Organic farming
“Mo Po Mu Women’s Group is a women-lead livelihood project to create job opportunity and income for women in IDP camp by using local crops.”
Located along the Salween River, Ei Tu Hta IDP Camp has been an important refuge for Karen IDPs since its establishment in 2006. Unfortunately, life for the IDPs in here became more difficult after international support for this IDP camp stopped in 2017. Job opportunities for women were especially limited and IDPs expressed that they wanted to create jobs that could be done locally. One suggestion was to produce and sell banana chips, because bananas are plentiful in local gardens. So, in 2019, Mo Po Mu (Mommy’s Daughters) Women’s Group was formed with support and training from KESAN, in order to empower women and create jobs for women. KESAN also supports the women’s group with cultivating small organic gardens. This project encourages women’s participation and enables women to generate incomes through women-led livelihood projects with the use of natural resources. These initiatives aim to enhance women’s economic role in the household and in community decision making process.