GOPA PACE is proud to announce the successful completion of its 2024 Social Project, "Support to Technology Solutions for Educational, Humanitarian, and Livelihood Needs of Myanmar Communities Displaced by Conflict" This six-month initiative, running from July to December 2024, was implemented along the Thai-Myanmar border in partnership with Adapt Peacebuilding, a British NGO active in Myanmar and Colombia.Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, over 3 million people have been displaced, many of whom are now sheltering in camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. These displaced individuals face significant challenges, including limited awareness of available services due to inadequate internet access. By providing crucial information and resources, the project sought to empower these communities, enabling them to connect with existing services and find solutions to their challenges.
The initiative aimed to provide internet and communication technologies to meet the educational, humanitarian, and livelihood needs of displaced Myanmar communities. Specific objectives included establishing Self-Organised Learning (SOLE) laboratories in the Mae Sot locality for six months, offering collective education services for school-aged children, and facilitating learning on humanitarian needs, access to services, and vocational training for adults. The project was expected to provide permanent access to these technologies for 1,000 community members, with 400 school-aged children engaged in self-organized learning and 100 individuals receiving direct mentoring from NGO staff on various topics.
Thanks to the effective management of Adapt Peacebuilding, the dedication of facilitators, and strong local support, the project exceeded its initial goals:
- Expansion of SOLE Labs: Initially planning for three SOLEs, the project successfully implemented six, reaching more than the initial 1,000 targeted beneficiaries.
- Educational Impact: Over 30 teachers received training, improving pedagogy in both formal and informal classrooms. The project also introduced technological and curriculum improvements in formal education.
- Refugee Classroom Support: A partnership with the Ministry of Education resulted in support for refugee classrooms, with an estimated 800 children benefiting from formal education.
- Access to Informal Education: 235 undocumented migrant children and 127 displaced children within Myanmar received informal education services.
- Vocational Training and Rights Protection: Economic migrants participated in specialized sessions to improve their skills and knowledge regarding their rights.
The project's success was largely due to the efficient combination of local knowledge and technical expertise. Having an NGO specializing in peacebuilding with trusted contacts on the ground proved essential in ensuring effective implementation, even with limited financial resources.
The initiative directly contributed to two Sustainable Development Goals:
- SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): By ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms (Target 16.10), as well as promoting inclusive and participatory decision-making (Target 16.7).
- SDG 4 (Quality Education): Through efforts to eliminate gender disparities in education, provide equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for vulnerable populations (Target 4.5), increase the number of qualified teachers (Target 4.a), and enhance vocational skills for financial success (Target 4.4).
GOPA PACE remains steadfast in its commitment to corporate social responsibility, continuously fostering innovative solutions to support vulnerable populations worldwide. This initiative embodies the company's mission to work with and for people and communities, bringing about positive and lasting change. Through our annual Social Project initiative, we invite staff to identify and propose impactful projects, combining company resources and employee contributions to drive meaningful progress for vulnerable communities.
Read more about the project implementation here.
Read more about our Social Project initiative here.
