New Year Message 2022 & January Newsletter

Dear Friends,

The past year – which, for the BACI, marks 10 years of advocacy, education, and service – faced a mix of the unprecedented challenges and opportunities. While our community locally and globally were still in the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis in Myanmar (Burma) and Afghanistan brought another level of challenges. BACI responded to both crises with the conviction of the need and the recognition of our responsibility while strongly sustaining a COVID-19 response initiative, especially through the Vaccine Campaign. Despite such challenges, we were able to actively engage in international advocacy in support of democracy in Myanmar and participate in assisting Burmese humanitarian parolees, as well as joining our partners to resettle Afghan evacuees while sustaining and expanding the existing programs and vital services to the community.

As such, the past year has been one of growth and strengthening—of our programs and service provisions with significantly intensified engagement with our shared communities locally and globally. Highlighted in the following are some of the outcomes and impacts we continue bringing upon our shared community.

In 2021 alone, we assisted 3447 (that is 139% of last year’s number at 2473) individuals with Citizenship and English language training, naturalization applications, and other immigration requirements, as well as provided support in gaining employment and training, scholarships, and college & university admissions. This made a total of over 16,000 individuals served since 2011. Similarly, we provided technical assistance to a number of start-up organizations including those that are faith-based, which is an important part of the overall successful integration of the community.

Despite disruption by COVID-19, the Upward College Program for high school students continued to maintain 100% admissions in postsecondary institutions for the students who completed the BACI program. Furthermore, we helped over 50% of current college students who were previously enrolled in the UCP receive scholarships. The past year also saw the college going rate among the Burmese recent high school graduates increase to 95% from 43% in 2014.

The Center for Research, Policy and Innovation (CRPI), designed to promote collaborative research and policy solution oriented action projects with local researchers, Burmese scholars, international colleagues, and stakeholders was expanded internationally. Collaboratively working with our partners, a series of virtual events as part of the Myanmar Initiatives that support investing in people and education, development and democracy were hosted and thousands of people have been engaged. Major initiatives through the National University of the Union of Myanmar – Global Campus (NUUM) as part of an effort to support education and democracy in the Southeast Asian nation was launched.

We are pleased with the progress we continue to make. Looking forward—through effective implementation of the new strategic priorities layout in our strategy 2021-2026, we will be enhancing our existing programs and services, with new opportunities, innovations and continued expansions through unique initiatives and collaborative partnerships here in Indianapolis, while we will be engaging and working closely with comprehensive stakeholders and partners in support of democracy, freedom and prosperity in Myanmar in a win-win through creative and multi-faceted approaches.

Thank you for your continued support and important partnerships. With renewed commitment, we hope you will continue to stand with us as we put all our effort into helping the community members in becoming economically self-sufficient, integrated, and productive citizens of our global society.

A very Happy New Year 2022!

The Burmese American Community Institute