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Social Development Programme

Myanmar Programme

CFSI and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expect to continue cooperation through at least 2009 to the benefit of the people of Northern Rakhine State (NRS) in Myanmar (Burma).

CFSI and UNHCR have cooperated in Myanmar since early 1998 in the context of facilitating the return from Bangladesh and reintegration in Northern Rakhine State of approximately 236,500 Muslim refugees. These people fled Myanmar in 1992 and began returning to their homeland, with UNHCR assistance in late 1994. Muslims comprise roughly 76% of the population of NRS and are de facto stateless, owing to existing national policy on citizenship.

The overall aim of cooperation between CFSI and UNHCR in 2007 is to promote protection and reduce the socio-economic vulnerability of 10,400 persons through the reinforcement and enhancement of human resource capacities. As such, CFSI is being funded by UNHCR to: (1) provide literacy training for 4,800 adolescents and adults - at least 70% of whom shall be female; (2) prepare 3,000 school-age children to enter the State Primary Schools; (3) assist 2,240 out-of-school children and youth to re-enter the State School system; and (4) provide early childhood development services for at least 360 three-to-five year olds.

CFSI is also responsible for the management, maintenance, and security of twenty-three (23) Community Services Centers constructed under earlier project agreements. This includes promoting the utilization of the libraries, reproductive health education materials, and sewing machines in the four largest centers that were specially designed for Muslim women. Two of these four centers were constructed out of funds provided by former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, winner of the 1997 Magsaysay Award for International Understanding.

The CFSI/Myanmar Team of 258 persons is led by Project Director Luis Ongsiapco who serves concurrently as UNHCR Community Services Consultant and the focal point for the coordination of the Community Education Programme that is carried out under UNHCR auspices in NRS.  Thirty-one (31) Myanmar nationals, the majority of whom are from Rakhine State, serve with the project on a full-time basis. Another 227 persons, virtually all from NRS, are engaged as Teachers with the project on a "class cycle" basis. The project is based in Maungdaw, Rakhine State, with administrative support provided by a small team in Yangon.

CFSI is hoping to complement this initiative by carrying out, by the end of 2007, an impact evaluation of almost ten full years of service in Nothern Rakhine State.  In addition, CFSI is hoping to triple in 2008 the number of very young children participating in the Early Childhood Development Programme.  The fund-raising goal for these purposes is US$40,000.

To learn more about, or to contribute to, the Myanmar Programme, please contact the Executive Director at headquarters@cfsi.ph.

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