Burma Assist

Description

 

WHAT IS BURMA ASSIST?

Burma Assist is a small, development organization registered as a Scottish charity. Our aim is to assist the poorest Burmese refugees and migrants in India, who have fled oppression and economic hardship in Burma, to develop sustainable livelihoods.

 

FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

Our focus on sustainable livelihoods emerged from discussions with leaders of the Burmese communities in Delhi in 2006. After experimenting with various models, in February 2009 we adopted our present approach, which is working well. This involves the Dorcas Women's Tailoring Training Centre in Delhi.

 

OUR PARTNER COMMUNITY PROJECT IN DELHI, INDIA

 

The Dorcas Women's Tailoring Training Centre, run and managed by three Burmese Chin refugees, is providing a 6 month full-time training course for 13 women. Since their beginning in February 2009, 19 out of 23 women have successfully graduated and are now earning between 2,500 to 4,000 rupees a month. This is a significant achievement for the women in this very difficult context (to put the money in context, a single room in Delhi for the Burmese costs 3,000 rupees per month to rent).

 

WHAT ROLE EXACTLY DOES BURMA ASSIST PLAY?

To date, Burma Assist has paid for the start-up costs, and is paying for the running costs, of the project.

 

But our main added-value comes in the expertise we provide. The Burma Assist team includes two Delhi based Indian colleagues from the North East of India, with extensive experience in development work at the local and international level.  They provide mentoring guidance and skill training to the management team. They play a key role in the three monthly, participatory reviews with the project management team, which enables the team to review the goals they have set, and to adjust what they are doing to achieve them. This regular interaction with the project management team, as well as the monthly visits, also provides a valuable support and monitoring of the project's administration, which helps ensure accountability.

 

Using these skills and expertise, we work alongside the project, guiding the participants and encouraging them in best practice. Our aim is that all projects should have externally audited - Financial and Social Audited Accounts, to ensure the proper use of funds as a safeguard both for the project and also as a protection for donor's funds.

WHAT NEXT?

 

Building on the success of the Dorcas project and this model for supporting community projects, as well as continuing to assist this project, we would like to start developing work with initially two community projects in Mizoram (NE India bordering Burma). We are currently looking for support for this.

 

MORE INFORMATION?

My work number is 0131 208 2261 - give me a call.
Chris Barr, Executive Director (and founder)

July 2010

 

Areas of Activity

Asia

Contact

Chris Barr
Burma Assist
Mansfield Traquair Centre
15 Mansfield Place
Edinburgh
EH3 6BB

Tel: 0131 208 2261

www.burma-assist.org

Volunteers

Scotland: 1

Outside Scotland: 1

Funders

Currently private / family / friend sources

Membership Type

Member

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