The organization was founded in 1990, with the intent to empower indigenous women and support their needs and basic human rights. The organization has evolved over the years, especially in the context of the influx of refugees from Burma.

In 1994, WEAVE developed partnerships with refugee women’s organizations. This led to changes in our mission to reflect the organization’s new thrust and direction.

WEAVE’s projects attempt to address some of the problems faced by marginalized ethnic women and their children from Burma in the key areas of education, health,economic empowerment and self reliance.

Our work is multi-sectoral and we continue to create and expand opportunities for women and their communities. While each program has its own focal area, WEAVE has started to become more integrated in our approach, recognizing the interrelatedness of our programs while at the same time trying to remain relevant. Capacity development and advocacy are integral parts of all WEAVE’s programs.

WEAVE’s target communities are displaced persons, particularly women, recognizing their role in providing for their families and in ensuring the well-being of their children. Our work has expanded to include the India-China-Burma border, but mainly concentrates along the Thai-Burma border.

Vision

Women’s Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE) strives to create a world where empowered women and their children are free to exercise their rights and live peacefully in a just, humane and equitable society.

Mission

We are women and men of diverse ethnic and geographical backgrounds who are committed to gender equality. As individuals and as an organization, we are committed to working with marginalized women and children from Burma.

We believe that encouraging the leadership of women and the development of their status benefits the entire community.

We support the expansion of women’s power, rights and opportunities by sponsoring women’s organizations in our target communities.

We strengthen the efforts of these organizations as they teach women to become socially, economically and politically empowered and self-reliant, enabling them to participate fully in their communities and political life.

Goals

To provide education and training for displaced women and children from Burma and its bordering areas.

To foster the development of self-managing and self-sustaining women’s organizations and community based projects.

To raise the level of awareness of issues affecting displaced women and children from Burma and its bordering areas in partnership with women’s organizations.

Project Location

WEAVE have offices in Chiang Mai, Mae Sot and Mae Hong Son. Our projects are based in Karen and Karenni refugee camps along the Thai Burma border. We have recently extended our work to cover the Indo-Burmese border.

The red writing indicates the location of WEAVE’s offices, and the blue writing shows the refugee camps or migrant areas in which WEAVE works in. Please click on the map to the right for a larger version.