Claire-Marie was an overseas volunteer in Myanmar in 2018 and 2019. Her work as sponsorship programme coordinator involved regular visits to Taunggyi, 660 km northeast of Yangon. Taunggyi is a medium-sized town, the capital of Shan State, and it is where James lives.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (SAG) was founded by the Jesuits and educates the teachers and leaders of tomorrow. The Burmese military forces nationalised all schools including the very best high schools and the level of education had dropped considerably. Private schools have only been allowed to re-open for the last ten years. So in order to create new private schools, the Jesuits were asked to open one that would best educate the country’s future teachers.
At SAG, classes are taught entirely in English. It is a three-year programme that James has graduated this year!
James is a dynamic and joyful young man. He loves music and plays the guitar. He feels passionate about his country’s future and about his particular region, Kachin State, Myanmar’s most northern state. He wants to devote his life to working for the good of his country.
No sooner had he earned his diploma, James travelled to a refugee camp in Palana, next to Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital. He immediately found work there, as director for the NGO KMSS (Caritas), and works primarily in child welfare. James is now financially independent and no longer needs to be sponsored. He is extremely grateful to his sponsor, without whom he would never have achieved his dream!
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