Monday, July 12, 2010
About KPSS
About Organization
Karuna Pathein Social Serivces (KPSS), now also known as KMSS-Pathein is a Diocesan Caritas and was established as a social arm of diocese of Pathein in 2001. It was founded in coordination with Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), National Office under Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCM) in Yangon..
It is a non-profit organization as well as a faith based organization, delivering social services in the diocese of Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy Delta, in southern part of Myanmar. Since its foundation, KMSS-Pathein has been rendering social services to different needs of the people in the diocese, especially in the time of 2003 flood in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta, in time of 2004 Sunami affected victims in Labutta area, in time of 2007 flood in West Pathein district area, and particularly in great natural disaster of Nargis Cyclone in May 2008 and in 2012 emergency flooding in Pathein District during month of August. Today the main office of KMSS- Pathein is located in Pathein town having forming five sectors, such as Livelihoods, Education, Health, Social Protection and Emergency Preparedness.
The mission of KMSS-Pathein is to empower the livelihood of the vulnerable people in many aspects so that they can take their own responsibilities and it also to build up for the wellbeing of the people and society. It has also been involved with the Nargis relief and rehabilitation activities in under the umbrella of Myanmar Disaster Response Committee (MDRC), funded through Caritas Internationalis from 2008-2011, and corporation with WFP, Caritas Thailand, KMSS National Office, and also with local communities. Now Karuna Pathein has partnership with Caritas families like KMSS National Office, Catholic Relief Service (CRS), MISEREOR, Caritas Italy, Caritas Thailand and other organization like Enfants du Mekong, MISSIO, Missions Etrangeres de Paris and Italian Bishops Conference (CEI).
Organizational Chart of KMSS Pathein
Governance Structure
- President is the Bishop of Pathein Diocese, who is also supported from Advisory Board and have meeting half yearly.
- Advisory Board is composed of Vicar General and three Deans of ecclesiastical zones in the diocese of Pathein (Pathein, Myaung Mya and Hinthada zone) and assist the President and Director in policy making.
- Director responsible for overall management or the organization and appointed by the President and Advisory Board. Each term is for five years. And Executive Director is accountable for both beneficiaries and Diocese.
- Deputy Director is the one who assist the Executive Director in daily management and implementation. The Deputy Director is directly reported to Director.
- In the Program Department, it is composed of Programme Manager, Project managers and sector field staff. Sectors: Livelihoods, Education, Health, Social Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Each sector is headed by sector heads who are playing also roles of project managers and accountable to programme manager.
- Financial Department consist of Accounting and Reporting Unit as well as Admin, Logistic and IT Unit.
- M& E Department is consisted of a team which is responsible for monitoring and evaluation of the activities against it, outputs, outcomes and impact of the programmes or projects implemented. They are to be accountable to Director and Deputy Director. They are to work closely with programme manager.
Vision: (Fullness of Life)
The poor and vulnerable people in the diocese of Pathein, Ayeyarwaddy Region, become fully developed and empowered, freely and equally sharing and enjoying the fullness of life.
Mission:
Uplift the life of the poor and vulnerable communities in the diocese of Pathein, Ayeyarwaddy Region, regardless of gender, race, and religions, with approaches of integrated services of physical, moral, and psychological supports ensuring their sustainable developments in all aspects.
Overall Objective:
“Uplifted the living standards of the poor and vulnerable people in the diocese of Pathein, Ayeyarwddy Region, regardless of gender, race and religions, by targeting on poverty alleviation and eradication activities within time bound set up by the organization”
The specific objectives of the Karuna Pathein are:
- To have the poor and vulnerable communities increased in job opportunities and livelihood incomes by being provided with technical, materials and networking activities
- To have increased enrolments, appropriate school supports in primary schools and quality education ensured and promoted by deploying volunteer teachers while working in cooperation with village communities, Education Ministries and local authorities.
- To have basic health care awareness and supports appropriately provided to the poor and vulnerable people including people live with HIV/AIDS
- To have the poor and vulnerable people socially well protected from violation of basic human rights and live with human dignity in safe human environment.
- To have disaster mitigation and emergency preparedness plans and activities ensured and strengthened both in community and diocesan level in the whole region of Delta in Emergency Response
Targeted Groups
The targeted groups are the poor and vulnerable children, older people, and women, famers, fisher men and disable people who are in need of basic humanitarian assistance regardless of gender, race, and religions. Geographically, the targeted groups are included of 15 townships in Ayeyarwaddy Region in Myanmar. The diocese of Pathein is situated in those 15 townships. The diocese is ecclesiastically composed of 34 parishes governed in three zones such as Pathein zone, Myaung Mya zone and Hinthada zone.
About Myanmar
About Ayeyarwaddy
About Diocese of Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy Region
Monday, September 14, 2009
Seminar on DRR
Seminar/Workshop on DRR in the diocese of
Seminar/ Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction was successfully conducted in the diocese of Pathein on 27th August with the final blessing of His Excellency Bishop John Hsane Hgyi, bishop of diocese of
Diocese of Pathein was severely hit by the Cyclone Nargis on May 2,2008. Particularly the parish of Aima was totally devastated with the loss of its parish priest, Fr.Andrew Soe Win (56 years) and lives of 1500 Catholics in the parish. Under the supervision of MDRC (
Disaster Risk Reduction is an awareness course given to the Cyclone affected areas in the diocese of Pathein, to mobilize the local communities to reduce their vulnerability and to build up their capacity in emergency preparedness and response. This time the course is particularly intended to the Church leaders of the diocese.
Disaster Risk Reduction, known as DRR, the seminar/workshop was conducted from August 24 to 27, 2009, by Fr.Amalraj S.J, with collaboration of Daw Rose Mary of Karuna Myanmar Social Services ( Caritas
Honoring celebrations of the Year of the Priest, this seminar/workshop is one of the activities organized by the diocese in the programme of ongoing formation of the clergy.
Responding to the invitation sent from the office of the Bishop of Pathein, 68 priests of the diocese, 6 religious brothers and sisters, including 3 members of board of mangagement of the diocese, attended the seminar/workshop which started on 24th August, the day on which the 6th anniversary of installation of Bishop John Hsane Hgyi was celebrated in the Eucharistic celebration in the morning.
During the seminar/workshop the concepts of DRR was presented and discussed and on 27th September, Diocesan Emergency Response Committee (DERC) was founded and approved by the local ordinary. DERC will be directed by a board of management composed of the local ordinary, the vicar general, three vicar foraines and all directors of the pastoral and socials sectors. The newly established committee will be coordinated by the diocesan pastoral and social sectors and will work closely with KPSS ( Karuna Pathein Social Service), in the works of emergency preparedness and response.
With the bad consequences of global warming, and change of climate, the diocese of Pathein which is situated in Delta of Irrawaddy, in the southern part of Myanmar is constantly threatened by natural disasters of all sorts like cyclones and flood. The diocese, for its survival and mission for evangelization needs constantly aware of these challenges and looks for ways to reduce all the risks possible while building up its capacities on the other hand.
Eikhlein.fr
Sept 1,2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Visit to Aimma Karuna Mission
Visit to Aimma Karuna Mission (July 29-Aug 1,2009)
1. My short visit to Aimma Karuna Mission started with the efficient accompaniment of Mr.Dominic, Mr.Stephen and three dedicated boat men on July 29 in the late morning after meal. The weather was fine. In a large boat, altogether we were six ,journeying towards the south of the Delta region. After crossing large river known as Pyan Ma law and many streams, we finally arrived Phyin Sa Lu, a new town recently built under the supervision of the government. The old Pyin Sa Lu was totally devastated by Nargis Cyclone which has caused loss of about 5000 lives ,according to the local report. The new Pyin Sa Lu is now well organized and built again with beautiful housings and Cyclone Shelters.
Mr.Peter and two motorcycles waited for us at the jetty where our boat made a stop, at about 4:00 pm in the evening. Nathat village is our destination for the day’s journey and the vehicles arranged by Mr.Peter carried us to the destination after about 15 minuntes of drive from Pyin Sa Lu. The new road connecting Pyin Sa Lu and Nathat was repaired and rebuilt after Nargis Cyclone. Good condition in the summer time, but not conducive as yet for travel in the rainy season, especially when there is heavy rain. We safely arrived Nathat and put up in the hut temporally built beside the ruined chapel. The bamboo hut is used at present as chapel , a place for shelter for visitors and for religious cult. Dinner was served and a long conversation between our group and the villagers went on until 10:00 pm. Clarification of the project was made, verifcation of the works was done and some new plans were drawn up in the informal meeting. Then all retired for night.
2. The next morning, July 30,about twenty Catholics came for confession before the celebration of the Eucharist. Nathat, before the Cyclone had a very strong Catholic community composed of about 300 souls. Half of the number in the village has perished in the Cyclone. Half of them were saved in the newly blessed village chapel during the disaster. The chapel was dedicated and blessed by the local ordinary of Pathein diocese, His Excellency Bishop John Hsane Hgyi in the month of March and it was half demaged by the Cyclone in May. All houses demaged and only a chapel remained stand saving the lives of some. Some occupied the newly built houses and some wait for new housings to be completed under the charge of Karuna Pathein.
After the Mass and the breakfast, some photos taking, we all left the village, seen off by some villagers to Pyin Sa Lu, by a small canoe. Then from Pyin Sa Lu, we left for Aimma, the center of the Catholic Mission.
3. A heavy rain fell as we arrrived the jetty of Aimma. That obliged us to wait for a moment until we could move up to the land. We were led by Fr.Denis Min Zaw, assistant priest of Aimma parish assinged to work in this mission since 2005. We were warmly welcomed by Fr.Wilfred Myint Soe, the parish priest and we sat for lunch together. Mr.Dominc and Mr.Stephen went around under the rains to check the works being implemented under the charge of Karuna Pathein in the Aimma Site. Karuna Pathein sub-station house is situated not far from the Clergy house and works are being carried out in collaboration with the priests in charge of the parish.
After a short survey and visit was done, we all said goodbye to the hosts and left for Nyaung Tabin village at about 2:30 pm.
4. We safely arrived Nyaung Tabin village at 5:30 pm in the evening. It was raining and almost dark.
We met the carpentors and their groups. We checked the works done. We checked the quality of the woods and constructions. The village chapel is to be reconstructed soon. Bricks in number of 50000 are already in place. But still woods and some construction materials are to be collected to begin the work. New housings are well arranged along the road. Some already finished and being occupied by the families. But some still need to be completed. Then dinner was served in the new primary school built last year after the cyclone. Long conversations between visitors and villagers contined until 10:00 pm. The stories of Nargis Cyclone were narrated by the individuals in the conversation. Though 14 months have passed since the Cyclone, the memories are still fresh and the stories are still new.
5. The Eucharist was celebrated in the primary school. The preparation of the alter was done by a Catholic volunteer teacher. She was sent to Nyunt Tabin by the office of Diocesan Education to teach in this village for the academic year of 2009-2010. About 30 Catholics gathered for Mass and after Mass and breakfast we arranged all the works to be countinued and said goodbye to the villagers and set off to return to Labutta. It was about 8:15 am. We arrived back to Labutta at 2:30 pm in the afternoon. Meeting with all the staff of Karuna Pathein, Labutta office ,was held in the office house from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. All views are discussed and shared. The mission continues!
6. Trip to Aimma Karuna Mission was short but filled with new insights and thoughts for further development of people and the region. Almost one and half year that the Nargis Cyclone has passed, but the phase of rebuilding and rehabilitation still require many efforts to be committed. Karuna Pathein serive continues this work, while buiding up the capacity of its staff in all levels. Keeping the spirit of God in heart, the collaboration in all sectors is carried out. Not with our own strength but with the help and strength coming from above.
Reported by Eikhlein
August 4,2009
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