Report by Kiara Gigacz
YPD 2017 Karen Land Report
Date: 3 - 11 November 2017
Location: Hpa-an, Karen Land
Theme : Ethnic Majority
Program
YPD 2017 started off with our traditional exposure trip. This year, there were Four exposure groups, and each visited different Karen villages.
The aim was to allow participants to learn about the various aspects of Karen traditional life through observation. These included culture and traditions, peacekeeping, environmental concern, youth development, sustainability as well as social and economic development.
The training section of the program was held in Hpa-an. Upon return from our exposure trips, we presented on the various issues each group had observed. We also participated in the Karen annual festival, where we learned more about Karen history and life.
On the 9th morning, we conducted a See-Judge-Act session, and each country came up with individual actions to carry out upon return to their own country. We climbed Mt Zwegabin that afternoon, and held our AGM at the peak.
The program ended with our annual cultural night.
Budgeting
Expenses = 10,000 USD (13,000,000)Kyat
Income from contribution by, Participants, Stefan Gigacz and family, Greg Mahn Htun, Anh Phan, Bijaya Khadka, Tomoko Kamiya
Supported by (Oasis Youth Center) Suwannimit Foundation.
Suggestions to improve:
Work on promotion of YPD so that we can attract larger groups of international participants
Announcements:
YPD 2018 will be hosted by YPD Nepal, with Bijaya Khadka as our coordinator.
YPD will be registering officially in 2018-2019, (strategy planing)
All members are encouraged to fill in the International Member Database form here: https://goo.gl/forms/VqHzmXxmFf4BGvhw2
