Construction of an informal education centre in Myanmar
Funds raised so far: 1%
why informal education is crucial in Myanmar
Since the military coup on 1 February 2021, Myanmar has been plunged into a serious political, social and economic crisis. The country is now embroiled in a civil war between the ruling junta and an armed civilian resistance movement, supported by ethnic groups that have been fighting for decades.
The consequences: 3.5 million internally displaced persons or refugees, 40% of the population living below the poverty line, massive inflation, and young people forced to flee or engage in dangerous activities. Since the introduction of compulsory military service in February 2024, the exodus of young people has accelerated.
The school system is also in disarray: nearly half of all teachers have resigned, and many young people refuse to return to school so as not to legitimise the regime. This makes them more vulnerable to the scourges of prostitution, forced labour and military recruitment.
Faced with this situation, villages not controlled by the Burmese army are organising informal classes with former teachers so that young people can continue to receive an education despite the troubled situation.
Even before the coup, the region around Kyai Kkha Mee in the south of the country was severely lacking in higher education facilities due to the absence of centres in the area. Today, the need is even greater given the chaotic political situation.
providing a safe learning environment in Kyai Kkha Mee
Originally, the site was used to treat AIDS patients. Today, Sister Rita has taken over the existing infrastructure, but it is not sufficient to accommodate all the children who come to study.
Educational opportunities for young people in the area are very limited. Combined with low family incomes, many young people are tempted to drop out of school without qualifications, marry young and work as day labourers, trying to earn a living on a day-to-day basis. The level of education is therefore particularly low in the region. Sister Rita’s initiative to create an educational centre quickly became very successful. Starting with a three-month summer camp, by the second year she was welcoming 400 children, the maximum capacity. She does not have enough space to accommodate them all in the current facilities.
Furthermore, the launch of her educational activities during the school term also requires her to have enough classrooms. Thanks to a large donation, Sister Rita was able to start building the centre; she embarked on the project without having all the funding because she was afraid of inflation and rising material prices. However, she is still short of half the amount and local donors are unable to finance this amount.
Construction of classrooms
The foundations of the building have been dug and the ground floor is almost complete. The building has been redesigned to be simple and functional. All that remains now is the construction of the first floor and all the finishing touches (doors, windows, concrete slab, electricity, painting, etc.).
key strenghts of the project
Providing decent accommodation for the 25 young people living full-time at the centre; these young people often come from areas affected by civil conflict and generally have nowhere else to go as they no longer have any relatives. This accommodation will be a place where they are safe and can rebuild their lives.
Welcoming 60 to 70 young people from the surrounding area who come to study during the day in different classes over the school term (June to February).
Providing a space among the other buildings in the centre for the 300 young people who come for summer camp from March to May.
Contributing to the education of the inhabitants of Mon State, which has been neglected in terms of educational infrastructure.
The beneficiaries of the project
The young people come from different backgrounds depending on their age and the courses they attend. The older ones, who are there full-time (living and studying at the centre), mainly come from conflict zones, namely Kayah State and Kachin State, as the sister has connections in Kachin State.
The vast majority of children who come during the day or during summer camps come from the surrounding villages of Kyaik Kha Mee (Nit Kaing, Sin Taung, Kwan Tat, Padan Ngan, Kadet Htouk, Buddha and Wet Lay). Most of the families are Buddhist. Most residents earn their living through the fishing industry, which is owned by wealthy businessmen from elsewhere. Their incomes are not enough to cover the basic needs of their families, and they live from day to day due to low incomes and hyperinflation. Gambling and betting are widespread. Fortunately, there are also many parents who value education and want to educate their children to the best of their ability.
CHECK OUT OUR PROJETS IN MYANMAR
