archives

 

 

 

 

Karenni National Women's Organization (KNWO)

The Karenni National Women’s Organization is a non-profit, grassroots organization established in 1993 by the Karenni refugee women who fled to Thailand. It is the organization’s goal to provide Karenni women with useful skills for the future, to prepare them for a greater role in leadership in a future Karenni State, and to create lasting links with the international community.

Based in Mae Hong Son province, KNWO implements projects in the two refugee camps in the northern Thailand border and for the internally displaced people inside the Karenni State.

KNWO is guided by the following aims:

  1. Empower Karenni women to play a leadership role
  2. Organize education, income generation and other projects for the benefit of the entire Karenni refugee population
  3. Increase international awareness of the Karenni situation
  4. Promote gender equity and fight all forms of discrimination
  5. Preserve the customs, literature and languages of the Karenni people
  6. Promote and advocate for women and child rights
  7. Take care of women who are affected by violence

To date KNWO has over 500 members. A central committee, elected by members every four years, provides over-all supervision, management, and administration of the entire organization. A camp committee implements the projects and activities in respective camps. In collaboration with local and international non-government organizations, KNWO continues to provide various opportunities for refugee women to improve their well-being. It has carried out development projects in direct partnership with the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), Women Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Child’s Dream, ZOA, Burma Relief Center (BRC), Hilfswerk Austria, National Reconciliation Program (NRP), Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), Empowerment for the Women of Burma (EWOB) and Women’s League of Burma (WLB), among others. KNWO is a member of WLB and works closely with other ethnic groups in the Thailand-Burma border. 

Programs and Activities
KNWO implements five strategic programs to meet the organization objectives:

Capacity Building
Over the years, KNWO has implemented training programs covering various topics such as leadership development, gender issues, income generation, peace building, office and financial management, adolescent education and HIV/AIDs. Through an internship program, women gain hands-on experience in community development work. These programs are made available to KNWO members and staff of other ethnic organizations in the border. Continuous community education campaigns focusing on violence against women, women and child rights, peace building, reproductive health, and many other gender-related topics are facilitated by in-house trainers.

Child Development
KNWO runs a nursery program in the two Karenni refugee camps and inside the Karenni State. As of 2007, a total of 18 nursery schools have been established in both refugee camps that provide pre-school learning and supplementary feeding to at least 2,075 children. More than 150 project staff, school teachers, and community facilitators, mostly women, are involved in this project. Capacity building trainers deliver trainings on child care and development, and proper hygiene and nutrition to parents.

Vocational Development
Income-generating activities such as sewing, loom weaving, back strap weaving, and handicraft making are made available to women inside the camps. The organization acts as a marketing arm for the products in coordination with network organizations. Sales from these products which include ethnic bags, blouses, and blankets help support the family income of women weavers. In addition, traditional sarongs sewn by training participants are distributed for free to both men and women in the camp. KNWO also supports individuals or small groups in starting a home-based enterprise through a micro-credit facility. It regularly runs a skills training course on sewing and traditional loom weaving. 

Women and Children Protection
Under this component KNWO offers counselling, protection and para-legal support for women who are victims of domestic abuse and other forms of violence. Women rights education is done through trainings, house visits and distribution of information materials. Baby kits and hygiene materials are given for free to mothers. In coordination with NGOs, KNWO extends its services to women in the IDP areas through provision of hygiene kits and health education.

Research, Documentation and Advocacy
KNWO endeavours to collect information and investigate issues on human rights violations particularly that which relate to discrimination against women. It documents cases of women abuses and shares its reports to partner organizations. KNWO works with other community base groups and partner groups for stronger advocacy actions to support the cause of women.