During the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen communities across Myanmar faced one of their most difficult challenges. With restricted mobility, limited access to hospitals, and a lack of trained health workers, many villages struggled to care for infected family members and protect themselves from the rapidly spreading virus. The crisis revealed a deep gap in local healthcare capacity which was one that urgently needed to be addressed.
In response, YPD Karenland stepped forward with a mission aligned to its core purpose: empowering young people to become leaders, problem-solvers, and change-makers within their own communities. Recognizing the immediate health crisis, YPD organized a one-month emergency medical training program for youth from seven villages. The goal was simple but vital which is to equip young Karen people with the basic nursing and caregiving skills needed to support their communities during the outbreak.
Under the guidance of volunteer doctors and experienced medical trainers, participants learned essential nurse aid skills including patient care, first aid, emergency response, sanitation practices, and health education. What began as an emergency intervention soon became a transformative initiative. Youth trainees returned to their villages not only as helpers, but as trusted community health workers by providing care, sharing accurate health information, and supporting families when no clinics were accessible.
This crucial program was made possible through the generous support of partners such as Korean Hope Foundation and Akasaa Malaysia, whose funding helped provide medical supplies, training materials, and operational support. Their contribution strengthened a grassroots effort that ultimately saved lives and built long-term resilience.
The success of this first medical training inspired YPD Karenland to officially establish the Nurse Aids Training Program, which now forms a growing part of YPD’s mission to build healthier, stronger, and more self-reliant Karen communities. Today, young trainees continue to carry forward this spirit of service, compassion, and community leadership—values at the heart of YPD Karenland’s work.
Join us in empowering the next generation of Karen community health workers.
Your support can help sustain and expand the Nurse Aids Training Program, giving young people the skills they need to protect and strengthen their communities.
If you would like to contribute, partner with us, or learn how you can get involved, please visit the link below to explore all the ways you can support YPD Karenland:
🔗 https://ypdkarenland.org/get-involved/
Together, we can build stronger, healthier communities in Karenland.
