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!