 | ISTR Sixth International Conference Toronto, Canada / July 11-14, 2004 Contesting Citizenship and Civil Society in a Divided World |
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| Abstracts |
Community Business Development Training as Tool for Civil Society Strengthening "A case of Southeast Asia and Myanmar"
by
Benjamas Siripatra
Local Development Institute, 693 Bamrung Muang Rd. Pomparb District Bangkok
Coauthors: U Myint Aung (Secretary General ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Myanmar MICT PARK Room 203/204, Mrin Bld, Hlaing Campus Tel 951-652291)
Background
The economic crisis of 1997 had devastating effects on the socio-economic situation of Southeast Asian countries, with its repercussions still being felt today. It is therefore urgent to revitalize the communities in the countries of the region through novel approaches and initiatives. The Local Development Institute (LDI) and its partners are aware of the obligation to contribute towards alleviating the negative effects of the economic crisis on poorer communities and are willing to organize a regional capacity building program for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.
This project used Community Business Development (CBD) as means for focusing on development and community strengthening. Networking among the five countries are used as the main strategy to link, to assist, and to broaden the worldviews of the people of the Southeast Asia region participating in community business development projects.
Program activities focuses on developing the institutional capacity of relevant organizations and project beneficiaries though training and management assistance. The project integrates, where possible, social promotion, mutual trust and the enhancement of self-esteem. Specifically, the project aims to achieve the following:
1. Provide job opportunities and opportunities for income-generating activity (IGA) in the pilot countries.
2. Institutionalize strengthening experiences
3. Mobilize savings and revolving funds for Income Generating Activity (IGA) among women
4. Enhance food security among the poor in order improve their quality of life.
Session Objectives
1. To present the strategic / the successfulness of a project entitle “Community Business Development training for the Southeast Asia” in phase 1 (1 January – 31 December 2002). How neighboring countries helping each other and work together equally and how the civil society was strengthening in Dictatorship environment.
2. To present how the effective principle / method were used as tool for Community Business Development Network linkage for the 5 countries in the project. (Community Plan, HRD for Change Agent, Teacher ‘s Volunteering in the Southeast Asia CBD Networking, etc.)
Session Out line: ( 20 minute )
1. Case presentation : power point for presenting 10 minute, by Mrs. Benjamas Siripatra, Director Local Development Institute
1.1 The view of the project :
- Background of the project
- International Workshop for 5 Southeast Asia countries in Thailand
- 5 National Workshop in each countries/results
- Technical Unit from Thailand provide assistance with the development of proposals/needs of each countries.
1.2 A presentation of a strategic Plan (10 minute) of the “Community Business Development Training for Southeast Asia and Myanmar Net working” by Mr U Myin Aung, Secretary General of Asean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Myanmar.
- A strategic plan of Myanmar; Community Business planning by all stakeholders
- HRD on Training of Trainer and Training change Agent
- Saving Group Mobilization on Revolving fund for CBD
- Local Learning Center for all stakeholder forum
- Research & Development
- National/International Networking of CBD for the Southeast Asia.
2. Discussion : (10 minute)
How civil society can be strengthened through CBD in the Southeast Asia and Myanmar. Discussion will base on socio-economic status, political standard and regal aspect in general, and the presented strategic plan
- Question / Answer and Comments
- Conclusion of the round table discussion “What was the best lessons learnt form the project activity”.
Conclusion
The economic crisis that hit Southeast Asia with strong effect of globalization has need for developing countries to work together more effectively to strengthen the society and the economic structure. For example, Thailand had more experience and had exercised its democracy for some time so that the experience can be replicate and exchanged in other country. To help each country to be a more open society and become good governance, the neighbor country or outsider can not simply go inside and change the people, but using Community Business Development to be tool for the change is more appropriate. The Project will not only yield results in helping to generate income for the poor, but also will enhance civil society strengthening and to be gate way to an open society in the targeted countries.
Date received: July 24, 2003
Copyright © 2003 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # call-04.