Southeast Asia

PROBLEM STATEMENT

One of the creative access countries we work in is divided into seven states and divisions.  There are 142 different ethnic tribes, and just like other places with much diversity, there is also considerable disunity and competition.  This country is 89% Buddhist and is considered to have the purest form of Buddhism in the world.  People with other religious beliefs, such as Christians and Muslims, face religious persecution and it is difficult for these minorities to join the army or get government jobs, which are the main routes to success in the country.

It is reported that there is up to 70% underemployment in the country.  The business climate is widely perceived as opaque, corrupt, and highly inefficient.  The corruption watchdog organization Transparency International has ranked it as one of the top five corrupt countries in the world for the last several years.  Economic opportunities in manufacturing, tourism and services are often frustrated by the pervasive corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and unpredictable trade policies.  Highways are normally unpaved, except in major cities.  Railroads are more than a century old with few repairs.  Energy shortages are common throughout the country.  Skyrocketing inflation in the last several years has also significantly impeded economic growth.  Between 2008 and 2009, for example, consumer prices rose 6.5%. The estimated inflation rate for 2010 is 10%.

A lack of access to good education in this place also perpetuates its poor economy.  Less than 2% of the national budget is spent on education.  Government school teachers are therefore underpaid and unmotivated to teach adequately during school hours.  Instead, they are hired to tutor students for extra income after school.  In 2008, it was reported that only 29.63% of students who went to high school examinations passed.  Teaching also relies heavily on rote memorization here, to the point that Burmese businessmen complain that even university graduates do not have adequate application of knowledge and have to be trained in basic concepts.

There are over 48 million people in the country, and 33% of the population lives in urban areas.  Underprivileged students, particularly in these urban areas, do not have the same opportunities as those who are already at a higher economic standing.  Many are lured overseas with promises of high paying jobs, but actually then become victims of human trafficking and other human rights abuses.  World Vision unofficially reports that over 10,000 people get trafficked out of the country this way every year.

About 30% of the total population is between ages 10 to 24, more than 15 million people.  And though the churches generally include ministry to youth, most youth leaders have never received any type of training.  There are also only a limited number of resources written in their own language.  There have been some recently being produced, but there is only one known book translated into Burmese.  Some Bible colleges have also started to offer youth ministry courses, but it is still a very new development.

SCOPE OF PROJECT: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

YouthHOPE exists to transform the lives of global youth, and in order to do so, YouthHOPE partners with local churches around the world to minister to youth, attempting to meet their holistic needs.  This may include spiritual, physical, social, emotional, economic, and educational areas and looks different in each location due to the specific needs and assets in each country.  Ultimately, our goal is to lead the youth in this country to find both spiritual and physical wholeness through Christ and to bring Christ to the whole nation.  We seek to address the needs of youth through establishing national youth conferences, training youth workers, building strong cooperative networks, and actively pursuing ways to improve the job market for youth, which is their greatest perceived need.

To this end, one of our objectives is to empower nationals with training and tools to establish a self-sustaining national youth conference on effective conferencing in four years.  Conferences raise awareness, encourage unity, strengthen networks, promote healthy youth ministry, and train youth workers.  It is our aim to increase recognition of youth ministry as a vital of part of the church by raising awareness of the needs and assets of youth.  We have been mobilizing and engaging churches to participate and invest in youth events.  We have also been networking churches with one another and with schools and businesses.  We cover topics such as planning, scheduling, budgeting, youth culture trends and creating themes of events in order to enhance already existing camps and conferences, as well as create ones throughout the country.

The other objective is to offer practical education in entrepreneurship and business skills to underprivileged youth ages 18 to 30 in the urban area of the capital city.  Students will attend a 20-week school that will equip them with skills to join an existing company or start their own small business. The ultimate long-term impact of good teaching and training is that the income and levels of employment of graduates would increase.  We anticipate decreasing economic disparity and failure over time, as good business practices are implemented and reproduced.  Flourishing entrepreneurial businesses run by previously-underprivileged youth would be an example to local government officials and larger corporations.  We can expect the church to be empowered to serve as a resource, a way to recruit and select students, give insight into the needs in the community, revealing the job market and business opportunities.  Eventually, as graduates succeed, they can also give back financially toward the school, offer workshops and other opportunities within their communities, and help to develop other micro-enterprises within their neighborhoods and even in farther places.