The Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)was the first wholly Karen indigenous organization to address social and environmental problems that the people of Kawthoolei have faced over many decades. KESAN was founded on November 18th, 2001 by Paul Sein Twa and members of the Karen Nature Conservation Group (KNCG) that had been formed by a group of motivated young Karen students and teachers on the Thai-Burma border.
Vision
Empowered communities, securing the peace, and protecting environment, lands and livelihoods
Mission
To strengthen Karen communities’ ability to maintain sustainable livelihoods and ways of life, while protecting Kawthoolei’s wildlife and biodiversity
Objectives
- To assist in securing access to lands, water, forests, and the agricultural bio-diversity that is the basis of Karen peoples’ lives
- To support improved livelihood capabilities and resilience for displaced local communities
- To strengthen and inform civil society networks that advocate for good environmental governance
- To advocate for local, state and national policies and practices that safeguard the environment and the rights of local people while protecting against unsustainable and harmful development
KESAN is a community-based, non-governmental, non-profit organization that works to improve livelihood security and to gain respect for indigenous people’s knowledge and rights in Karen State of Burma, where the violence and inequities of more than 75 years of civil war have created one of the most impoverished regions in the world. KESAN’s approach is based on the principles of democratization-from-below and “Free, Prior and Informed Consent” to support the development of sustainable rural livelihoods.
More about us
The 20th Anniversary: A Pathway to Social and Environmental Justice
A photo essay book which details the history of KESAN, our achievements, and lessons learned during the last 20 years