The Women’s advancement project incorporates a umber of activities such as Women’s rights education, Health education and counseling, and vocational skills development. The women’s team at FED’s WEDA project (The Women’s Education and Development Association) trains Burmese women in different migrant communities about women’s rights and the prevention of domestic or gender-based violence. Men are also invited to join Prevention of Violence against Women trainings and events. Unfortunately domestic violence is not uncommon in the migrant community so FED staffs try to change this through education and understanding. If a case is reported to FED a member of WEDA will visit the victim at home or offer them a place at our emergency temporary shelter. WEDA staff will then approach the husband to negotiate and encourage a change in his behavior though teaching about women’s rights and listening to the individual case at hand.

The healthcare program informs Burmese women about issues such as family planning, pre and post natal care, HIV/AIDS and other STDs awareness and general health and hygiene. As part of our drive to life women out of poverty and into stable and safe employment, FED provides some vocational skills training such as basic computer skills classes, business management & admin classes, marketing classes, handicrafts classes and sewing training to migrant women.

The women’s team at FED’s WEDA also meet with other smaller women’s groups in the community and coordinate large community events, trainings, petitions and campaigns for prominent days such as International women’s Day, Anti-violence against Women’s day and World AIDS day among others. For events such as these WEDA often collaborates with The locally based Thai organization Foundation for Women.