A Call to Action and Leadership for Myanmar Youth

The Shan Youth Safety Training to End Risky Migration (SYSTERM) was created as an expansion of DEPDC’s Mekong Youth Union (MYU).  SYSTERM is an extension of DEPDC’s core tenet: that education is the key to prevention.  Through educating our children in the Sub-Mekong Region we empower them with the agency to protect themselves from human trafficking.  The young adults we train return to their communities, establish initiatives, and share the knowledge they gained at DEPDC with their peers.  Every child reached through this ever-expanding network is better prepared to combat the issues they face.  This is how DEPDC, a small community-based organization, makes a large difference in the surrounding areas.  It has been over a year since the graduation of our first class, and our graduates have continued to implement projects in their communities.  

Since our last update in July, we are glad to confirm that the projects from our SYSTERM graduates are still running smoothly.  Students and youths continue to attend the schools, trainings, and activities led in their respective communities by our alumni.  Enrollment has continued to expand and the schools are welcoming more new students with every passing semester.  We are also proud to congratulate two of our alumni who will begin the baccalaureate studies.  Their commitment to education is a bright example to our younger students.  

We continue in our mission to expand the project, reaching more children throughout the region.  With your generous support we can train another group of youths to continue eliminating the risk of human-trafficking in our communities.  Please continue to provide your much appreciated support and don’t forget to spread the word about SYSTERM by following, liking, and sharing our updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

DEPDC’s mission is founded on the principle that education is key to prevention.  We can save the children of the Sub-Mekong Region from falling victim to human trafficking by edifying and empowering them.  We are a small organization, but with grassroots initiatives and youth leaders we can make a big difference.  The Shan Youth Safety Training to End Risky Migration (SYSTERM) was created as an expansion of DEPDC’s Mekong Youth Union (MYU) with this goal in mind.  DEPDC invited over 50 youths from across the Greater Sub-Mekong Region to participate in a 7 month intensive training program.  After graduation, our SYSTERM students returned to their communities to share the knowledge and develop their own projects. 

In July it will be a year since DEPDC graduated its first group of SYSTERM students.  As we approach this “important” anniversary, we would like to take a look at the successes and accomplishments of our graduates. 

In May DEPDC staff members traveled to the Shan State in Myanmar to conduct a follow up assessment on the projects implemented by our SYSTERM graduates.  All of our students returned to their respective homes and host organizations where they shared their knowledge and experiences.  They have continued to hold classes and seminars within local schools and temples.  Some have returned to their local schools to work as teachers, education the next generation on anti-trafficking initiatives.  Other SYSTERM graduates have founded their own schools to continue to inspire the youth through education.  SYSTERM students have collaborated with MYU alumni to implement their own grassroots initiatives.  The communities have shown an overwhelming amount of support and the SYSTERM graduates and express their desire to continue to help the at-risk youth in their communities. 

At DEPDC we could not be more proud of the efforts and growth of our SYSTERM graduates.  We are looking to expand the project, reaching more children throughout the region.  With your generous support for our mission we can train another group of youths to continue eliminating the risk of human-trafficking in our communities.  Please continue to provide your much appreciated support and don’t forget to spread the word about SYSTERM by following, liking, and sharing our updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn!