skip to Main Content

Training Centre Handover Ceremony

The handing over ceremony of Naung Kham Training Centre was held at the centre itself in the PaO Self-Administered Zone in Southern Shan State on Thursday, 12 October 2017. Naung Kham centre, located in Naung Mon Village Tract, Hsi Hseng Township, was established in 2003 in partnership between Metta Development Foundation (Metta) and PaO National Organisation (PNO) to help ex-poppy farmers find alternative livelihood opportunities and to bring about development in the PaO region. Metta believes that training and education is essential for meaningful participation in the development process. The centre aims to improve the knowledge and skills of farmers and local people as well as the quality of their lives, thereby reinforcing their own development capacities.

Over the last fourteen years, the centre has been home to numerous cycles of training for farmers and people from various backgrounds from the area and all regions of Myanmar. In addition to hosting the trainings, the centre served as the multi-purposes venue for many events such as meetings, workshops, forums, symposiums and conferences. The Naung Kham training centre has become the place of learning and sharing centre for local farmers, development practitioners and social workers. The centre also is used for action research activities/work and has produced seeds with and for local farmers for agricultural sector development.

Metta and PNO have collaborated and co-managed the centre for fourteen years through providing training and education on agricultural development, community development and leadership promotion and opportunities for local PaO communities and beyond. As per Metta’s central value of self-reliance for local communities to develop their own resources and determine their futures, the training centre was formally turned over to the PNO at the ceremony for it to take charge and continue the mission.

Metta imparted to the PNO the training centre facilities and equipment with a historical value of over 240 million kyats. Metta envisage the centre will continue to be used for capacity building programme for farmers, people and young generation to serve the people of PaO region and people at large from all regions of Myanmar.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from both Metta and the PNO besides many invited distinguished guests that included Parliamentarians, community leaders, training alumni and civil society orgnisation leaders and community members from surrounding villages. Chairperson of the PaO Self-Administered Zone U Khun San Lwin and Metta’s Executive Director U Sai Sam Kham, Metta Board members, including founding director, Daw Lahpai Seng Raw and other senior staff members were present at the ceremony.

Metta family thanks each and every leader who has worked with us and helped us in many ways over fourteen years. Metta family wishes the best for the PNO in its endeavors to prevail greater development for all in and outside the PaO Self-Administered Zone. Metta always look forward to working with local communities and local authorities to the best of our ability.

Back To Top