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Jan 2005
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| The Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) JAPAN |
(by NyuntTin, Emily)
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 TThe
Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) JAPAN, is an International
NPO (Non-Profit Organization) which gives assistance
purely on humanitarian grounds without any political,
religious, or ideological affiliations. AAR was founded
in November 1979 as the first Japanese private relief
organization for refugees. President is Ms. Yukika Sohma,
daughter of a famous politician Mr. Yukio Ozaki. AAR
Japan openes other Centres in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos,
Afghanistan, Angola, Zambia and Tajikistan. AAR vocational
training centre (Myanmar) started operation in March
2000.
The main objects for AAR Japan are:
1. Support the Social, economic and mental independence
of persons with disabilities in countries or regions
where social services are inadequate.
2. Advocate equal rights for persons with disabilities
in cooperation with local and international communities.
3. Respect the decision-making of persons with disabilities
and promote their self-help activities.
 The
Centre provides two training courses, (1) Hairstyling
and (2) Tailoring for Persons with Disabilities. In
each course, instructors provide trainees with practical
exercised along with lectures and business skills. The
period of each training courses is 3 _ months and 3
semesters are being organized per a year. Capacity is
30 trainees for one semester; 15 trainees for each class.
The total number of graduate as of December 2004 is
370; tailoring 186 and Hair-styling 184. The utilization
rate for tailoring is 67% and hairstyling is 62%.
The Centre collects the trainees from all over the country
through Newspaper, Department of Social Welfare, Rehabilitation
for the Disabled Section, friends, AAR graduates and
other sources. The causes of Disability are Polio, Land
Mine, Accident, Congenital and others. Applicants must
be disability and/or hearing impairment and age between
17 to 40 years old. Also they have strong willingness
to acquire professional skills and have interest in
using said skills for their working life. And able to
read and write Myanmar and able to follow the instructions
of teachers. The Centre has 2 teachers with 4 assistants
and also volunteers Japanese Hair Stylist Mr. Sakuma.
Mr. Sakuma comes once a week to teach the trainees.
The AAR Japan provide Meals, Boarding, Transportation
Expenses (between their states/divisions or townships
and AAR Centre), library, technical training and training
materials. Also extra curriculum as Japanese, English
speaking and computer class, Morning-Talk on every weekdays,
Student meeting on Thursday, Excursion trips, Practices
at class, dorm and outdoor hair-cutting. Then open the
Model-Shop to brush up their skills.
Success of graduates (Hair styling)
Thiri (2nd Semester, 2004)
Thiri, 21 years old, who live in Min Chaung Ye of Magway
Township, is the eldest daughter of U Win Bo and Daw
May New Ni; she has only one younger sister. She became
a polio victim when she was four years old. After she
got a serious illness, all parts of her lower body could
not move and became weak. Until now, she is using the
wheel chair for go around the place.
 Her
father opens lime powder selling and buying center jointly
with Karaoke shop. Her mother is a school teacher. Because
of her disability, she passed only 4th standard. But
her education status is high because of her mother and
has chances to learn together with her younger sister
at home tuition.
She has happened the events of don’t dare to public
for her relationship. Before she joined AAR, she thought
that her life is as like as a night, full of darkness.
During the training period, she tried hard to learn.
After excursion trip of AAR, she emulates the other
graduates and appears strong willing to try hard because
some are opening a shop with small amount of capital
and trying hard to get income though they are disabled
persons. While she was attending the training, she gradually
has self-reliance for small things, could do without
the help of others. She has done whatever she can do,
is the one change for her life, she has self-confidence.
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