Annual Report 2015 3 Our Mission Weaving Bonds Across Borders is a women-led network that is building the power and leadership of youth from grassroots communities to work togerther for peace, women’s rights and environmental justice.
We promote leadership from and exchange between the grassroots and global South through training, peacebuilding, and support for youth and community led actions.
4 Table of Contents
Burma Programs | p.1-6
Regional Programs | p. 7-12
Youth Stories | p. 13-16
Financial Statement | p. 17-18
Supporters | p. 19-20
5 BURMA
1 Page 1 An Introduction By Nang Shining, The Need in Mong Pan displaced in Shan State to make way for this dam. There is a great need for us to be The local people in Mong Pan, Burma have Co-Founder and Burma united in order to be able to advocate been living under the oppression of military Coordinator for our rights and preserve our culture and government for several decades, where they environment as large scale development have no freedom of expression, no right to starts to move in. assemble, no freedom to celebrate their cultural events. In order to address these urgent problems, since 2015 Weaving Bonds Across Despite the current political changes in Borders is working with youth leaders Burma, no community development project from Mong Pan to promote healing, has reached Mong Pan yet. The township is empowerment, and effective leadership located in a remote area and used to be a to address the urgent issues facing our confict zone. community. Using a unique approach that Growing up in a war zone, people tend to combines peace-building, leadership In Burma’s confict zones, communities have be more tense, sensitive and there is a lack development and advocacy, we work been deeply affected by years of military of trust and unity between groups in the to empower local youth from grassroots dictatorship and armed confict. community. People living in Mong Pan have communities in Shan State to be leaders In my community of Mong Pan in Shan State, suffered from physical and psychological for change in our community. violence, so trauma is rooted underneath of there is a lack of trust among youth and We believe that our work can be their heart. division in the community due to years of a model of hope and resilience for confict and civil war. At the same time, Mong Pan is facing many other communities experiencing similar At the same time, our community is opening challenges including opening up to outside challenges across Burma. and around the up to outside investment and development. investment, ongoing deforestation by both world. There is a need for our community to be legal and illegal logging, and most worryingly united in order to be able to advocate for of all, the proposed Mong Ton Dam project Sincerely, their rights as large scale development starts on the Salween river nearby our home, Nang Shining to move in. which would be the tallest dam in Southeast Asia if built. By some estimates, hundreds of thousands of villagers have already been 2 Page 2 In 2015, we started a program for youth from confict areas in Southern Shan State, Burma to learn leadership and advocacy skills, build peace and alliances across borders, and lead their own work for social justice.
All of our work was carried out in a ‘brown zone’ of Burma - an area with ongoing active confict, where communications, and transportation are extremely limited, and where foreigners are not allowed to visit.
3 Page 3 Training and Leadership We promoted youth leadership and Development empowerment through our internship program. We created a leadership program for grassroots youth from Burma to learn Seven youth leaders from Mong Pan about leadership skills, peacebuilding and surrounding areas built their self- and the environment. confdence and teamwork skills, learned English conversation, computer skills, and Working with youth from remote areas of environmental and human rights issues. They Southern Shan State where there are no other also learned research planning, training social services or activism groups, we brought preparation and organizing, accounting and together youth from communities across administration at the Community Center. Southern Shan State, specifcally Mong Pan, Our community center in Mong Pan Mong Ton, Mong Sat, and Kunhing (1000 islands) to attend a leadership program to We started the frst community center and learn the basics of human rights, environmental library in Mong Pan, Shan State. protection, peacebuilding, and youth leadership skills. For most of the youth, it was The center and library was established to the frst time they had ever travelled outside encourage youth and community members to of their community. engage in the community, to learn skills such as English language, flmmaking, and computer skills, and for youth interns from the community to live and learn together. With donations from Earthrights International, Magical Light Youth debate the proposed dam near their hometown Foundation Paung Ku Organization and We organized workshops on hydropower many other partners, we have more than 500 and dam impacts, civic education, books and 40 DVDs available at the center. Buddhist environmentalism, data and mapping skills, and indigenous and human rights with over 150 grassroots participants from Southern Shan State. Youth practicing public speaking skills 4 Page 4 Peacebuilding and Alliance We promoted inter-faith peacebuilding Building and community-led relief for war-affected communities. We brought together youth and communities across ethnic groups in We organized an inter-faith session, focusing Shan State, Burma to promote grassroots on efforts to promote dialogue and peace solidarity and alliance building across between Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. ethnicities and borders. We provided emergency humanitarian assistance to thousands of confict-affected We worked with youth, communities and families in Shan State in November during resource persons from Shan, Danu, Intha, a military offensive when many people were Pa-O and Burman communities, to build displaced by confict. We raised funds and a understanding and bridge alliances across convoy of our youth travelled to deliver food, borders which have been damaged by Visiting local community with Chinese and Burmese medicine and clothes to displaced persons Burma’s civil war and military dictatorship. environmentalists camps, as well as messages of support from Together with Green Rights Organization, we We promoted upstream and downstream around the world. organized for youth from Mong Pan to learn collaboration on the Salween dams by and exchange with local villagers from a Danu bringing together Chinese and Burmese ethnic area of Shan State where there are environmentalists. more than 50 mining companies operating, causing serious environmental and social We hosted Chinese environmentalists and impacts to the local villagers. professors Dr Yu and Mr Ling in Shan State to teach research methods and the use of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (EIA and SIA) as an advocacy tool on development projects. 53 people from 10 different ethnic and racial groups joined this collaboration held in Shan State, Burma .
Inter-ethnic and faith gathering for peace Youth team delivering aid to IDPs in Shan State 5 Page 5 Youth-Led Action and Activism Youth Voices Support “The great change in me is that I feel I am We organized and supported a youth- more confdent and understand about other led campaign against the Mong Ton Dam people more than before.” in Shan State, which would be the tallest “Now we learned not to be shy and to dam in Southeast Asia if built. be brave to speak in public.” The Mong Ton dam is proposed to be built “I gained more knowledge from Weaving just 33 km from our center. Participants learned Bonds. I also learned what is social about the negative impacts that the dam will movement”. have, and how they can effectively organize and advocate for their rights against the “We understand each other better. dam project. Youth joined public hearings We want to help our community.” on the dam to express their opinions, spoke “From now on I will not look down on myself. with the media to share their concerns about I will not feel shy and upset for being from a the dam, and learned graphic design skills remote area.” so they could print and distribute over 700 Shooting flm for the community youth documentary pamplets with information about the potential about the Salween dams. “I want to be an environmentalist dam impacts to communities upstream and We organized a Community Youth Film- because I want to conserve the forest and downstream of the proposed dam project. Making Project to amplify youth voices on stop the companies from exploiting our the Salween dams project. natural resources. I want to see the Thanlwin river fowing freely in nature.” In response to our youth’s interest, we invited flm-makers to teach documentary flm-making and story-telling skills for social change. Using the skills learned, youth are now creating a documentary about the lives of local people on the Salween river, and their voices and concerns about the proposed Mong Ton Youth protesting the Mong Ton dam at an environ- dam project. mental impact assessment meeting Youth united to stop the Salween dams project 6 Page 6 REGIONAL
7 Page 7 An Introduction issues, but we truly believe it is worthwhile.: closely with our youth and young women in as young women ourselves, we understand their affected communities and confict zones By Kathy, Regional Coordinator the importance of giving the opportunity to to give additional support by helping them and young women , youth and those from minority to implement small-scale projects including and grassroots communities to be leaders. conducting workshops, meetings, and Hannah, Co-Founder and research to improve their community situations. International Program Coordinator The Need for Our Work In addition, our regional program is collecting Across the Mekong region of Southeast Asia, young women’s life stories to advocate conficts over resources, including water, land for women’s rights on natural resource and boundaries are a threat to peace in management and to promote gender equality the region. Furthermore, those who are most between men and women to have equal directly impacted, such as women and rights for decision-making and participation. youth from confict affected and indigenous communities, are rarely part of the decision making processes. In response to these challenges, our work Our regional work in Southeast Asia is supports grassroots leadership and cross truly unique, as we bring together young border and regional solidarity, particularly of women from ethnic minority, indigenous and youth and young women from marginalized grassroots communities in Southeast Asia to groups, including ethnic minority and Young women united across borders learn, exchange and grow together. indigenous communities. Through our work, we are creating new ideas Too often, leadership and exchange Our Future Community Leaders Program works and visions of leadership, ones that are programs only bring those who have the with young women and youth from Myanmar/ centered around women’s leadership styles, best English skills, network or connections. Burma, Thailand, China and the Mekong minority and indigenous youth power, and We deliberately choose instead to focus on region to promote young women’s leadership shared collective leadership. investing in the leadership and empowerment on gender, peace and environment issues of youth from directly affected and grassroots through workshops and training. Sincerely, communities.. This involves more challenges, Hannah & Kathy including security and communication After our workshops, we continue to work 8 Page 8 In 2015, we started a leadership program to empower youth from the Mekong region to be leaders for peace, gender and environmental justice in their communities. Our program is unique in that we bring together youth from indigenous, minority and remote grassroots communities for cross-border solidairty and exchange.
9 Page 9 Training and Leadership We promoted young women, Development especially indigenous and global South women, to be leaders, We promoted grassroots exchange teachers and resource persons in and leadership though our frst our programs. regional youth leadership workshop, which brought together young To promote local and youth voices, all of women from minority, indigenous our regional workshops were led by young and grassroots communities from women from the global South, including Thailand, China and Burma. young indigenous women as resource persons teaching about leadership skills, Young women activists learned about gender justice, feminism and peacebuilding. Peacebuilding, Leadership Skills for Youth, We also brought our participants to learn Gender and Feminism, Water Governance, and exchange with other indigenous and Dams and Environment, Security for Women Youth learning English skills and debating gender grassroots communities in Thailand,. and Human Rights Defenders, and Project issues Planning. We provided English language support to women human rights activists from marginalized communities. A long over-looked but incredibly necessary activity, we found that English language level is one of the greatest barriers for participation of minority, indigenous and grassroots women in international advocacy. Six young women joined this program and built their skills and Women’s Leadership workshop led by Da, a young Karen woman from Mekong Youth Assembly Our leadership program in action confdence in English in order to be able to share their stories and advocate for their communities on an international platform.
10 Page 10 Peacebuilding and Alliance Youth built solidarity and friendship Building through our cross-border internship program. Our frst two interns, Pu Sor from Thailand and Youth learned inner peacebuilding Hom Kham from Myanmar, both come from and communication skills, including the Salween river in their countries. During meditation and mindfulness. their internship, they studied gender, research We believe that in order to holistically skills and story-telling and planned a women’s Learning from P’Maliwan, a grassroots women leader leadership program on the Salween together. support youth as leaders, we need to support for coal afected communities in Tailand their emotional and spiritual growth. and to address the trauma they have experienced from confict and marginalization. Using a secular approach, we integrated sessions on mindfulness, yoga, and self-refection throughout our activities.
Exchanging with Karen indigenous community We supported peace and alliance Our network of committed youth building between indigenous and We built a network of grassroots marginalized communities. youth committed for change across the Mekong region. Youth from minority, indigenous and grassroots communities that have had conficts with each Through our alumni and networking program, other in the past built their understanding we built connections and a network with dozens of youth and grassroots organizations Group mindfulness exercise across borders through our peacebuilding workshop, and also had an opportunity to working for change in Myanmar, China and exchange and learn with other marginalized Thailand and planned future joint activities communities in Thailand. . together for 2016. 11 Page 11 Youth-Led Action and Activism Chinese and Tibetan youth conducted Youth Voices Support community based research on water pollution and advocated to the local government on “I never think I will have a great opportunity Youth led activities in their to learn with other friends from different communities to promote women’s the issue, as well as dams and mining issues. leadership, gender equality and They also conduced workshops on gender, countries. I can’t express I am very happy. environmental justice in the Mekong water governance and environmental And I want to thank to you all.” region. protection with Tibetan youth. “This program let me realize the importance We supported 11 youth to lead 5 projects of environmental protection, and inspired me in Thailand, China and Myanmar, including a to have a plan for this work in my hometown.” women’s leadership project, research on dams and mining, and a solidarity and exchange “I think the important idea is I learned that tour between dam-affected peoples. women leadership, environment protecting is so important for us in China.” “Now I am more confdent and know how to be a leader, we have network with different country. I am strong, confdent, active, and know other’s culture.” Tibetan youth study environmental protection A multi-ethnic team of youth from Burma led “Before I would like to do something for my an exchange trip between dam affected community but I could not start by my own. I believe in myself to start now.” Pu Sor leading a community mapping activity to help communities at the Pang Loung dam in Burma women in her community take leadership on their and potentially affected communities on natural resources the Salween river. They learned about the Pu Sor from Thailand led a women’s devastating impacts of the Pang Loung dam empowerment project in her indigenous including forced resettlement, trauma and Karen community in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, working with women and children to create a suicide among resettled communities, and community map of the natural resources and built their network and solidarity between the history of the village, as a tool to empower two communities. women and protect them from mining and investment projects Burmese youth team leading dam-afected community exchange. 12 Page 12 YOUTH VOICES and if she does leave she is expected to send all of her money to her family and to A Young Woman Leader for Women return as quickly as possible to marry. and Indigenous Rights: Pu Sor’s Story Now, I am the only female university graduate from my community and I feel so sad for my sisters and other young women who cannot get an education. Luckily, I got support for Pu Sor’s village, Baan Tiyaper my tuition fees since I was in high school until the community or our parents always say that university from Sangsan Anakod Yawachon we as women are not leaders. Also, we have which is working based in Maehongson and always emphasized that women should get Tak province. married and have children and take care of their families. These are the reasons why I really want to do something for my community in terms of My name is Pu Sor and I come from Baan The roles of men and women in my Karen women’s leadership; I want to change this Thiyaper village in Mae Hong Son Province, community are clearly divided – women situation, but I didn’t know where to start or Thailand. should be the main parent, take care of their what kind of things I should do. This question family, make textiles, clean the house and stayed in my mind until I met Weaving Bonds As a young woman I was discouraged by cook, while men work outside the home, for staff and participated in their workshop last many people around me, including my family. example farming and gardening. Even so, year in 2015. In the workshop, I gained a lot I wanted to get an education and a career, women often work outside the home too! of valuable knowledge from different teachers but this was very diffcult for me because of Karen women are expected to be patient gender and also because I am Karen and and gentle with their family and undertake all was discriminated against on ethnic grounds. they can for their family home.
In my community, girls and women have By contrast, men are not pressured to marry, less opportunities to get educated and stay at home or take care of their parents. participate in the decision making process. A woman who wants to leave to go work in When I was a child, I have heard people in the city faces diffcult questions from her family Leading a community mapping exercise with women 13 Page 13 and local community leaders. This workshop During her project, she worked with women has encouraged and supported me to go and children from her community to learn further and make my dream more possible. the community’s history and producea community map in order to build local After attending the Weaving Bonds workshop, women’s confdence and understanding I became confdent enough to get involved of their local history and wisdom on natural in women’s leadership issues and start to make resources management. change in my community Pu Sor’s Story, Updated Now, Pu Sor is pursuing her dream by leading Pu Sor presenting about her work to a group of a women’s empowerment program for Karen journalists, NGO workers and community members in Tailand women in Sop Moei, Mae Hong Son with the organization Development Center for Children and Community Network (DCCN)..
After joining last year’s Weaving Bonds workshop, Pu Sor spent three months as an intern in Chiang Mai, building her skills and knowledge and supporting a research project on gender issues in Thailand.
She also received a small grant from Weaving Bonds to organize a project in her hometown in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand along the Salween River on the Thai-Myanmar border.
Pusor (top, second from lef), together with the women and children from her community 14 Page 14 YOUTH VOICES We have no industry, so we rely on farming to earn money and develop our village. We Saving Her Village on the Salween: grow mostly rice and garlic, both of which Hom Kham’s Story require enough water to succeed. Aside from that, we collect frewood from the forest and grow green vegetables to eat; the forest and water are central to life for our minority ethnic Te view of Mong Pan, Hom Kham’s hometown groups. My hometown, Mong Pan is surrounded by green mountains and covered in dense But we also have many problems in our area. forests. There are a lot of natural resources, Our community lives under military government including our river which fows into the Salween and military groups encircle the town; in our River, one of the most important rivers for our case, the military’s population is more than My name is Hom Kham. I come from Southern community. the local people. Tourists cannot come here Shan State, Mong Pan, Myanmar. I am 22 because it is a confict area. Sometimes the years old. My hometown is very small but it is We have many different ethnic groups which military or government department blocks the very beautiful. The Salween River is near my include Pa-O, Lisu, Shan and Karen, but the water fow to the felds, meaning we can’t hometown and we also have a small stream majority of the people are Shan. Mong Pan is catch fsh or make money. Last year and this that is connected to fow to the Salween rich in culture, literature and traditional festivals. year, there has not been enough water and River. In China they call it the Nu River, in There is an ancient lake and pagodas and we have a lot of problems to do agriculture. Burmese it is the Thanlwin River and in our monasteries, including one famous monastery Another reason for the lack of water is we lost Shan language it is the Nam Khone and we where a respected monk is celebrated every a lot of thick forests because of logging. are the indigenous ethnic group that stays year. Nearby is a beautiful waterfall, from around there. which people have electricity since 2008. The area is surrounded by green rice felds I was born in this village and it is my and teak forests. ambition to spend the rest of my life here – I want to make sure this is possible not The people in the area are known for their only for me, but for my whole community. kindness; everyone knows each other and welcomes new visitors to the area. Water is life for the people of Mong Pan 15 Page 15 If we don’t have enough water, the crops can’t should cooperate together to help protect produce at high levels and the end result is our international river. Hom Kham’s Story, Updated: that we lose income, education and health.
Furthermore, a long time ago, the government has already built one small hydropower on one important stream in our hometown at the top of the township, meaning it is diffcult to get enough water to the agricultural areas. In the future, things may get even worse. Protesting the Salween dams The Salween River is about 33km from Mong Pan and this is where the government has After joining our regional workshop and proposed to build the Mong Ton dam (also internship program, Hom Kham is now working for Weaving Bonds and our sister organization, known as Ta Sang dam). It would be one of During her internship with Weaving Bonds, leading the biggest dams in Southeast Asia if built. an activity with Salween youth the Mong Pan Youth Association in Shan State, Burma. She is currently making a documentary The environmental impact of building such In conclusion, I am so lucky and proud that I about the lives of local communities on the a dam would be huge – big areas of forest am one lady who has a chance to stay in a Salween River qnd will have a chance to would have to be fooded, destroying trees, small town with a happy family and our lovely present at the Greater Mekong Forum at natural resources and wildlife. On top of this, ethnic groups and spend my life to help others Chulalongkorn University in Thailand in Nov many people living in the fooded areas as much as I can. In the future, I would like 2016. After that, she will be working as a would lose their land and be forced to move, to meet many friends in other countries who research assistant, along the Salween river not to mention the people living downstream live around the Salween River and we can basin in Shan State. who might no longer be able to grow their work together. I believe that if we try our best, crops and would also have to relocate. we could change our environment positively and people also will know women’s vital role From what has happened in Mong Pan, with in their community. our small hydropower, we can imagine the . impacts of this huge dam on our entire region. All of our townships and Salween countries Hom Kham shooting video for the documentary 16 Page 16 2015 Financial Report 2015 Revenue Amount in USD
Individual and Commuity Donations 1,568
Foundation Grants 72,090
Total Revenue 73,658
2015 Expenditure Amount in USD
Program Expenses Myanmar 25,448
Program Expenses Regional 16,272
Total Program Expenses 41,720
Staffng Cost 18,969
Overhead and Emergency Fund 414
Total Expenditure 61,103
Balance on Hand (Dec 31st, 2015) 12,555
17 Page 17 18 Page 18 Our deepest thanks go to the following individuals and organizations who have supported our work with fnancial support, advice, hard work and/or partnership in 2015:
Organizations and Foundations Asia Indigenous People’s Pact American Friends Service Committee Center for ASEAN Studies EarthRights International Green Rights Organization iMekong International Accountability Project International Rivers Karen Environmental and Social Action Network Legal Advocacy Center for Indigenous Communities Lisle Foundation Magical Light Foundation Mekong Energy and Ecology Network Mekong School and Alumni Network Mekong Youth Assembly Mong Pan Youth Association Open Society Foundations Oxfam Australia Paung Ku Research Center for Delta Youth THANK YOU Southeast Asia Border Research Society Water, Land and Ecosystems We Women Foundation 19 Page 19 Individual Donors Nang Mwe Lao Friends and Network Ben Dean Nang Sam Pao Jom Charles Powell Nang Mwe Noom Phoung To those of you who have supported Daniel King Nang Hom Leng our work with contributions of your efforts, Diane Daily Nang Morn Seng Lao including our trainers, resource persons, Jeanice Chieng Nang Mwe Khur advisors and network: there are too many Jessica Work Nang Sandar Lang of you to count, but we deeply appreciate Kimberly Roberts Nang Kwan Cho your heartfelt contibutions of your time and Leslie Donovan energy. Maureen Harris Volunteers Mong Pan Community Erin Callahan We thank you from the bottom of our hearts Nikolai Sindorf Leilana Quigner for your support and commitment to work Sharon Lungo Mackenzie Greene-Powell together for a better world. Vanessa Lamb Board Staff Zuo Tao To support our work or become a monthly Duangkamon Donchaum Yu Yin donor, please contact us or visit Hannah Tom Weerachat www.weavingbonds.org Hseng Leun Paula Ramirez Kathy Mueda Nawanat Seng Pin Mackenzie Greene-Powell Shining
Interns Hom Kham Nang Kwan Khio Nang Morn Nang Mwe Leng Pu Sor Sai Bee Wan Nang Tin Saw Nang Seng Kham 20 Page 20 Contact Us Our Locations www.weavingbonds.org Mong Pan, Myanmar/Burma 21 www.facebook.com/Weavingbonds Chiang Mai, Thailand [email protected] Albuquerque, New Mexico