Empowered Youth as the Agents of Positive Change in Myanmar

Child’s Dream has been supporting the Myint-mo Education Foundation (MEF), formerly also known as Myanmar Community Academies Programme (MCAP), since 2013. MEF currently operates five academies in the following ethnic states: Kayin (Karen), Kayah (Karenni), Kachin, Shan and Chin. Their aim is to support potential socially-engaged youth from diverse backgrounds in developing their skills and abilities to make positive changes in their communities. They achieve this by running a 2-year intensive academic programme focusing on general knowledge, social science, English language, computer skills, social entrepreneurship, project management and community development. This will enhance the students’ capacity to analyse local issues, increase their ability to formulate creative strategies to make positive change and to make connections with groups where they can initiate community development projects.

MEF was recently included in our impact analysis and the results are very encouraging. Since their inception these academies enrolled a total of 977 students, of which 58% were female students. 85% of the alumni are working or furthering their education. 71% of working students are employed in the non-profit section in the field of education, gender protection and human rights, economic development and environmental sustainability. An overwhelming 86% of alumni have or have had a job focused on community development since graduation.