On July 6th
2018, for the 10th year anniversary of Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation (MHF), we
collaborated with volunteers from the “Noodle for Knowledge Project” and
travelled to Hinthada in the Irrawaddy Division, an approximately 5 hour drive
from Yangon, Myanmar, to take part in a grand ceremony organized by one of the four
schools in the town that had received a computer. “Noodle for Knowledge
Project” helped raised funds for donation of five computers.
Having
received their first computer, the school was immensely grateful and the
appreciation and excitement from the children and community were overwhelming
as gratitude was expressed through dance performances by the children and
speeches by the officials from the town. While the initial segment
of the event was the official ceremony for the reception of the computers, the
following was our Moegyo Youth presentation to the children.
Report from
Moegyo Youth:
In our
presentation, we shared our personal experience with computers and the
significant role technology had maintained in our education. Additionally, we
addressed the available tools and applications the children now had access to,
and their promise to an easier approach to learning. The kids stirred with
excitement at the animated GIFs and transitions in the presentation, and were
delighted to see the myriad of games stored in the computer as they crowded
around the screen and rushed to raise their hands to take part. As we concluded
our presentation, we distributed notebooks and pencils to allow the children to
write down their questions, what they would like to further learn about the
computers and how they would use them in the future. It was a fulfilling experience to share our
knowledge and share the excitement of children for receiving their first computer.
Thank you to
the volunteers and donors of the “Noodle for Knowledge Project”, and this
opportunity for the MHF youth program.
Volunteers from Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation collaborated with Oogie Art https://www.facebook.com/OogieArt/
in New York City to bring Myanmar Leadership program to Mya Theingi
Nunnery in Mingalardon township in Yangon. During three day long
program, about 180 art enthusiastic children from all grades at the
nunnery had a chance to learn creating art pieces using different medias
and materials.
We visited Kani Orphanageat the Kani Village which is about a 30 min boat ride from Pyapon in the Ayeyarwady Division which is a 3-4 hour drive away from Yangon in south western Myanmar. We also visited Pyinnyar Waddy Orphange in Kyite Latt on the way back. Moegyo (MHF) has been providing monthly support to both orphanages since the Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
Kani Orphanage:
As soon as we reached Pyapon, heavy rain started and continued throughout our boat ride and throughout the most of the day. On the small boat, under the heavy rain, I thought about the cyclone that passed through this area 8 years ago, which took many lives and left many orphans. We passed by villages with small huts, which stood in the water.
When we reached Kani, the members of the board that run the orphanage and the teachers there, warmly welcomed us and showed us around, particularly the high school, that just opened this year, which MHF provided support. Before this, children had to walk 2-3 hours round trip daily to a nearby village to attend high school. We also met 16 students who just passed high school this year. All said they would like to continue the studies at colleges. College tuition (distant learning) is around $120-$150 per year for each student and required for 4 years to graduate.
Teachers and the board repeatedly expressed their gratitude to the donors and volunteers at MHF for the support for the construction of the high school and for the tuition of the high school students. They proudly explained the growing record of high school graduates. Kani has more than 500 students, of which about 160 are under the care of Parahita (the orphanage). Currently, there are 24 college students receiving scholarship from MHF.
Pyinnyar Waddy Orphanage:
On the way back, we visited the girls orphanage at Kyite Latt, which is a two hour drive from Pyapon. As soon as we entered the compound, we saw big posters of 3 high school graduates, hung outside the orphanage. We met little ones from the age as young as 3-4. Everyone was happy and proud for the graduates, who are now the models for the little ones. The passing record is 100%. We also met one college graduate who returned to the nunnery to take care of the children. Our heart was with these girls since one of the MHF volunteers reported the condition of this nunnery 7 years ago. Monthly support from MHF has relieved some expenses on daily meals and tuition. The nunnery is now hosting 35 girls. We asked what they needed and were told they needed clothes for the little ones and the little ones also asked for toys.
We brought workbooks, pens, pencils, soccer balls, snacks, magazines and journals, and some used clothes for the children and also handed the award from MHF to high school graduates in both orphanages. It was a mixed feeling we felt: sad for the children in the unfortunate circumstances and happy for their hopeful faces. We want to thank the donors and volunteers of MHF for the continued support and for making a difference in the lives of the children. Photos of the trip: Kani Orphanage: https://picasaweb.google.com/110832649823277773881/KaniVillagePyaponTownship23July2015 Pyinnyar Waddy Nunnery at Kyite Latt: https://picasaweb.google.com/110832649823277773881/PyinnyarWaddyVisitIn23July2015
MHF first reports on orphanages (how MHF found the orphanages):
At the end of December 2012, Moegyo team made assessment trips to the following nunneries in Thanlyin and Kyautan township in Yangon division to determine their needs and made donations where it's needed most.
The nunnery is located in Thanlyin and run by the Nuns, Daw Kaytharri and Daw Kondamarlar. There are 180 children in the nunnery; 160 young nuns, 15 girls and 5 boys. Boys are accepted at the nunnery with the exception that only if they are the siblings of the girls who are already accepted. Most of the children in this nunnery are from Myanmar Borders, hill side and the orphans from nearby town and villages. Daily nutrition for these 180 children usually comes from donations and
offerings of food and money from the people around Yangon and vicinity .
The aspirations of this nunnery are:
- to provide education to the ethnic girls from remote regions where education is far reach
- to teach Buddhism to the girls
- to offer free education to poverty stricken children
- to help cultivate children to have strong will to be educated
- to help fulfill those outstanding students’ goals in life to become well-educated and out of poverty
This nunnery operates a secondary school that offers free education up to 8th grade. The school also provides free text books to those students who can’t afford to buy their own. After 8th grade, the students are transferred to a local High School in Thanlyin. When they start attending high school, nun students typically leave nun-hood to attend the local schools. There are 392 students whom have been supported to continue high school education by this nunnery so far.
The living quarters of the nunnery is quite small to accommodate the increasing numbers of new students. The nuns currently have to share their living space tightly with the students. In some cases, three children have to share a twin bed. The nuns are in process of building a two story building with limited budget and seeking more donation. The new building can offer proper sleeping quarters for the students and the existing sleeping quarters can be used as larger sized classrooms for the students. However, the new school building project is going slow since there is no sizable donation for the building funds and cost for the constructions so far is rising. The nuns are struggling to support the students with all they have and all they can and donation is much needed to complete the construction for these students. Moegyo team donated 50,000 kyats towards the new building funds.
Thameindawdara Tayzarthit Nunnery
Situated in Thanlyin, it was founded in 2006 and run by a nun, Daw Kaythayi. Due to the size of the small classroom, it can accommodate about 35 children at the most. However, the student population is growing and no appropriate space to accommodate the growing population of the student bodies, this nunnery is looking forward to expand as well. Moegyo team donated 30,000 kyats.
Wirathi Tawra "Santhidar" Nunnery
Located in Kyautan, the nunnery is run by the head nun named Daw Khaymar Thi. There are 148 students in the school. The classrooms are needed to be fixed before the coming rainy season since all the thatched roofs and walls may not withstand the rain and wind. The nunnery is currently collecting donation for a new classroom building. Friends of the Moegyo volunteers offered lunch to the young nuns and students at this school. Moegyo team donated 100,000 kyats towards the new building.
In 2012, Moegyo team made visits to the following orphanages and schools that we are giving on-going support with your contributions since the end of 2008.
January 2012, Mya Theingi Nunnery, Mingalardon, Yangon
Moegyo team visited Mya Theingi Nunnery in Mingalardon Township in Yangon, learned the conditions of the children and progress of the nunnery and donated 105,000 Kyats on top of the monthly support. Please see the photos here.
December 2012, Pyinnyar Waddy Nunnery, Kyite Latt, Ayeyarwaddy
Moegyo team visited Pyinnyar Waddy Nunnery in Kyite Latt. We learned that the living condition of the girls was improved by the new buildings and the girls were making good progress in school. Two of the girls are going to college and one is in the last year of high school. Four older girls are earning money from sewing business that help support them with tuition fees. On top of the monthly donation, we donated 60 dozen exercise books, pens, pencils and snacks for the girls. We also donated an automatic pattern making machine and sewing supplies to enhance their self sustaining sewing business. Please see the photos here.
December 2012, Pay Gyaung Parahita, Pay Gyaung village, Kyite Latt, Ayeyarwaddy
Moegyo team took a two-hour boat ride from Kyite Latt to visit the "Zawtika" school in Pay Gyaung village since no road goes to this place. We saw that the children were having brunch with only one soupy dish made of bean and vegetable. Since this place is hard to reach, only a few donors come by in a year and that they typically have only two meals a day. Our monthly donation alone could only go as far as providing them with rice and beans. On top of the monthly donation, we donated 30 dozen exercise books, pens and snacks for the children. We also arranged to send them one more pair of clothing since we learned that they have only one pair. Please see the photos here.
December 2012, Mya Theingi Nunnery, Mingalardon, Yangon
Moegyo team visited Mya Theingi Nunnery in the outskirts of Yangon, saw that more students enrolled as the condition of the classrooms improved and more teachers were made available. On top of the monthly donation, we donated 60 dozen exercise books for the children. Please see the photos here.
December 2012, Kani Parahita, Kani village, Pyapon, Ayeyarwaddy
Moegyo team took a bumpy ride on some flood damaged roads to visit Kani Parahita in Pyapon in December 2012. On the way, we saw heavy rain damaged paddy fields and overflowed fish farms. We reached the orphanage by lunch time and saw the children about to have lunch. After lunch time, we were delighted to meet all the college students that we've been supporting with scholarships. When we saw 3 rows of college students, 1st to 3rd year, we realized then that the years fly by so fast. We've been supporting them for four years since their last year of high school and the ones in the first row are to be in their final year of college. They went on to show us around in the compound of a building being constructed by German donors, a newly built building stocked with a computer room also by the same donors, and nearby high school that needs new building due to flood and heavy rain damage. We then donated monthly donations, scholarship money for last year high school students and college students and 60 dozen exercise books for all the students. Please see the photos here.
December 2012, Mingalar Orphanage, Phayagyi village, Twentay Township
Moegyo team visited Mingalar orphanage and saw the condition of the school and the children and donated 30 dozen exercise books on top of the monthly donations. Please see the photos here.
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We want to thank our donors
for continued support and opportunity for us to help shape
the lives of those children for the better. We also want to thank those who are in the field taking part in this
great cause. There are many children who need our support and
care. Together, we can make a difference in many young lives.
Panthapyay village has population of over 500 people in 98 households with about 200 children. Moegyo (1) Primary School opened with a permanent building consisting of 3 classrooms, a teachers living quarter, toilets and a bathroom, a concrete rain water storage tank and a generator in June 2011 school year. Attendance at the school opening was about 160 students from Panthapyay village and neighboring villages. The school is run and maintained by a headmaster, four teachers and a staff member.
Clean water is necessary for health and sanitary reasons for the school and the village since water is typically obtained from far reached area at the foot of the mountain. Moegyo volunteers surveyed the area for possible water source and planned out the water project in November 2011. A natural spring water source is located at about one and a half miles away at the East of Panthapyay village. It was determined that running pipelines from the water source would be beneficial for the health and development of the school and the whole village. Fortunately, we found an individual donor for the cost of the water project. with the donated money from a Burmese family in Connecticut, Moegyo volunteers provided logistics and know-how to execute the water project and were able to provide constantly running clean water to the whole village on March 24, 2012. The school is now, has excess to running fresh water, the villagers now don't have to go miles away down to the foot of the mountain to fetch water. The water is right at the gate of their village, now they not only can wash themselves as many times as the want and their overall hygienic condition has improved tremendously.
In June 2012, Moegyo volunteers witnessed that the impact of the water project was immense; resulting in the prevention of a highly contagious disease (cholera) spreading to the village. An outbreak of Cholera in a Palaung village name "Phan Woe Laing", 10 miles Northeast of Phanthapyay where Moegyo (1) Primary school is located. The death toll from Cholera in the Pan Woe Laing village was over a hundred including the abbot of the monastery. The disease spread to nearby villages with many death, Phan Tha Pyay village was the least effected due mainly to the access of fresh water in the village, and thanks to Moegyo and the donor of funds for the project. Imagine if the disease spread to the village where the school is located, how it would effect the children attending the school. The news of the outbreak of cholera was heard in Yangon and it was in the newspaper, a medical team of nurses and doctors were sent to this region, and Moegyo primary school was used for the medical team to station. It was convenient for them because the school is equipped with bathroom and clean toilet facility. Before the arrival of the medical team, a hospital in the Shan village of Mongyaw 10 miles away was full of sick people, some of them had to be transported to the Provincial town of Lashio where there is a big hospital, some of them died on the way before reaching Lashio. The disease was brought under control by the end of July 2012. As volunteers of Moegyo, we all take pride in what we are doing in the Palaung village educating the children and helping to improve the villagers' health.
As soon as we saw the photo of this boy from Pay-Chaung Youth Development Center with big cyst on his nose, we all wanted to get him help with his Meningocele condition. We all tried to get in touch with our contacts in Yangon to find a surgeon who is familiar with Meningocele repair while inquiring if the boy himself would like to do it. One day, one of the volunteers shared a forward email she received about a team of German doctors performing pro-bono reconstructive surgeries in Ngapali. We all got excited by the email and tried to confirm the legitimacy of the email and it was to our amazement that it proved to be true. It turned out that Oliver Soe Thet of Myanmar Chefs Association was responsible for bringing in a team of German doctors with Interplast in the country to perform free surgeries. To add to our thrill of knowing that the boy is so lucky to be in good hands of capable and experienced surgeons, the contact email address in the forward email was “Angel”. For more information about Maung Win Htun’s operation, please read the report from the field below:
Once Moegyo members have seen the photo of Mg Win Htun, they wanted to help with the boy’s bump on his nose. But they were quite scared that something might go wrong with the operation if not done properly. Anyhow they were still eager to help the boy. Last month I got an email from one of Moegyo members that Oliver’s MCA group has been helping that kind of patients. Once I got his email and his phone number, I tried to contact him and try to get appointment with the surgeon who could operate on the boy. Then, I informed the Pay-Chaung Parahita school that the boy was going to get his operation. They were very happy and awaiting my reply of the operation date. The boy was also very happy that he will have his bump on his nose removed.
The boy must have all the luck since I always got direct contact with Oliver and he helped the boy get the operation date so quickly. As soon as the date was confirmed, I informed the school to bring the boy to Yangon for his operation. The boy along with the school chair person arrived Yangon on 8th November. Due to some transportation problem, the time they got to Oliver’s office was quite late and the boy could not get admitted to the hospital on that day and they had to stay at the hotel and dinner was arranged for them on that day.
Next morning (9th November), he and his school chairperson, U San Maung, (who accompanied the boy during his hospitalization) went to the hospital to register the boy. He got admitted at the Yangon Neurological Hospital and then was sent to Pin-Lon Special Clinic to get CT scan and blood test. Not to get fright with the environmental change for the boy, I went there with them. Surprisingly, the boy seemed calm all the time. He was just smiling and pleased with the new environment. After the check-ups, we all got back to the Yangon Neurological Hospital at 1:30pm. U San Maung and MCA’s staff went to make registration and the staff showed U San Maung the shop that he had to buy medicine for the boy. Everything was new and so strange for the boy that he looked at everything around him in awe. Even the trains that going passed at the back of the hospital was quite amusing for him to see.
On that day, I also met with the Professor Dr. Myat Thu (the head of Neurological Department). He also encouraged the boy that everything is going to be fine that his bump is not so big and not so serious. Doctor also was very glad that we brought this boy to hospital that he has got some experience that some of the patients could not get the operation done since they can’t even afford transportation to get to Yangon. Since the doctor found out that the boy is an orphan, he tried to squeeze in his busy operation schedule and gave us an operation date as soon as possible. We got the operation date on Friday (12th November) even though he wasn’t on duty that date.
On Friday, I arrived there at 7:30 am to take the photos of the boy before the operation. Unluckily, the notice at the entrance of the hospital stopped me in my track to take photos. The boy went into the operation room at 8:30am and came out at 10:30am. The doctor said that the operation was successful. He invited me to his room and explained the case details as followed:
“His bump is only on the outer surface of the nostril so it is quite easy to take it off. He got that bump because there is a small liquid bag in his brain. One is the size of marble in the left hemisphere and another is the oval shape of 4cm long. That is not a problem for him.”
He also showed the photos of the operation and the stitches he made for the boy. He also told me that whenever I find someone with condition of the boy, please take him/her to this hospital as soon as possible. Since he has been getting the medical and accessories help from Oliver’s group, he is always ready to help them get operation.
During the stay in the hospital, MCA provided all the medical charges and meal for the boy. The things that are needed at the hospital and trip expenses are provided by MHF. Everyone in the hospital said that the boy was very lucky that everything was ready for him. After 5 days of his operation, I have got a phone call from the hospital that the boy is going to be discharged since his wound is so dry and in good condition. They went back to kyite-latt on 19th November (Friday). At first we tried to arrange to send them to visit some places in Yangon, but we could not make it happen unfortunately.
During the time in the hospital, Maung Win Htun took his bath 4 times a day as he was so happy to take a bath in the bathroom. He eats 3 plates of rice for every meal and 2 bowls of Mote-hin-gar every morning. He was also going around the hospital talking with the patients around him. He was also very happy for by other Moegyo volunteers, Ma Thi Thi and Ma Thuzar’s visit.
Last time we visited Pay-Chaung Youth Development Center, we met Maung Win Htun being happy that the bump on his nose was gone and all surgical wounds healed. I’d like to thank Oliver Soe Thet of Myanmar Chefs Association and Prof. Dr. Myat Thu of Yangon General Hospital Neurological Department for helping with Maung Win Htun operation.
The Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation's (MHF) 1st Annual Charity Dinner to benefit the Moegyo College Scholarship Funds for students at Kani Village Youth Development and Education Center was held in Thai Tada restaurant in Herndon, Virginia on 4 December 2010. Moegyo volunteers from Virginia and New York invited guests, friends and families to enjoy authentic Thai and Burmese cuisines, live DJ music and to participate in silent auction.
Kani Village Youth Development and Education Center is one of five orphanages that Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation has been supporting since Cyclone Nargis devastated the Delta region of Myanmar in May 2008. There were also high school students and the Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation provided them with tuition fees during their high school year. Most likely as a result of this additional support they receive, in 2010, ten students passed the high school at the Kani orphanage. Nine of them approached Moegyo that they would like to continue higher education amidst many obstacles that face them. We are committed to continue helping them to achieve brighter futures.
On behalf of the nine young adults that will benefit from college education this year, we would like to thank you all for your support for the Charity Dinner. We are happy to share with you that Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation was able to raise $6,300 during the event and thus made it possible to support the children of Kani Village Youth Development and Education Center to be able to continue their education beyond High School. The silent auction was a successful addition for the night and with that alone, we were able to raise $1,165.00.
We would like to express our appreciation for the Myanmar Restaurant, A Taste of Burma, Market Street Bar and Grill, Personal Best, KS World Travel, Cox Communication, Noufall Hair Studio, and Liberty Tax Services for donating gift certificates for the silent auction. We'd also like to thank the Burmese community in Virginia for donating authentic Burmese food and dessert, merchandise for silent auction, and live DJ music.
The Moegyo team started the year 2010 with two visits to two orphanages in Myanmar and donated money, food and school supplies to nearly one thousand orphans and poor children.
One of the orphanages, Mya Thein Gi Orphanage in Yangon vicinity, houses 98 orphans and provides free education to nearly 400 children from the area. On the visit, the Moegyo team provided lunch to the children, and gave snacks, pencils and pens, blank exercise books, and toys. Moegyo also donated money for their day to day operations.
The second orphanage, Mingalar Orphanage in Twentay, houses nearly 280 children with 300 children coming from the area. Mingalar Orphanage is located in Phayargyi Village in the Twentay Township which is about 1.5 hour drive from Yangon. The orphanage is located inside the Phayargyi Mingalar Monastery and is situated on a land of 12 acres. The compound has a total of 8 buildings. The Moegyo team donated money for their daily operations.
It was a very satisfying visit for us. We had a chance to witness how well the orphanage was running, watching the kids play in the compound on a lazy Sunday was priceless. We were extremely glad to see healthy and happy kids there. The orphanage seems to run very well with the help of volunteers, teachers and the head monk. We were amazed that they manage to feed 600+ kids every day with no guarantee donor every month yet they make it every month somehow.
