Welcome to the Teams That Made It Happen!
Our South East Asia Teams have been at the heart of Birth Across the Borders from the very outset. In total we have had approximately 100 people working on this project to make it happen. Our teams are dedicated and compassionate individuals who come from diverse backgrounds and cultures but who have all had one common goal; to improve the health and well-being of mothers, babies and communities in remote areas of Myanmar. With this goal they have built this project in partnership with us and have been instrumental in its success.
During the lifetime of the project our regional teams have received extensive training in research methods, ethics, communication, project management skills and resource development and facilitation skills, which were then cascaded down to our project staff. These were designed and delivered using a combination of online and face to face training methods.
It is our great pleasure to introduce you to our core South East Asia team. For the safety of the teams at this stage we are unable to show photographs and have used nicknames to protect them due to the unstable situation in Myanmar. One day we hope to be able to introduce you to them in full. We are so grateful for them and celebrate all their achievements.
Regional Co-ordinators
Our regional co-ordinators (Tin, Lee and Peach) worked as part of the team through the lifetime of the project and were responsible for the logistics and project management of Birth Across the Borders in their regions. They have played an instrumental role in the research planning process, project management, partnerships and on the ground implementation of each phase of the project and worked closely with our Regional Operational Teams. In many ways they have been the hands and feet of the project and have represented our work in multiple ways, reflecting the ethos and values of the project at all times. Their cultural and contextual knowledge and expertise has been invaluable in guiding the project to its conclusion.
Research Managers
Our research managers (Jam, Mon, Go) carried the responsibility for the delivery of the research processes on the ground in each region. They supported the translation processes, adaptation of research tools and training of the teams for each phase of the project. They worked hard to maintain the research integrity required for a project of this standard. They were crucial in the training and supervision of the teams and travelled with them to ensure and deliver research excellence. Their understanding of the application of research to the context of Myanmar has allowed this project to deliver on all the objectives we set out and we could not have done it without them.
Resource Development Officers
Our resource development officers (Em, Ni and Lek) were recruited during the third phase of the project to enable us to design and develop culturally and contextually relevant maternal health educational resources that would make sense in each unique community. In partnership with the wider team they worked tirelessly to co-produce a wide range of resources that would make sense in remote communities that had limited infrastructure such as water, transport and electricity to help women overcome barriers to accessing to healthcare. These resources, designed for communities with low levels of reading and writing, were then tested and evaluated. The creativity and willingness shown by our resource development officers led to practical and relevant resources.
Communication Officer
As the project grew and communication became even more important we recruited a multi-lingual communications officer (Tee). Tee was responsible for the communications between the regional teams, partners and our Ulster University team. He was often called upon to follow up on details that were very important to the project and which required a sensitive approach and managed all our internal processes of our data and resource materials as we navigated the process of design, review and translation.
Following on from Birth Across the Borders a number of our team have moved on to further education or key leadership positions.
Operational Teams
With a complex project like Birth Across the Borders we knew that we needed on the ground knowledge and expertise if this project was going to be successful. To achieve this we set up operational teams in each region to support the delivery of the project. These groups became critical in helping us to understand the contextual influences that exist around maternal health in remote areas. They facilitated access to the communities and helped us to navigate the myriad challenges that we faced in the lifetime of the project. They became our champions and guides and it has been a privilege to work with them.
International Partners
From the early days of Birth Across the Borders our partners understood and were committed to the underlying values of Birth Across the Borders. Working across multiple cultures and contexts and with key leaders within the regions they facilitated our partnerships, guided each step and gave us all the resources we needed to succeed. Ranging from international non-governmental organisations, ethnic health organisations and local regional partners they gave us strategic advice and access to the communities and staff which made this project a success. Some of them sat on our Operational Teams. Many of them have given significant time and energy and without them this project would never have succeeded.
