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Mission Statement
ZAM is organized to develop social, moral, literature, cultural, human resources, research develop and educational purpose. Zomi Association of Malaysia is established to elevate capability building in social community, community develop and welfare mission such as health care, social care, spiritual growth and moral support for the Zomi people in collaborating with social communities, and UNHCR.
- To assist the people who fled away from Burma; seeking for refuge regardless of race, religions and ideological differences.
- To facilitate the exchange of opinions and views on Information and to inform and promote educational and moral character development.
- To obtain information relating tovulnerabilities of their life.
- To disseminate education and promote literacy amongst the refugees and Zomis by means of newsletters, journals, circulars, publications, lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences or otherwise.
- To promote the unification of diverse Zomi nationals.
- To protect the rights of the refugee workers.
- To advocate human rights with gender balance in the social community the Zomis live in.
- To do all such other lawful things as are incidentalor conducive to the attainment of the above purposes.
Vision Statement
- To make available to the members ofthe Association various types of services and facilities for community development.
- To foster a better understanding of the vital roles and values of human beings in society while opposing discrimination and extremism.
- To promote and develop regional and international exchanges and cooperation in human resource, education and research development for the Zomis.
- To defend the rights of Zomis from all kinds of discriminations and persecutions.
- To develop that enhances the standards and levels of good ethics and better lifestyle for the greater good of the Zomi people and the host country/ies.
- To maintain the gentleness and beautiful traditions of the Zomi nationals while building a peaceful community in the host country and her neighbors.
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Social Welfare Department
Social Welfare Department is one of the most important departments for Zomi Refugees in Malaysia. It organizes social activities such as:
- Sport Activities
- Cultural and Festival Activities
- Funeral Services
1. Sport Activities
Sport can help these adolescent refugee youths as well elderly refugees regain a valuable part of their lost hopes. Such ages of refugee have often suffered enormously, leaving them severely traumatized. They have witnessed oppression and persecution first hand. The trauma does not end when they finally make it to a work place in Malaysia, to earn their daily meal. Almost every one of them spends almost the whole year in their respective work place, with no sport or recreation.
These refugees have a right to play; a need to play. Sport provides them with a semblance of normality and some structure to their lives. It provides many psycho-social benefits and gives them an outlet for channeling their energy in a positive way that can benefit them for the rest of their lives. This is especially valid for youths fleeing from conflict situations. ZAM organizes Zomi Cup once a year which normally falls in February, and the closing ceremony is always celebrated on the 20th of February which is the Zomi National Day.
2. Cultural and Festival Activities
To maintain our cultural and give education to our next generation, we observe two important occasions every year. Those are “Zomi National Day” on February 20, and “Khuado Pawi” which fall in the full moon of October every year. In this two occasion, we have fashion show, cultural dance and chanting of our forefather’s songs.
3. Funeral Services
Every year between fifteen to twenty five of our members lost their lives in various cases and faces a lot of difficulties in financing. To organize funeral services, we need to spend almost RM100,000 from our community. It raises the birth of Zomi Social Welfare of Malaysia (ZSM) to meet the financial needs.
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Zomi Education Center
Why Zomi Education Center?
Like all children in Malaysia, Zomi children have the fundamental right to life, survival and development to the maximum extent possible. However, living in exile, Zomi refugee children are often denied normal childhoods. Worries make everyday activities, like playing outdoors, difficult. Refugee children in Malaysia also do not have access to formal education. In Malaysia, there are thousands of Zomi children below the age of 18. It is estimated that only approximately 60% of these children have access to any kind of education. This means over 40% of Zomi children of school going age are not in school. Unable to access formal education, Zomi Association of Malaysia established Zomi Education Center (ZEC) which organizes Learning Centers for the children, and these are often held under resource-scarce conditions.
ZEC Learning Centers are education classes that are run by the communities themselves, with some support from the local community. These community-based learning centers are located within the refugee population, wherever there are Zomi communities with a large number of children of school going age. The scope and reach of these classes are largely restricted by a lack of resources, including qualified teachers. Classes are usually held in rented flats or shop houses, where rooms are converted into classrooms, and are largely overcrowded, lacking in basic teaching facilities and with no space for children to play. However, every Zomi volunteer teachers have tried their best in setting up Learning Centers even with limited resources.
Education remains one of the most important concerns for refugee parents. It is the hope they have that their children will have a chance for a better life. The lack of basic education among refugee children will become a handicap for them as they grow up. It inhibits their opportunities to better their lives, creating a generation of an illiterate/unskilled community. The objective of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives, so they may aspire for a life different than today.
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ZAM Office Address:
155 (A), 1st Floor,
Jalan Maharajalela
50150, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Office : (603) 2142 6659 & (603) 9226 1926
Fax : (603) 2142 6659
Hotline : (60) 16 293 9027
Email : zomiassociationmls@gmail.com
Source: zomimalaysia.org