ibelieveinwomen

Unicefs official line is "war is no place for children". We don't know how any children and young people are being recruited because there are no statistics. The central government recognizes this is illegal (there is law stating under 17 cannot join even with parental consent), however regionally, children and young people are being actively recruited. Sometimes not just as soldiers, but as cooks, cleaners and porters

Brilliantly, there has been some fantastic work done by the UN and the government to end the use of child soldiers in the Army. In 2012 the government signed a treaty to release all soldiers from the army under the age of 18. Last year over 400 were released.

However, there are many armed conflicts in Myanmar and this agreement does not extend beyond the Tatmadaw - it would be great to see it implemented across all armed groups.

Yes and they are encouraged to, there is no favouritism. Education itself is not distinguished by gender. Things tend to change when they get married and have babies, then they are expected to give up their career or education for their family.

Hi there. Thanks for your enthusiasm!

If you are really interested in learning the answers to your questions then here are some expert sources.
The "Gender Equality Network Myanmar" http://www.themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/documents/Report_GEN_Annual-Report-2013.pdf The websites of Oxfam, Action Aid or www.womenofburma.org also contain a wealth of information about the problems Myanmar faces.

To answer your question further; there is also a need for more women to be involved in the decision making. In 2014 women held less than 5% of positions in the parliament. This is at odds with their active positions in helping to lead society. It's amazing to see how women here take the roles which only men do in many other countries; they build roads, farm crops, run shops, are doctors, professors and scholars, and yet they are underrepresented and have a questionable influence in parliament.

Hi there. It's a beautiful place to travel by bike and yes , the people are some of the most hospitable and beautiful i have ever met too.

I would say, do what you believe in. Help people make a difference, you don't need an NGO to make a difference you just need to find people with the same passion and drive to make an impact. Ask your self ; Who you want to help?, Why do you want to do it ? What differences you want to make? When you have those answers, surround yourself with the people who want the same thing. Maybe they are an organisation, maybe it's a friend or maybe you have to go out and find them but you will find them, they are out there.

For me, I want to be part of the drive towards a world with real equality. I would like to live in a world where that exists and i'm happy to be actively involved in making it happen.