YANGON, A workshop for 25 young people from Kayin State took place today in Yangon, organised by the International Organization for Migration and Karen Baptist Convention. The workshop was part of a series of training workshops to empower ethnic youths as peace builders. A component of the workshop was to highlight challenges currently faced by young people and how the results of the census will address these.

Prior to the workshop, participants thought that the census was about counting the population in the country. Mr. Fredrick Okwayo, UNFPA Census Chief Technical Adviser, who works closely with the Department of Population – the principal government entity responsible for the 2014 census, emphasised that the primary objective of the census is to collect data to provide social, economic and demographic characteristics of people and households for the purpose of on-going reforms, development planning and good governance. 

Twenty four year old Saw Tun Wai said that ‘Information from the census will be useful in addressing education and health needs in our communities.’ 

Twenty-year-old Priscilla Naw had a very positive view of the census and hopes that it will result in more development projects in her community, including access to schools and clean water. 

Mr. Okawayo said that the benefits of these outreach activities is that communities understand the purpose of the census, as well as the value of the results and how they will be practically used. As Mr. Okwayo said ‘This is not about statistics, the census will help young people realise their dreams.’ 

The Census enumeration was undertaken from 30 March to 10 April 2014. The Ministry of Immigration and Population is implementing the whole census process with technical and financial support from UNFPA.