Paung Ku provides both technical and financial support to KyWO as it works within Shan, Kachin, Kayah States and Naypyitaw Union Territory to enhance women\u2019s engagement in decision-making.<\/p>\n

This ongoing work has seen Paung Ku\u2019s gender and diversity advisor provide mentoring and support in use of PAR to a) explore Kayan women\u2019s experiences of community decision-making; b) reflect on those experiences; and c) make plans to generate positive change.<\/p>\n

As a result, Kayan women themselves have identified lack of experience and lack of confidence about speaking out in public as a major challenge.<\/p>\n

KyWO\u2019s volunteers are using PAR as a way to help themselves and others to build that experience and confidence. In September 2018, the advisor and other Paung Ku staff travelled to Pekon, Shan State to run a PAR workshop for 10 KyWO volunteers and two KyWO staff members. Between them, these women came from nine villages that are hard-to-reach, have limited or no infrastructure, are of low development standard, and are highly conservative. KyWO selected these villages in response to previous work carried out as part of this project on identifying inequity between Kayan communities (thereby contributing to Paung Ku\u2019s value of prioritizing marginalized communities.)<\/p>\n

The volunteers were aged between 18 and 34, were mainly single, had all expressed an interest in promoting equal opportunity for women but had no or very limited experience of participation in decision-making outside of the home.<\/p>\n

The purpose of the workshop was two-fold: to share lessons learned from an initial PAR discussion organised by KyWO volunteers in Hwari Khu village; and to help build participants\u2019 self-confidence by giving them the chance to practice speaking out in a group, asking questions, and leading group work.<\/p>\n