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Strengthening Our Community
Work together across all generations to improve opportunities and quality of life.
Who We Are
A community organization built around connection.
We support Chin individuals and families in Kitchener-Waterloo through education, cultural programming, community participation, and access to local resources.
Our ancestral homeland
Our heritage
Chinland: where our story begins
Chinland lies in the mountainous western region of Myanmar, bordering India. It is the historic homeland of the Chin people and the source of the languages, customs, faith traditions, and community values that continue to connect Chin families across generations and around the world.
LanguageCultureTraditionCommunity
Our mission
Our mission is to strengthen the Chin community by creating inclusive opportunities to connect, learn, participate, and succeed.
We work to preserve Chin language and culture while helping newcomers and established families confidently access education, employment, and community services.
Our values
- Respect and inclusion
- Community participation
- Cultural pride
- Education and opportunity
- Collaboration and service
Our direction
Aims & Vision
We are committed to building a strong, united, and thriving Chin community in Canada by preserving our heritage while creating opportunities for every generation.
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Preserving Our Heritage
Promote Chin culture, language, traditions, and literacy for future generations.
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Building a Strong Future in Canada
Support successful integration into Canada's multicultural society while preserving our unique heritage.
Serving together
Community Volunteers
Our volunteers are the heart of our organization, generously contributing their time, skills, and compassion to support Chin individuals and families throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Every volunteer service is provided without compensation.
Transportation & Interpretation
Providing transportation and interpretation assistance for hospital visits, clinics, medical appointments, and other essential services.
Community Events
Organizing cultural celebrations, sports tournaments, and community picnics that strengthen relationships and bring families together.
Chin Language Education
Supporting Chin language learning and cultural education so our heritage can be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Fundraising & Family Support
Leading fundraising initiatives and maintaining annual community registration to better understand and serve local families.
A commitment freely given. All volunteer services are provided without compensation and reflect our shared values of compassion, unity, and community service.
What guides us
Community first
Belonging
We welcome people of every age and background into a respectful, supportive community.
Opportunity
We connect people with learning, employment, leadership, and volunteer opportunities.
Partnership
We collaborate with local organizations to make resources easier to understand and access.
Who We Are
Chin People
Chin people are of Mongol tribe origin who historically occupied the southernmost mountain ranges separating Myanmar (Burma) from India. Before British annexation in 1889, Chinland consisted of independent communities governed through hereditary chiefs, councils of elders, and local headmen. British colonial rule ended the independence and unity of Chinland and introduced new administrative divisions.
When Burma became independent in 1948, international borders further divided the Chin people between present-day Myanmar and India. Today the worldwide Chin population is estimated at between one and one and a half million people. Around 80% live in Myanmar's Chin State and India's Mizoram State. The Chin people speak approximately 50 different dialects. Before the arrival of American missionaries Arthur and Laura Carson in the late 1880s, Chin people practiced traditional animist beliefs. Today, most Chin people in Chin State identify as Protestant Christians.
Traditionally, slash-and-burn agriculture formed the foundation of the Chin economy. Rice, millet, and maize remain staple crops, while domesticated animals, particularly the mithun, have long played an important cultural and economic role.
How We Came to the Kitchener-Waterloo Region
The first Chin families arrived in Kitchener through the UNHCR refugee resettlement program in July 2003. As more families arrived, the KW Chin Community was established in 2005 to help newcomers settle, support one another, and reunite families who had been resettled across Canada.
By 2019, many families and friends had successfully reunited in the region. By 2023, approximately 520 Chin people were living throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo area. The organization became legally registered as a non-incorporated community organization in 2018, with community leaders elected every two years.
Organizational Structure
Executive members are elected every two years during the community general meeting by members aged 18 years and older. Seven executive members are elected by public vote, including the President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Additional executive responsibilities are assigned by the President and Secretary. Community bylaws are approved or amended during general meetings, ensuring transparent and community-led governance.