If the future belongs to our youth, why don’t they have a greater say in what it looks like?  

While student and youth organizing are major drivers of social change across generations and continents, political and social power structures rarely prioritize their expertise. Grassroots leaders from Burma are looking to change that.  

Our partner US Campaign for Burma co-organized the 2nd Karen-American Civic Education and Advocacy Trip with the Karen Organization of America and California Karen Youth Connection. As part of The National Youth Advocacy Program (NYAP), the initiative aimed “to empower youth and community leaders to engage actively in civic life and shape policy decisions.” 

Unlike many youth justice education initiatives, the program wasn’t designed by older adults for young organizers. Instead, it was a collaborative process. The trip was truly co-created to center the expertise of young adults ages 18-30.  

Karen people are an indigenous ethnic group in Burma. Burma is home to over 100 distinct ethnic groups. The eight major categories recognized by the State are the Bamar, Karen, Rakhine, Shan, Mon, Chin, Kachin, and Karenni. The Bamar (or Burman) are the majority population. Some groups like Rohingyas are excluded by the State and deemed not indigenous to the land.

Thirty-five young people gathered to strategize on Burma advocacy. Some participants attended a six-month leadership training hosted by event organizers prior to the convening, ensuring their preparation for the event. Attendees had been personally impacted by state-funded violence in Burma, as well as U.S. aid retraction and xenophobic immigration laws.  

Guest speakers shared their experiences working in advocacy or with Burma communities. We heard from Mark Vachirawit-Swae, a Karen youth who grew up in Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand and is now a staff assistant for Rep. Jim Baird (IN)’s office and Hilary Aviles from Refugee Congress. Vachirawit-Swae coached attendees on their advocacy speeches, providing valuable feedback on how to best approach elected officials. 

Eh Nay Thaw, one of the organizers from the Karen Organization of America, led a visit to the Holocaust Museum. At the end of the tour, Nurul Haque Ravvi, President of the Bangladesh Rohingya Student Union, shared his family’s experiences, surviving genocide at home and fleeing to Bangladesh and the U.S. It was a devasting yet powerful moment to have just read about Holocaust and then hear his lived experience. The lead organizer discussed the parallels between global state-led oppressions in the past and present. This experience centered us participants before our congressional advocacy day.  

The following day, youths separated into different groups to visit elected officials and their staffers. They aimed to accomplish four goals:  

          The groups completed approximately 20 legislative visits. As the humanitarian crisis perpetuated by the junta and worsened by US aid cuts escalates daily, it is urgent for offices to understand the situation on the ground. This reinforces the urgency of our advocacy work. 

          One of the most memorable visits was with the office of MA Rep. Katherine Clark. A youth from Utica, NY spoke on the state of Burma now, specifically about the ongoing air strikes, and teared up as she described the impact on her relatives. Several of us couldn’t hold back our tears. The staffers were kind and gave us time to recollect themselves. The office committed to doing their best to use Clark’s power as Party Whip to push through some of the Burma-related bills.  

          While UUSC was honored to support this advocacy trip by booking the training venue and providing meals, the initiative was otherwise largely self-funded. Youth organizers who are not paid to do this work took on the costs of their flights, lodging, and other expenses. Some participants received support from their communities, but others shared that they nearly emptied their bank accounts to attend the trip.  

          As we continue to defend human rights in Burma, we must remember that youth organizing is a key component in advancing change. UUSC centers the expertise of folks most impacted by injustice, and the voices of young people are essential. Support our partners advocating for Burma and the platforming of youth. Together, we can co-create a more just future shaped by those who will live and lead in it.