Educate One Empower Thousands 2023

Dear supporters,

The women who we have supported with our campaign Educate One Empower Thousands, are now all studying and working hard to obtain their degrees. They are grateful for all the support they receive from you all. We have been able to raise the full support that the women need. Even if you can't see that in this campaign page. We had many donations also going through our bank account and our Dutch fundraising channel. I am humbled by the passion, the enthusiasm and the courage of donors, friends and the women who are now studying. It is for me always a very rewarding time of the year when we are campaigning, as the work of many years and of many volunteers and friends is always coming back. It feels like a miracle to be able to create such a bonding community of people who all share the same mission; to assist women from Myanmar into leadership positions, and for that I am tremendously grateful.

Here an update on the amazing women we support:

Bee has shown great commitment and passion towards pursuing an education in medicine to improve the health of her community members. 

“I am writing to update you  about my 1st year in university. In my first semester I took the following classes: Anatomy, Physics, Math, and some general subjects. I faced many challenges. First of all, I did great in the Anatomy exam. I got 44 out of 50 for the midterms exam. For physics, I found many difficulties in this subject, but at least I passed. Going back to my favorite course, Anatomy, the more I study the more it interests me. Especially in the lab class, I had to deal with the dead body every week, I lost my sense of smell and my appetite as well, and yet I still enjoyed observing the body. Anatomy is very important for my future career. If I am going to be a doctor, I do need a solid background in it. After all, thanks for making my dream possible, Thanks for sharing your kindness to me. I deeply appreciate it. Best regards, Bee"

Lurn Kham knows that obtaining a master's is crucial for increasing her expertise in the field and building the appropriate networks to develop a well-equipped education system.  This is what she says about it:

“For more than four years, I have been working with BEAM Education Foundation. I have learned and understood the difficulties of Myanmar migrant children and youth accessing a basic education. Many of these children and young people came to Thailand with their parents and family members due to a longstanding civil war and economic hardships. The recent military coup and political instability in Myanmar have created a new challenge in terms of collaborations between Thai and Myanmar government on educational development for the migrants and marginalized children and youth access to accredited education. However, I am going to continue working on this issue after completing my master degree. I will use the knowledge and skills gained from study and the large network I have built with at this university and it will strengthen me in engaging with different stakeholders such as local schools, community-based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and INGOs as well as the Thai and Myanmar government to develop and improve education content and systems for the migrant and marginalized children and youth to be able to obtain the accredited education under the notion “education for all”. Warm regards Lurn Kham”

Mwe represent the essence of driven members of a community. She knows what it means to live in a rural area and have no access to school, as she has been educating children in rural Shan State. She has been actively fighting human rights violations, by demonstrating when a monk got murdered unjustified. She has raised money for the victims of war in Shan State and she got chosen to participate in ALTSEAN-Burma (Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma).  Mwe is a true emerging leader in her community, who knows what is going on, on the ground and who can really achieve transformation in her community. Her education is key for her growth to be able to do even more than she is doing now.

“I want to focus on my career as an English teacher and develop an English curriculum for established community schools in the Shan State. I believe that this interest is based on what I have already done in the community, and what I aspire to continue to do. To fulfill my mission with more skills and confidence, I need to finish my studies at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University. I designed my plan during my final year at Shan Community College but conflict in Myanmar made my plan change. In the current situation in Myanmar, we need more teachers and social workers. I am passionate about education and doing whatever I can to help my community. In order to help, I must improve my skills and knowledge. I believe that education is key to protect all people in our country, both ethnic minorities and non-ethnic people in Myanmar, and to solve the problems ethnic communities face in our country. If I obtain a BA degree, I will use the knowledge I gain to train people to help their communities and provide free education for the children. Many people in my country have limited financial resources so they can’t take children to school or access higher education. Kind regards Mwe."

Again all donors thank you for your support, your encouragement and the strength you are giving us all, to keep moving forward with hope!

Greetings from the heart , Ursula and the We women team