus from Yangon. May is in the end of very hot season! COM has been organizing training programs in this place for years.
T: Yangon (You need to arrive by 19:00 on May 14th and can leave after 12:00 on May 27th).
LA: Excursion, cultural exchange with the youth, etc.
SR: High motivation to work and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization! There are some possibilities to change the place and the project.
PF: 240 US$ (may be changed) to be paid on your arrivals
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