YCOWA was founded in July 1999 by Burmese student activists and migrant workers, with the goal of improving working and living conditions for the Burmese migrant laborers in the Mae Sot area of Thailand. Since then, it has mainly focused on in the field of protecting worker rights, providing rights education, supporting for health care and facilitating social activities. YCOWA concentrates on activities that encourage workers to collaborate with each other to improve their living situations and working conditions. Currently YCOWA has 700 members from 10 different factories, who actively participate in meetings, trainings, and other activities. YCOWA has also got involved in the facilitation of the network of the Burmese workers? groups in Mae Sot, Bangkok and the southern provinces of Thailand. In addition, YCOWA works with the Lawyer Council of Thailand, MAP Foundation, and other Thai and International NGOs to advocate for increased protection and rights for migrants from Burma. YCOWA is an active member of the Action Network for Migrants (ANM), a coalition of 15 NGOs that focus on labor, health, and women?s rights. Thai NGO Network members include MAP Foundation, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB), Rak Thai CARE, Friends for Women Foundation, and EMPOWER. The Lawyer Council of Thailand and sub committee on Stateless, migrants and nationality of the National Human Rights Commission are affiliates. YCOWA is also a member of the Asian Transnational Corporation (ATNC) Monitoring Network, which comprises 13 members in eight Asian countries. Aims and Objectives of YCOWA are as follows: · To strengthen social relationship and solidarity among Burmese migrant workers · To encourage Burmese migrant workers for the practice of self-organized and collective actions for protection of their rights · To provide Burmese migrant workers in Thailand with legal advice and counseling, rights education and vocational trainings, health care and social services · To inform the international community the updated situation of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand · To facilitate non-violence participation of migrant workers in the movement for democratic change in Burma...publishes a magazine in Burmese (download from site)