Sponsored by UNFPA, through People in Need, Youth Initiative Human Rights (YIHR) in Beelin Township, Association Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (AFXB) in Mawlamyaing and Pauk Township and Ar Man Thit in Nyaung Dong Village, Mudon Township are 3 of thirty six organisations being supported in community capacity building in the use of Census data. AFXB, for example, is conducting 8 trainings in 4 townships in Mon State which will reach approximately 200 beneficiaries. UNFPA has been monitoring the impact of these community capacity building workshops across the country and a recent trip was made to 4 different locations in Mon State.
The UNFPA team heard from Ms. Zarni Myint, the Project Coordinator from YIHR, that the training had increased awareness about the benefits of the census data. Also she said this had allayed some of the concerns that people had, particularly in regard to the confidentially of the information that they had provided during census enumeration. In addition, the census toolkit, developed by UNFPA and the Department of Population (DoP), and containing 7 publications and a DVD, helped generate interaction and discussions with those attending the training about the Census data.
U San Maung, a farmer from Paung Township, commented that the booklet on frequently asked questions and answers about Myanmar’s Census reassured him about the Census. He added: “During the Census count, I just answered the questions asked by enumerators to be polite without really knowing anything about the Census. Now I feel positive that this information will help the government identify areas where they need to increase their efforts, particularly in health, education and developing public infrastructure”.
A youth leader, from a faith-based organisation in Mawlamyaing, said that he only understood after participating in the training how the information collected during the census could be used for the public’s benefit. He added: “I will tell all my young friends how we as youth can use this information for our country, since the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow”.
