KWO Evaluation

Country: Thai Burma border

Partner: Karen Women’s Organisation

Funding source: IWDA supporters and AusAID (ANCP)

Issue: This evaluation supports KWO and IWDA to better understand and assess the long-term impacts of the Karen Young Women’s Leadership School on graduates and their wider communities.

Outline: With the support of IWDA, KWO have been implementing the Karen Young Women’s Leadership School since 2001. Over the last nine years, 146 young women have graduated from the school with increased knowledge and skills to enable them to engage in community level leadership and decision-making.

Impact: The evaluation findings demonstrate that, at the individual and household level, the project has contributed to increased confidence and sense of empowerment for graduates; positive changes in gender relations evidenced by family and spouse relations, decision-making and family planning; increased access to resources and opportunities for graduates, such as further education, training or employment. At the community level, the project has encouraged increased participation, representation and acceptance in governance structures. As a result of the project overall, women have increased agency to influence decision-making and use their voice to highlight issues of concern to them and women in their communities.

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