Saturday, October 5, 2013
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
the beginning
In October 2009 Raoul & I travelled throughout Myanmar. One day while exploring we came upon this little compound full of children. They beckoned us in with sign language and we were brought to meet the Head-Monk. After a long wait, an english speaker was found and we could communicate. We discovered that the Abbott had started this primary school and home for orphans after Hurricane Nargis hit the Delta region of Myanmar in 2008. It was very apparent that they were hard-up financially as they explained that they survived with daily food donations and not much else. We decided that we wanted to help them and so we held a 'Special Burmese fundraising dinner' at Hibernia in April 2010 to launch our project. We also put a notice in our Art Gallery explaining our project so any 'Friends of Hibernia' could participate with a donation if they wished
our return
In September 2010 we returned to Myanmar with the money we had raised. Our first task was to change the donated money into Burmese Kyats. There is no regular banking system in Myanmar, so at Yangon's central market we searched out a moneychanger. Since the largest currency note at the time had a value of approximately 1$, we ended up with a large sack of money! By that evening we were on the bus traveling south.
With no telephone at the orphanage, our un-anounced arrival was a surprise and it was heart-wrenching to see how excited every-one was to see us return. Once again we found ourselves in the Abbott's room.
We tried to explain about the donation/sack of money we had for them but the language barrier made communicating impossible. So we made our exit, decided to make friends with our motorbike taxi man who could speak Basic English and returned with him as our interpreter.
During our time in Moulmein, we went daily to the orphanage for them to get to know us better and for us to acquaint ourselves with their customs, lifestyle & schooling. We saw the rudimentary conditions and knew that we did not need to ask for an explanation of how they would spend the donated money. There were too many ways to choose from.
Daily Life
Every day we would spend time there. One morning we arose at the crack of dawn to accompany the children on their daily walk throughout the town to collect their day's food.
the future
The money donated is used towards improved diet, extending the education offered to include "Middle School level, building repairs, a guaranteed wage for the teachers, computers and the possibility to be able to take care of more orphans.
The costs in Myanmar are low, so the smallest donation is welcomed and goes far. Because of your help, these orphans can have a basic education and a healthy childhood so they will be able to support themselves in a dignfied way when they grow up. On behalf of the children on Pylonchanta, we would like to say "Thank-you for your help".
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A month in Myanmar
In September we flew to Myanmar for one month. After a certain amount of debate on whether or not to go, we decided that to visit as a “traveler” and not a ‘tourist’; by sleeping, dining, traveling & shopping only in small locally owned establishments, it would be benefiting the ordinary people.
It was one of our best trips ever and any-one who wishes to visit Myanmar in this fashion should definitely do so. The people are very friendly and really eager to meet foreigners.
It was one of our best trips ever and any-one who wishes to visit Myanmar in this fashion should definitely do so. The people are very friendly and really eager to meet foreigners.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The people
Our first impression was of the friendliness of the people, their calm approach to life and their generosity.
public transport
The transport options were pretty diverse and you definitely had to be in no hurry.
Push bikes, wooden public buses that dated back to World War 2, horse drawn carts, and even the traffic lights were unusual!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
