Centre for Chin Women Organization (CCWO)
- About the CCWO
- The Centre for Chin Women Organization (CCWO) is a self-help group of Chin refugee women who had to flee from Western Burma. Reasons for this exodus of over hundred of thousand persons mostly to or via India comprise human rights violations, discriminatory practices of the Burmese military junta, pressure to cultural and religious assimilation, and, in particular since the outbreak of the famine, economic hardship. The CCWO has already in the past years established a network of women assisting each other. One way of doing this is to organize gainful home work for Chin refugee women and to provide the infrastructure to sell the products. The organization can therefore prioritize their help for refugees who are handicapped or sick or who have to take care of little children and who hence cannot leave their homes to find other work. The CCWO also provides consultancy during its tours between the women.
- While there's always many women who have skills and need to join this program, the CCWO lacks of access to a market where they can sell their products. Occasionally they send them directly to NGOs in Australia where they are retailed.
- The typical price of a bag offered through the CCWO is 300 Rs. From this amount, about 100 Rs. is spent for fabric and thread, further costs may occur for extras like zips. 50 Rs. is spent for the CCWO logistics. The rest of the revenue goes directly to the individual weaver and the seamstress. One refugee can produce about 1 to 2 bags per week. The transport to Europe is arranged in batches and has to respect the customs regulations. For every piece, about 100 CZK has to be added for packing and transport.
- Expenses of Refugees in Delhi
- You can get an idea of the expenses in Delhi for refugees from the following figures (in 2009):
- Food: The amount of 100 Rs. is sufficient to buy about 5 kg of rice. The price of rice in Delhi has increased by 25% during the past 2 years.
- Rent: A group of 2-3 refugees usually occupies one room, which may cost approximately 1500 Rs. per month.
- Transportation: Refugees who want to visit the office of UNHCR for their application for the refugee status or a see a doctor spend a minimum of Rs. 200 for transportation, which decreases if more persons use one vehicle. Further expenses have to be considered if refugees have to pay for medical examination and medicine.
- Targeted Help
- All initial investment costs and administration are paid within the project of Burma Center Prague with its partner organization Burma Centre Delhi. Therefore, the total of the revenue achieved in Europe can be sent back to the manufacturers as reinvestment into further production, for activities to help Burmese refugees in India and for relief work in the famine of Chin Land, the home of most of these refugees.
- The project is by virtue of the grant scheme not allowed to make any profit. All revenue has to be directed back into project activities. Compliance with the rules is ensured by a the project implementor's Supervisory Board and monitored by Czech authorities and donors. Activities in India are implemented by the Burma Centre Delhi and monitored by the embassy, as agent of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is the project's main donor. The project is nonprofit and public benefit in accordance with EU legislation.
- Further Sources of Information
-
If you are interested in further information about Chin in exile, we recommend the following sources:
- "We Are Like Forgotten People" - report about Chin in Northeast India, by Human Rights Watch
- "Waiting on the Margins" - report about Chin in Delhi by CHRO, 2009 (PDF)
- "On the Edge of Survival: Conditions and Consequences of the Food Crisis in Chin State, Burma" - report about the famine by CHRO, 2009 (PDF)
- "Critical Point: Food Scarcity and Hunger" - report about the famine by CHRO, 2008 (PDF)
- Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
- Chinland Guardian
- Chin in the Czech Republic
- A considerable number of Chin refugees managed to be resettled to regions like Northamerica and many places of the European Union, among them the Czech Republic. Since the Czech Republic joined the UNHCR resettlement program in 2008, the Burma Center Prague is actively involved by providing services for the refugees and seeking to ensure the refugees' wellbeing.
Go back to the previous page.
