Wide
Horizons Community Development Program
Repairing the
Girl’s Bathroom for Security and Privacy
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Organizers:
Wide Horizons students 2015-16
Than Maung, Lyah Wondi Chan, Wah Khu Paw, Zoaw Htaw, Jalorn and
Edward
Phone
number: 0979481090
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School
name: Wide Horizons
Contact
person: Mr Htoo Mai
Phone:
0856058382
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Contents
Wide
Horizons School has been established since 2006 in Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand with
a mission to promote and build the capacity of young adults from Burma to work
effectively in civil society organizations. There are 24 students, 3 teachers,
2 coordinators and 1 program manager.
In
Wide Horizons School, female students (2015-2016) are struggling with their
bathroom because the walls are not fully covered. When they are taking shower,
people from the neighboring houses walk past their bathroom and peep on them.
Consequently, the female students face mental stress, they feel shy and afraid.
Therefore,
we are proposing to repair and cover the girl’s bathroom walls fully for female
students in order to feel safe when they are taking shower at Wide Horizons School
in February, 2016.
By
repairing and covering this bathroom, they will feel safe and can clean their
body thoroughly when they take shower. Also, it will prevent men from peeping
on them. Additionally, this project can reduce their health problems and they
can study comfortably.
Therefore,
this proposal is seeking 1560 baht to buy material for repairing and covering
girl bathroom in February, 2016.
Wide
Horizons was founded in 2006 by the Burmese Migrant Worker’s Education
Committee and World Education in Mae Sot, Thailand. Our mission is to build the capacity of young adults from Burma to work
effectively in civil society organizations. We are supported by World Education
and United State Agency for International Development. Furthermore, Wide
Horizons got certification from Thai Ministry of Education in Mae Sot.
Organization structure
Our team of 6 full-time staffs
comprises 2 coordinators, 3 teachers and 1 program manager. We also collaborate
with over 11 partners such as Room to Grow Foundation and Khom Loy Development
Foundation.
Programs
The
academic component of Wide Horizons focuses on three core topic areas. They are
English Language, Community Development, and Computer Skills. Community
Development class emphasizes on introducing concrete project management skills
relating to the project cycle. However, we, students conduct four group for
four projects in different communities.
Impact
Since
2006 until to 2014, Wide Horizons has done many projects in different
communities. For example, in 2014, former students built a fence at Elpis
Boarding house. Student who have
graduated from Wide Horizons are in higher position in their own CBOs
organization such as Ko Lynn who is the program manager of Khom Loy Foundation.
Sandar Lwin who got a Master’s degree in Education from Assumption University
is now working as the Program Officer for the Exam Preparation Outreach Program
(EPOP). In 2014, UNESCO awarded an Honorable Commendation to Wide Horizons
Community Development Program.
Our project organizer
We
are Wide Horizons students from different organization and work together in
this team as project organizers.
Than
Maung (Karenni Community College) (KnCC)
Zoaw
Htaw (Mon Youth Progressive Organization) (MYPO)
Edward
(Pu Taw Memorial Junior College) (PTMJC)
Lyah
Wondi Chan or War (Mon Women Organization) (MWO)
Jalorn
(Such Kha Hong Sar School) (SKHS)
Wah
Khu Paw (The Border Consortium) (TBC)
Wide
Horizons School was established in 2006. It is located in Mae Sot, Tak,
Thailand and the school was founded by the Burmese Migrant Worker’s Education
Committee and World Education. Wide Horizons provides advance English,
Computer and Community Development skills with leadership, management training
and also critical thinking skills for young adult leaders who are from refugee
camps, migrant communities and also inside Myanmar who work with community
based organizations.
Every
year, Wide Horizons School selects 24 students (12 male, 12 female). During the academic year,
students live and study together
inside the school compound, cook, clean, relax, sleep, shower and play. English is spoken 24 hours. Surrounding the school compound are many neighbors who
will often walk through the school to get to and out of their homes.
Students
also have exchange with others post-ten program. After the academic year,
students have to serve in their mother organization at least a year. Wide
Horizons School is currently managed by Mr. Htoo Mai, the school Program Manager. Currently, Wide Horizons
School, there has a
classroom and two dormitories
for female and male students. Other facilities include a library, computer, playground, girl and boy’s bathroom, kitchen and toilets. For transportation, students get around using the school’s
truck and bicycles.
Wide
Horizons School is mainly sponsored by the USAID in cooperation with World
Education. However, the
last of this funding came to an end in July 2015 and today, WH is sponsored by
a network of donors. These donors include: Thai Children’s Trust, Global Neighbors Canada Inc., and Room
to Grow Foundation. Unfortunately, these
donors do not fund on
infrastructure projects anymore.
The reason is the Burmese political situation is better than before so they
think that refugees and migrants’ people may return to Burma soon. Therefore, some
donors are moving to Burma and they are no longer focus in Mae Sot. However,
the reality is that many refugees and migrants find it difficult to go back to
their home because they do not have their land to live in anymore.
Therefore, most refugees and migrants will continue to stay along the
Thai-Burma border. Since funding support is becoming less than before,
students and teachers have started fundraising activities over the last few years by selling
raffle tickets, arranging fundraising parties and organizing online fundraising
campaigns.
Over
200 students have joined Wide Horizons since it was established. Many Wide Horizons ex-students are
today working in higher positions in community based organizations along the
border, while others have returned to Burma to start up new organizations in
their ethnic states or are pursuing further studies abroad.
A girl’s modesty, privacy, health and safety
are important for female students in Wide Horizons to study comfortably.
However, in Wide Horizons School, the biggest problem faced by female students
is that the girl’s bathroom walls are not fully covered. Some parts are only
partially covered while other parts are not covered at all. Additionally, the
zinc has many holes. Therefore, female students face lack of safety and privacy
when they are taking a shower and this affects their health, social life and
education. To solve these problems, we will repair and cover the girl’s
bathroom walls fully and higher. The bathroom’s size is 15’ x 9’ x 7’. All 12 female students have to use their bathroom every day as they live
in the school dorm.
One of the problems is part of the walls that
are covered with zinc do not go all the way down to the floor. There is a 3
feet gap from the floor near the place where all students wash dishes.
Therefore, when students squat to wash dishes, they are able to see girls who
are also squatting to take a shower (Picture 1)
Secondly, the length of wall facing the
neighbor’s house is 9 feet, but just 4 feet is covered with zinc. The remaining
5 feet is the entrance into the bathroom but there is no door. According to the
coordinator, Myo Htun and former student, Mi Chan Lawi, they said that the
bathroom was built by former students in 2014. At that time, they covered the
bathroom by using plastic around the whole room. Later, it broke. After they finished the first trimester, they
rebuilt that bathroom with zinc but just using a simple design and they did not
fully cover the bathroom.
After years later, the bathroom’s poles are getting
decomposed (Picture 2). It was not repaired for many years and used by low
quality of wood. When it was touched by water for many years it cannot stand
strongly anymore. If it is not replace with other good quality of wood it will
be broken and the roof will collapse. What if girls are taking a bath on that
time it is too dangerous for them. It can kill them.
They were unable to build the wall fully
because they did not get financial support from any donor. Although it was not
fully covered, former students did not encounter any problems, therefore it was
left that way for students this year.
Unfortunately this year, there is lack of
safe, private and hygienic for female students in Wide Horizons who are taking
a bath because the bathroom walls are not fully covered. According to our
interview, all 12 female students said, when they are taking shower, a man from
the neighboring house would walk past their bathroom to pick up pig feed but
will linger around and look at them showering (Picture 3). This has caused a
lot of mental stress on female students as they feel shy and afraid. As a
result, many girls have to take bath wearing a longyi and this makes it
difficult for girls to clean their body thoroughly. This fear has also caused
some female students bath at night instead of in the evening. According to a
group discussion with all 12 female students, taking shower at night time is
more comfortable than day time because they do not need to worry about their
neighbor peeping on them. One female student, Mu Ku, said she has chest
congestion problems and if she shower late at night, it causes breathing
difficulties. Some students also reported suffering from runny nose and cough
as a result of taking shower late at night.
That is why, we are going to repair and cover
the girl’s bathroom walls fully. The cost to repair will be low as we don’t
need to hire workers. Some of students have basic construction skills, but we
need support to buy materials such as woods, zincs, nails and
saw.
After, we repair and cover the walls fully
female students will feel safe and no more men can peep on them. When they are
not mentally stressed, they can take bath freely. If the walls are damaged,
students can repair themselves.
Picture
1: It is easy to see from washing
place and
reflect from floor
Picture3: Neighbors peep on
girl’s taking a bath
To provide a safe, private
and hygienic bathroom for 12 female students in Wide Horizons School.
Repair and cover the
girl’s bathroom walls fully for 12 female students in order to feel safe when
they are taking shower at Wide Horizons School in February, 2016.
.
Wide Horizons female
students will feel safe when they take a bath because the wall is fully covered
and no more men can peep on them. Moreover, they can clean their body
thoroughly because they have more privacy. Furthermore, they will not be
mentally stressed and they will be able to study comfortably.
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Objective
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Repair
and cover the girl’s bathroom walls fully for 12 female students in order to
feel safe when they are taking shower at Wide Horizons school in February,
2016.
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Indicator
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1.
Percentage of wall completion
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2.
Number of female students feel safe when taking a bath
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Means of
verification
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Small
group discussion, Survey and Questionnaire
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No
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Activity
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Timeframe
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Person
Responsible
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Resources
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1
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Measure
the girl bathroom’s size and shape
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Oct 12-14 2015
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Edward, Zoaw Htaw
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Pen, Pencil, Ruler, Notebook
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2
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Check
which materials can be recycle
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Oct 12-14 2015
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War, Than Maung
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Pen, Notebook
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3
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Make
appointment for students meeting
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Oct 15 2015
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Jalorn
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Computer, Notice board
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4
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Organize
a meeting with students to discuss our project and identify who might be
interested to participate
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Oct 17 2015
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Wah Ku Paw, Edward
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Notebook, Pen
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5
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Contact
an engineer to get suggestion for building materials
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Oct 18 2015
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Jalorn
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Phone Credit
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6
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Make
list of materials that we need
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Oct 19-21 2015
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Zoaw Htaw, War
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Notebook, Pen
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7
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Make
appointment for transportation to survey materials prices
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Oct 22 2015
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Wah Ku Paw
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Computer, Phone Credit
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8
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Survey
materials prices
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Oct 26 2015
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All
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Notebook, Camera, Pen
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9
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Make
appointment with an engineer for further information
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Oct 27 2015
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Jalorn
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Phone Credit
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10
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Meeting
an engineer to discuss more suitable materials prices
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Oct 30 2015
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All
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Notebook, Pen
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11
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Write
proposal
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Oct 31 -
Nov 2 2015
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Than Maung, Wah Ku Paw
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Computer, Paper
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12
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Submit
our proposal to WH program
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Nov 3 2015
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War
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Computer
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13
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Announce
our working plan to every student by mail
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Nov 7 - 13 2015
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Edward
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Computer
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14
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Buy
building materials
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Nov 7 - 13 2015
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All
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Truck
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15
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Contact
our partners and staff members to participate with us
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Feb 1 - 3 2016
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Zoaw Htaw, Edward
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Computer, Phone Credit
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16
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Demolish
old bathroom and arrange the materials that we can reuse
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Feb 1 - 5 2016
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All
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Building tools, materials
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17
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Repair
and cover the girl’s bathroom
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Feb 8 - 13 2016
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All
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Building tools, materials
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18
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Evaluation
day
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Feb 26 - 27 2016
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All
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Computer, paper, pen
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19
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Write
report
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Feb 29 - Mar 2 2016
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Jalorn, Wah Ku Paw
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Computer, Paper
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20
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Send
report to WH program manager
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Mar 4 - 5 2016
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Jalorn
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Computer
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After
we finished the project, Wide Horizons School will get a fully covered bathroom
wall with a new door. For wall, we will replace with 6 tins sheets (one sheet
6’ x 4’) to cover gaps and holes. The
left side of the bathroom, needs 2 tins sheets to get it fully covered. In
addition, in the front size needs 4 tin roofs to cover and the left size is
only needs one tin roof and a showering curtain. The showering curtain measuring
6’ x 4’, will be used as a door. For the
structure of the girl’s bathroom, 2 poles which is 7’ long needs to be replaced.
The
people who will benefit the most from this project are 12 female Wide Horizons
students from the 2015/16 academic year between the age of 20 – 28 years old
and 36 future female Wide Horizons students who come from different locations
inside of Burma, migrant area and refugee camp.
Female students will feel safe, and they can
clean their body thoroughly while they are taking a bath. From this project, 6
organizers will know basic construction skill, management skill and how to
write proposal. On the other hand, not only 6 organizers but also 24 Wide
Horizons students will get basic construction skill. This project can reduce 12
female students and upcoming students’ health problems and no more men can peep
on them.
In
our project, 24 students and 2 staffs were involved throughout the planning of
the bathroom project such as collecting
information, needs assessment, goals and objectives, planning, implementation,
and monitoring and evaluation. To collect information about the school’s
background and community problems, we interviewed and had a group discussion
with all students and staffs. As a result, we identified the top 5 important
problems facing the community and the girl’s bathroom was voted as the first
priority problem that needs to be addressed. We
will use the student’s construction skills. This project will
maintain and continue because when we are implementing, the Coordinator will also
be involved so he
can manage with upcoming students if they need to repair. To know our project
has successfully met its objective, after three weeks later, we are going to
conduct a small group discussion and interview with current female students.
