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India and Nepal 2022
I am working here in Myanmar as a development adviser with Akhaya Women, supporting them to build their organisation's capacity, as they grow in size and scope.
The organisation was founded in 2008 by Htar Htar, the Director, who is a well known figure in civil society circles in Myanmar. Akhaya has done some great work on protecting women from harassment and sexual violence.
They have run a large number of training groups to empower women and several campaigns to tackle very real issues, such as 'whistle for help on the bus' initiative. They also played a big role here in the worldwide campain to support women's rights called 'one billion voices rising'.
There are are a dozen staff at the office and it feels strange to be sitting at a desk again after working for the past 15 years independently. I am made to feel welcome and I am enjoying getting to know my 'colleagues'.
I am also learning about the ways in which pressure is being placed on the new government to protect women's rights in law, and to change attitudes within society.
Myanmar is still very much a cash based society, and today, I was allowed to photograph the wages being prepared for staff, as it's the last working day of the month. Staff, quite literally, are given their piles of money in a brown paper envelope!
The organisation was founded in 2008 by Htar Htar, the Director, who is a well known figure in civil society circles in Myanmar. Akhaya has done some great work on protecting women from harassment and sexual violence.
They have run a large number of training groups to empower women and several campaigns to tackle very real issues, such as 'whistle for help on the bus' initiative. They also played a big role here in the worldwide campain to support women's rights called 'one billion voices rising'.
There are are a dozen staff at the office and it feels strange to be sitting at a desk again after working for the past 15 years independently. I am made to feel welcome and I am enjoying getting to know my 'colleagues'.
I am also learning about the ways in which pressure is being placed on the new government to protect women's rights in law, and to change attitudes within society.
Myanmar is still very much a cash based society, and today, I was allowed to photograph the wages being prepared for staff, as it's the last working day of the month. Staff, quite literally, are given their piles of money in a brown paper envelope!
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