Organization
Shalom Foundation (Nyein Foundation)
The Establishment of Shalom Foundation:
After more than 30 years of internal fighting and strife, many of the armed groups and the central government have reached cease-fire agreements as the first step to avoid more bloodshed, and to address vital issues facing the various ethnic nationalities and the nation of Burma as a whole. As of 1998, most ethnic armed insurgency groups have reached cease-fire agreements The process of reconciliation and social development has been slow and difficult, especially in the remote areas primarily inhabited by the ethnic nationalities.
Rev. Dr. Saboi Jum (one of the key persons who struggled to bring the cease-fire agreement reached in 1994 between the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization), an insurgency group, and the government) requested the government and the KIO to sustain that peace process as a nation-wide one. As a civilian mediator, he approached the authorities with a proposal of his vision to set up a kind of organization to act as a forum towards breaking down old misunderstandings and prejudices among the various groups and to develop a common understanding and respect between the ethnic nationalities and majority Burmese people. The proposal has been accepted and many armed groups have shown a sincere welcome.
Organization: Founded by Rev. Dr. Saboi Jum, the Shalom Foundation (also known locally as the Nyein Foundation) was established in May 2000 with the encouraging and assigning permission of the government, and officially registered in November 2001, as a local Non-governmental Organization, with the Ministry of Home Affairs of the SPDC government.
Working for peace and development for the people of Myanmar, the Shalom Foundation (SF) is currently functioning with two offices: Head Office in Myitkyina, Kachin State and Liaison Office in Yangon, holding14 staffs members. SF has its Advisory Board composed of different ethnic religious and community leaders and a Working Committee. The Friends of Shalom have also been informally organized, composed of international friends, who play a role in advising and evaluating SF’s activities and help in planning for the future and assist in encouraging international support.
Vision: Our vision is to become an organization that supports the process of building a stable and just society based on mutual understanding and respect for diverse cultures, customs and traditions, leading to sustainable peace and to sustainable and participatory development of communities, society and the nation as a whole.
Goals
Sustainable Peace to be experienced nationwide;
Facilitating people to have a concept that helps them to see their situation in a positive and constructive way so as to be actively involved in peace making and development;
Helping people to realize the need to preserve the environment, their cultural identity and to act with dignity as a good citizen.
Objectives
To enhance the overall development of all national races;
To ensure all national races work toward Lasting Peace and maintain it;
To safe guard the environment in all areas of the nation, and this should compliment the development process;
To assist in solving social issues in harmony and peace;
To encourage all members of society to act with dignity and self respect;
To support those who are engaged in peace negotiation and mediation in on-going situation, utilizing indigenous concepts and models.
