14 Internship Programme

For young women inKarenni State,Burmaand the Karenni refugee camps inside the Thai-Burma border, there are very few opportunities to achieve a higher education.  Many cannot even finish high school.  But education is important for the future of Karenni women, which is why the Karenni National Women’s Organization provides an internship program for several young women fromKarenniStateand two refugee camps.

In traditional Karenni culture, parents and elderly believe that women do not need to study or attend

school.  Once they get married, their husbands and relatives will take care of them.  But this is a cultural idea that should not limit the next generation of young women.

“KNWO wants the young women to learn more, to study more; and, in the future, we hope that KNWO will be led by these young people,” said Mi Nyo, KNWO’s General Secretary.  She said that the expectation of the internship program is that it will improve the skills of the students and prepare them for places in leadership.  Because, by focusing more on their education and opportunities, they are also creating opportunities for their friends and other Karenni women.KNWO was founded in 1993, and runs successfully with the help of my experienced, older members.  But the organization recognizes that in order to build for the future, it needs strong, passionate young women who will support these leader – and, one day, step into their positions.

So KNWO educates and assist Karenni young woman, preparing them for leadership roles in the future.  It is up to the youth to promote the rights and improve the living standards of Karenni women inside the State, IDP areas and refugee camps.  By encouraging and helping young women, KNWO hopes to foster their interest and ability to act in the peace process of their state and country.

The organization welcomes young people to become involved in its activities and project areas, especially in the process of women and child protection insideBurma.  Because today’s interns will be tomorrow’s role models.

How people involved with capacity-building project can share information, their skills and knowledge- KNOW tries to improve, find opportunities to for women- especially focus on young woman- the objective of the capacity-building program.