Chin youth groups to promote community development

11 November 2013: Chin youth groups have made concerted efforts in finding ways in which better network and collaboration can be forged to help improve communities.  

More than 70 leaders and representatives of different youth groups from Rangoon, Mandalay, Kalaymyo and nine townships of Chin State met at the Chin Youth Forum (CYF) event in Hakha, exchanging ideas and discussing challenges facing young people.

In an attempt to foster better communication and cooperation among Chin youth scattered in various parts of the country, the discussion agreed to create a new body called ‘Chin Youth Network’.

Last week, it came to a conclusion with a decision to work together on eleven main issues including education, health, employment, technology, sports and drug.

In its recent meeting with officials from the Chin State government according to media reports, CYF raised issues concerning an increasing consumption and addiction of drug and alcohol among Chin young people.

They called for putting an end to cultivating opium poppies and trading heroin, drug as well as stimulant tablets in northern Chin State and parts of Sagaing Region on the Indo-Burma border.

Anthony Kap Khan Khual, of the Zomi Congress for Democracy (ZCD), said in the Myanmar Times that the party had sent to President Thein Sein cases regarding production and smuggling of heroin and that the plantation continued as no action had been taken by the government.

According to the Chinland Post, 49 Chin delegates representing university students and youth groups from different townships, tribes and organizations would participate in the Chin National Conference scheduled to commence tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Chin Youth Organization (CYO) in USA is to hold a seminar on ‘Youth and Health’ in Indianapolis on 16 November, with key speaker Dr. Hmuh Thang, a retired township health officer from Thantlang.

In Falam, a youth conference is planned to take place under the leadership of the Global Falam Youth Organization (GFYO) at the Chin Christian Institute of Theology from 29 Dcember 2013 to 2 January 2014. #