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Working inside Burma
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PROSPECT BURMA Keeping the Flame of Education Alive
Inside Burma
INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAMME
Mai Ja Yang Village, Kachin State, Burma
BRITISH COUNCIL ENGLISH CLASSES
Rangoon, Burma
2
Prospect Burma was set up
in 1989 to help fill the
educational vacuum arising
from the upheavals of 1988..
We have grown from
awarding a solitary
scholarship in 1992 to giving
almost 150 grants every year.
It is a condition of all
Prospect Burma scholars that
they pledge to return to
Burma when feasible and
to use the skills they have
acquired for the benefit of
the Burmese people.
Of our 2010
graduates we know that over
75% of them are already
either working in Burma or
on the borders.
Our major contribution
inside Burma is, therefore,
the work being done by the
Prospect Burma alumni who
have returned.
We are convinced that
investing in the education of
Burma’s young people will
help to bring about positive
change in their country.
“Being supported by Prospect Burma has not only
been a privilege but also a constant reminder of
the ambition and hope that I have for my
homeland. I volunteer regularly to translate
reports on human rights abuses in rural Burma.”
Prospect Burma Alumni
Back Home
“I’m working on a Post Nargis response project.
The PB Scholarship Programme makes great
impact on me and the communities of my country
because I can serve my people by applying the
knowledge gained from my studies supported by
it. During my studies, I had to learn too many
social science disciplines such as health sociology,
health economics, psychology and anthropology.
Moreover, social science perspectives and research
methodologies improve my ability to conduct
social research. Knowledge gained from those
courses help me to accomplish the project
planning and implementation successfully.
For example, during my study, I had to learn
various concepts of social theories which are very
useful for finding out and solving of health
problems in my communities. The course of
health economics is applicable in allocation of
funding in my project and I could able to manage
the activities against the budget allowed in order
to get cost effectiveness.
I am very pleased to upgrade my abilities to serve
my country ”
3
Since 2004, Prospect Burma has been
supporting an
Intensive English Programme
in Mai Ja Yang on the Burma/China border.
Anxious for progress in their
communities, this non–governmental
programme was started by local
Kachin people who were desperate to
upgrade the level of English amongst
their youth.
The residential school admits up to
40 students aged between 16 and 23
years old for a ten month course, and
has five full time teachers,
three computer instructors and
administrative staff.
The pupils are drawn from all over
Kachin state, and include graduates
of a local teacher training college
whose head teacher was a former
Prospect Burma scholar.
Having completed their course,
over 150 students have gone on to
become English teachers throughout
Kachin State, some are working for
an orphanage in Mai Ja Yang,
15 have joined NGOs, 20 have
graduated from Theological Colleges
and others have continued their
studies abroad.
Intensive English
Programme
Mai Ja Yang
4
In 2009, the Intensive English Programme moved to share a larger campus with another
local institute, but their objectives remain the same:
To give Kachin youths intensive English tuition
To give students access to the Internet
To develop confidence, self-reliance,
social responsibility and critical thinking
To develop awareness of the environment
To benefit their own communities
For oral fluency, language activities such as story telling,
poetry recitals and English songs have been introduced,
and students are encouraged to write journals.
Activities include games, morning exercises, and
gardening—over 130 young macadamia trees were
planted last year and the school grows its own vegetables.
Each student has access to computers three hours a week
and the older students have access to the internet.
Progress tests are carried out three times during each
course and prizes are awarded by the school committee.
The committee, which monitors the school’s progress,
is made up of local authority personnel, members of the
Education Department and IEP teaching staff.
Prospect Burma receives regular reports from the
School Principal, and makes an annual contribution in the
region of £4,500 towards salaries for the staff.
5
“I would like to say thank you that
you gave the opportunity to attend
the British Council.
My knowledge of English has
helped me in teaching children
and sharing among my colleagues.
I am working as a project
organiser and my responsibilities
include developing education
programs for vulnerable children,
monastic schools and nunnery
schools. I am also in charge of a
project for disabled people. I have
been doing reading activities and
teaching English to blind children
for over a year now. I am really
interested in doing humanitarian
activities and try and become a
good community worker.”
In 2007, Prospect Burma started to fund Burmese
students studying English at The British Council
in Rangoon. We are currently funding courses for Burmese students, including former political prisoners, who come from all
over Burma. They go on to work in education, medicine, and with
local NGOs, some of them apply to us for scholarship grants.
Here, two of our students write about themselves.
“I am a 25 year old Muslim girl and I graduated from
university in 2005. As soon as I got my degree, I joined a
centre for the care of disabled children as a volunteer
physiotherapist as I wanted to help people as much as
possible and live in an environment that has plenty of
peace and pleasure. I also volunteered at a hospital for a
year. Later, it became apparent to me that doing community
work is a kind of treasure for me. Therefore, I joined several
organizations not only in the medical field but also others
like doing assessments of monasteries for educational
support. Now, I am working as project coordinator of a free
healthcare clinic and also helping in a charity education
centre that is run by a self help group and especially for
English language.
I am keen on learning new things. However, I did not have
much chance in my childhood as I had to study and learn
things by heart according to the education system in our
country. The thing that appeals to me about learning at the
British Council is that I gain English skills and improve my
thinking and communication skills at the same time. Now, I
feel confident to speak English with any foreigner . I am
also ready to cascade my skills to my community especially
for the development of Myanmar.”
British Council
English Students
Rangoon
6
.
KNOWLEDGE IS A TREASURE NO ONE CAN STEAL
If you would like to contribute
please contact us or see
How to Help on our website.
PROSPECT BURMA Keeping the Flame of Education Alive
UK Registered charity no 802615
PROSPECT BURMA PORTERS’ LODGE
RIVERMEAD COURT
RANELAGH GARDENS
LONDON SW6 3SF
TEL: +44 (0) 20 7371 0887
WWW.PROSPTECTBURMA.ORG