The International conference we organized.

It all started with an unexpected trip to Manila on 2014 January.
I was one of the youth volunteers from MMCWA(Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association). Before that time, I have decided myself that I won’t be volunteered again in MMCWA. Because I was really frustrated with the terms and works I have no passion. It’s all about SRHR.
But the office called me on one fine morning of January and asked whether can I go to Manila or not. I agreed that I will.
Because that time was with other youths.Therefore, that would be very enjoyable.
I didn’t know that the one I had to go was a conference and MMCWA will organize for next conference. So, I didn’t prepare anything.
Other youths are scholars from MMCWA. They had to submit assignments, essays and attend online training courses to go that conference.
I heard that IPPF organization will sponsor for me.They will reimburse all my airfares and accommodation fees at the conference.
So, the trip was begun.
When I reached to Manila, as I was not a scholar, I didn’t have to join scholar night and not getting any things scholars had.
I spent most of my time in the MMCWA booth. Anyway, I had learned a little bit about international conference and got many Filipino friends.
They are all expecting for 8th APCRSHR.

We were back in Myanmar and the meetings for the conference began. Secretariat office was not well-formed. I was part of youth committee but didn’t really know what my role was.
On August 2014, secretariat office was opened with programme manager and one programme officer. I was the first programme officer who worked in 8th APCRSHR secretariat office. My tasks were really hard to explain.
It all started with typing, sending and replying emails, preparing power points, arranging flights, collecting data to build the website, etc.
I was like coordinator in every task.
4 months working in secretariat office was the most difficult time for me.
I couldn’t even eat my lunch. I could not relax on weekends. The salary I got was not that high and It was not a happy environment for me.
I was afraid to make mistake. All the people I communicate were technical experts and senior consultant from respective fields.
Therefore, I had to be extremely careful with every single word I wrote.
That stress was enormous and I could not come over it. Actually, I didn’t have anyone to teach me how to handle that kind of office tasks. The reason I accepted the job was to gain experience and knowledge. Not for being scolded for mistaking spelling.
I could not show my real capability and talent. So, finally, I resigned from that work and rested for many months. Didn’t even involve in any of youth activities.
After a couple of weeks had passed, the office sent me an invitation letter to attend the meeting.
I didn’t have any idea to go there again.
But, one of my friends who is also a youth rep for 8th APCRSHR asked me to attend the meeting.
I think that time was during MMCWA 25th Anniversary. I was so pleased that they were still using my designs to print out t-shirt, and bags.
At the anniversary of MMCWA, they also called up youths from states and regions for capacity building. I knew that they could not be used for the conference but didn’t express my opinion anyhow ( lesson learned from past experience).
They told me to facilitate their youth capacity building training. Facilitating? I didn’t know even know what it is. It was just terminology.
I was not a real facilitator. But, as a good point, I saw that MMCWA wanted youths to lead youth conference. They were finding an able, smart person to do it. Youth steering committee was formed with another member before I involved again in YSC. But, they could not give their time and interest for many reasons. So, there was nothing youth did for the conference.
On July 2015, another capacity building training was held in Yangon. I saw many strange faces from many organizations.
It was more colorful than before. Some youths possessed talents to organize a conference. The one thing I wanted from them was their commitment.
Though they all came here to attend training, they didn’t really see their responsibility.
On the final day of training, they partially knew what they are called for here and gave training.
In August, youth international steering committee meeting was going to hold in Naypyitaw. My former programme manager called me to come office and asked me to choose appropriate candidates to form YSC. How could I choose it? What if my choice was biased?
I and my Fri, __ (chair of YSC) nominated candidates with their CVs to secretariat office to be able to send an invitation.
Some of them were not able to attend.
I will never forget the day before that meeting. 3 members from Philippines and Indonesia visited the office that day and requested our finished tasks. I was very em brassed that I didn’t have anything to show.I always told them, we need to reform YSC.
All the invited youths were already arriving at the hotel, I and my friend called up a casual meeting with 3 international youths and local youths at this evening.
The next day was a great shining day for us.
After the morning session which was influencing with arguments, blaming and tensions, youth steering committee was formed with 6 subcommittees.
The chair and co-chair had to be chosen at the meeting.
Mario and another one asked me whether can I take chair place or not.
I refused to do.
I said I only want to do what I can. Therefore, I nominated myself as chair of communication and media committee.
Another girl, her name is __who recently attends the meeting nominated herself as co-chair of YSC.
So, the chair and co-chair of YSC had to decide with a poll.
Ko phone won and took the chair place again with many votes.
I didn’t know who voted for me but I also got one vote.
She also won co-chair place.
But, there was still the limitation of a chair and co-chair seats in subcommittees.
Some people had to take more than one place like her.
She was co-chair of YSC and also co-chair of communication and media s/c.
Ko phone also took 2 places, chair of YSC and chair of the capacity building s/c.
At that night, the Chair and Co-Chair lady sat a meeting for tomorrow presentation in ISC.
Meanwhile, I was helping as the guide for 3 international youths to hang around Naypyitaw.
When I reached back to the hotel, 2 of my chair and co-chair were still working.
The feeling I had that time was totally different from yesterday. I knew that I had a team.
The team we had to walk together.
Keeping together is a beginning.
Although we had formed Youth Steering Committee with youths from different organizations, we still needed to filter out to be more efficient and strong.
Many youths came in and went out during 4 months of our working time.
I was amazed that most of them were really impressive, responsible as teammates.
The more youth members joined YSC in next meetings. Preparation time was very short. We only had 6 months before the conference.
We did all the tasks with priority.
Calling scholarship, screening, and announcement, all was done by youths.
The more we finished our tasks, the more trust we gained from adults.
Though we faced many challenges, uncertainty, and members instability during our preparation time, we finally found the way out together.
Each challenge and progress made us stronger and more confident.
I would never be worried about conference day.
More efficient people joined to our team, that was a remarkable improvement.
We fought each other, disagreement and misunderstanding were unavoidable while we really worked for something.
Sometimes, the value we had upon something is different.
After each meeting and battles, the bound we were tied together became stronger.
We successfully led a conference finally after sleepless nights, work, money and time.
The most satisfied feeling for me is “We can do it from nothing to the best after all.”
People from Asia Pacific and adults witnessed the power of local youths at the conference.

As I’ve always believed, we only needed understanding each other. We can do everything if we trust one another.

Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is a success.

Arthur ( 2 March 2016)