In a class of their own

Back in October we posted up a photo of a pile of wood waiting be transformed into a primary school for a small Chin community in Burma. At this time the children had no chance of getting an education. We are happy to report that the school is now built and open for classes!

The school was due to be opening in November but a delay in harvest meant that all the villagers were tied up working in the fields throughout most of that month. Now the school is built they have held a community celebration and got started on their learning.

Cheery Zahau, our representative in Burma says “All the villagers and those in the nearby villages are so grateful as they can send their children to the school too. Next they would love to raise money for high school teachers”.

This Chin community in this tiny village in Burma have been the target of persecution and oppression for many years from the Burmese military regime.

The village is situated just 3 miles from an area where one of the main Burma Army Battalions are posted. These soldiers force tax, labour and food from the villagers and consequently many people have left the village.

Despite years of campaigning for a road to be built, there is no transportation out of the village so before this school was built the children remaining in the village had no way of getting to schools further afield. The new primary school has four teachers and provides education for 84 children.

Please find out more about our work with the Chin people of Burma or donate to our projects. 

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