PROSPECT BURMA KEEPING THE FLAME OF EDUCATION ALIVE

In This Issue:

“Prospect Burma celebrates 25 years … So much achieved yet much more to be done.”

Pages:

2 Chairman’s Editorial

Burma Watch

Burma Timeline

5 - 6 PB’s Beginnings

7 – 12 PB Alumni Stories

13 - 14 Overview of Adopt A

Scholarship (AAS)

Programme

PB in India

Celebrating PB

Alumni Authors

PB in Burma

News & Events

PB’s Legacy in Pictures

How to Help

PROSPECT BURMA’S SILVER JUBILEE

In this issue we celebrate Prospect Burma’s rich history and honour all who

have, and continue to make our existence possible. WE THANK YOU. We

hope you particularly enjoy reading some of the stories of our crowning

achievement; the Prospect Burma alumni.

“We need educated young people, we need skilled young people, and

we need people not just with knowledge and education but with the

breadth of mind that will enable them to take our country into the wide

world. There is so much to be done and Prospect Burma has already

done so much.” Aung San Suu Kyi, 2013

Prospect Burma was founded in 1989 following the military regime’s closure

of all universities and schools in response to mass pro-democracy

demonstrations. Thousands of students were forced to flee to Burma/

Myanmar’s borders and neighbouring countries, or face lengthy prison

sentences. The most iconic figure of this period in history is Aung San Suu

Kyi. We are honoured to call her one of our longest supporters and are

grateful to receive some funds from her Nobel Peace Prize and other

awards.

Our charity’s genesis was through the efforts of a few empathetic individuals

who came together initially to raise funds for books and classes in refugee

schools, and also awarded an annual university scholarship to an exiled

student. We have expanded our scholarship programme dramatically in the

last 25 years thanks to grants from organisations, trusts and the generous

donations of individuals. We currently make approximately 110 awards per

year.

ISSUE 28 SUMMER 2014

PB’s first grantee Pwint Htun and her husband with Aung San Suu Kyi

2

Prospect Burma’s Chairman, Robert Gordon, reflects

In this edition, we celebrate the growth of

Prospect Burma from a tiny seed planted a

quarter of a century ago to the flourishing tree

it is today.

I first came across the charity in 1995 when it

was still a sapling. In September that year, I

was posted as British Ambassador to Burma.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been released

from six years of house arrest a few weeks

beforehand. Among our first visitors were two

remarkable ladies: Patricia Gore-Booth and

Evelyn Aris. One had introduced Daw Suu

to her future husband Michael Aris; the other was Michael’s stepmother.

These two Fulham neighbours were the charity’s driving force in the early

years. They were largely responsible for giving the charity the impetus and

profile it needed to grow. Their mixture of charm and perseverance proved

formidably effective in overcoming the many early obstacles. Sadly both these

ladies have since died, but their energy and commitment have provided a

lasting inspiration to all those involved in Prospect Burma.

Many others have since contributed to Prospect Burma’s development and

professionalisation, not least my predecessor as chairman for 18 years,

Martin Morland.

AT 25 YEARS

As a 25 year old, we can say that Prospect Burma has reached a certain

maturity. From its very modest beginnings, it is now able to provide

scholarships to over 100 young Burmese a year to study at universities

abroad. Increasing numbers of our students are now able to return to their

home country and are starting to make a real impact in their chosen fields.

Some of their stories feature in this edition.

We are delighted that, at long last, a growing proportion of our students (over

80% of the most recent cohort) are now able to use their skills for the

betterment of their country. But we should not underestimate the challenges

they and Burma face. As the 2015 elections approach, the political climate is

likely to get tenser. Some elements are abusing the newly won freedom of

expression to spread racial and religious hatred. Reforms in many areas have

still to be completed and – for many poor Burmese – life has not changed

much, if at all.

Prospect Burma’s mission is still far from accomplished. We look forward to

supporting and strengthening Burma’s democratic and social transition

through our educational work abroad and, increasingly, our activities in-

country. Burma has just started its long and bumpy road towards a freer and

more equal society. It will need committed long-term partners such as

Prospect Burma for quite a while yet.

PROSPECT BURMA Keeping the flame of education alive

Patron: The Viscount Slim OBE DL

Vice-Patron: Martin Morland CMG

Chairman: Robert Gordon CMG OBE

Vice-Chair: Patricia Herbert

Trustees:

Anna Allott OBE David Colvin CMG Daw Kyi Kyi May Guy Slater Sir Robin Christopher KBE CMG Lindy Ambrose Caroline Courtauld MBE Dr Michael Marett-Crosby Dominic Hammond

Acting Director:

Fraser Wilson MBE

Scholarships Administrator:

Josh Bowsher

Communications & Fundraising

Officer:

Audrey Ngozo

Prospect Burma

Porters' Lodge

Rivermead Court

Ranelagh Gardens

London SW6 3SF

Registered Charity No: 802615

Tel: 020 7371 0887

Fax: 020 7371 0547

E: information@prospectburma.org

Facebook.com/prospectburma

Twitter.com/prospectburma

THE BEGINNING

Chairman's Editorial

3

As Prospect Burma reaches its 25th birthday, these are chal-

lenging times. Although regression to the repressive isolationism

of the recent past seems unlikely, the future political and eco-

nomic path is far from clear. After decades of internal conflict, it

will take many years for substantive change to reach out to the

whole country in such essential fields as education, health, pov-

erty alleviation and ethnic peace.

On a positive note, it is important to acknowledge how many

long taboo rights – including freedom of expression and assem-

bly – are publicly discussed and, quite frequently, allowed in the

country today. Equally significant is the re-energisation of com-

munity life and civil society. These are welcome developments that Prospect Burma has long worked towards.

Many of the people and causes that Prospect Burma has supported over the years are active in different walks

of life in the country today.

Given Burma’s troubled history, however, caution is still needed in assessing the shape of future reform. Many

difficulties remain in the political landscape, and tensions are once again rising in the countdown to a general

election scheduled for next year.

Firstly, it is still far from clear who will lead the next government.

The same military-backed elite remains in power from the SPDC

era, but there is no indication as to how they will address the chal-

lenges of succession. Speculation concerns whether the armed

forces will continue to back the “reformist” Thein Sein as president.

Equally uncertain is the future of the military-backed Union Solidari-

ty and Development Party, which is considered unlikely to win a

majority again if the 2015 polls are truly free and fair.

This leads to a second source of tension: the question of constitu-

tional reform. Opposition groups are very aware that, without constitutional amendments, the next election is

unlikely to deliver the kind of victory for the National League for Democracy that they regard as essential. Not

only is Aung San Suu Kyi presently unable to become president but the armed forces also continue to have a

block on constitutional reform through reserved seats in the legislatures.

Equally difficult is a third looming crisis: that of ethnic politics. As the general election approaches, the issue of

ethnic ceasefires is once again reaching a critical moment. Government operations have continued against

Kachin, Palaung and Shan groups in northeast Burma, causing over 100,000 villagers to flee their homes dur-

ing the past three years. Meanwhile, ethnic antipathies have been aroused further by land-grabbing and eco-

nomic projects in the borderlands that do not benefit local peoples. Equally serious, no end appears in sight to

Buddhist-Muslim tensions and violence that have spread from the

Rakhine State, seeing over 250 civilians killed, 140,000 lose their

homes, and international humanitarian groups forced from the north-

west borderlands.

Clearly, these remain vital but uncertain times. After decades of dicta-

torship, there are grounds for optimism. But many of the most im-

portant challenges – from building peace and democracy to social

justice and educational opportunities for all – are still to be completed.

Burma Watch

4

Burma Timeline

Political Landscape

1988 Democracy protests end 26 years of Burma

Socialist Programme Party rule

State Law and Order Restoration Council

seizes power, crushing demonstrations

1989 Aung San Suu Kyi and other democracy leaders

arrested

1990 National League for Democracy wins general

election but SLORC rule continues

1993 SLORC-backed National Convention starts to

draw up a new constitution

1995 Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest

1997 SLORC renamed State Peace and

Development Council in military reshuffle

2000 Aung San Suu Kyi placed under house arrest

2002 Aung San Suu Kyi briefly released

2003 Aung San Suu Kyi re-arrested after escaping

injury in Depayin attack

2004 Prime minister Gen Khin Nyunt arrested in

purge by Snr-Gen Than Shwe

2006 Than Shwe moves the capital from Rangoon to

new town of Nay Pyi Taw

2007 Thousands arrested and 31 killed in SPDC

repression of “Saffron Revolution”

2008 138,000 people killed or missing during Cyclone

Nargis. One week later, a stage-managed

referendum endorses new constitution

2010 Pro-military Union Solidarity and Development

Party wins general election

Aung San Suu Kyi released after total of over 14

years under house arrest

2011 President Thein Sein assumes office, backed by

armed forces and USDP

Political, economic, media and social

liberalisations begin

2012 Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 other NLD MPs

elected in parliament by-election

Ethnic ceasefires spread but conflict increases

in Kachin and north Shan states

Loss of life in Buddhist-Muslim violence that

begins in Rakhine state.

2014 Popular support builds for constitutional

change and a nationwide ceasefire

Social and Education Landscape

1987 Burma classified with Least Developed Country

status as one of world’s poorest countries

1988 Unknown number of student demonstrators killed

or arrested in SLORC coup

All universities closed under martial law

10,000 students flee into the borderlands, starting

an intellectual exodus

1989 Min Ko Naing and other student leaders

sentenced to long jail terms

1991 7,000 teachers and several hundred lecturers

sacked in political purge

Refugee numbers pass 250,000 mark

1991-2 Universities re-open but closed again for nine

months when students celebrate Aung San Suu

Kyi’s Nobel Peace Prize award

1992-6 Academic year shortened to only five months

1996-9 Universities shut for another three years following

pro-democracy protests

Failure to achieve ethnic ceasefires nationwide

2000 Rangoon Institute of Technology and other urban

campuses closed down. SPDC moves university

campuses to out-of-town districts

2004 Student leader Min Ko Naing released from prison

2007 Hundreds of students and monks arrested during

Saffron Revolution

2008 Min Ko Naing and 88 Generation leaders receive

jail terms up to 65 years

2012 Burma ranked below Bangladesh and Cambodia

at 149th out of 187 countries in the UN Human

Development Index.

Average of just 3.9 years of schooling for children

Among the highest incidence of malaria, HIV and

TB in Asia, but just US$12 per capita spent on

health annually

Min Ko Naing and other political prisoners

released in general amnesty

2013-4 Educational reforms discussed, many exiles

permitted to return, and restrictions loosened on

international institutions and academics

25 per cent increase in illicit opium production,

confirming Burma as world’s second largest

producer after Afghanistan

Over 650,000 civilians remain internally-

displaced, 150,000 refugees and over 2 million

migrants (many of them illegal) in neighbouring

countries

5

Prospect Burma has travelled a long way during the past 25 years. Sadly, several of the key founders have passed away. These include Alan Hall, Dr Michael Aris, Evelyn Aris and Lady Patricia Gore-Booth. Bu t t hei r m em or y has l i ved on i n PB ’s continued support to Burma ’s education and youth through many diff icult years of repression and malaise. Despite the bleak backdrop, theirs was always a forward - looking and opti-mistic vision, which was reflected in the choice of the Prospect Burma name.

Prospect Burma ’s early years were frequently overshadowed by crisis as volunteers sought to help the thousands of stu-dents that had fled the cities into the borderlands following a brutal mil itary crackdown. These were challenges of survival as much as education, and Prospect Burma initially concentrated

on emergency aid and teaching materials for students in refugee camps around the country ’s bor-ders. Indeed one grant was to buy boats so that students could escape across the river into Thailand in the event of attack.

Conflict and suppression continued, and circumstances often changed. But from the turn of the 1990s, a new phase began with the development of structured educational programmes under an out-reach philosophy to the most vulnerable and needy that continues until the present day. Prospect

Burma quickly recognised that this also meant responding to the educational needs of ethnic nationality peoples in the poverty-stricken borderlands where many students had taken sanctuary.

Projects supported or developed by Prospect Burma in the 1990s included health, language and vocational programmes for students at such places as the Federal University on the Thai border, the establishment of a refugee school on the Indo-Bangladesh border, media -training in Thailand, the Eng-lish Language school for refugees in Delhi, teacher - training programmes for Karen and Karenni communities, and car-pentry, computer and women ’s vocational schools in conflict -affected areas of Kachin State.

Another important init iative began in 1994 with the setup of Prospect Burma ’s Scholarship Pro-gramme. This was generously started with a grant from Aung San Suu Kyi ’s Trust for Health and Ed-ucation, established with Nobel Peace Prize funds. Such funding allowed Prospect Burma to help support students at universities worldwide, such as the Asian Institute of Technology, with a special emphasis on education, health, law, environment and subjects essential for Burma ’s future. By the turn of the century, the Scholarship Programme had secured more donors and increased to over 100 students annually. To date, the Scholarship Fund has supported over 1,300 students with a total of 2,310 grants, and today many recipients are back home in Burma making important contributions in different walks of life.

At the same time, Prospect Burma has always been keen to support educational init iatives by Burma ’s communities and teachers themselves. Outstanding in this regard have been the Teacher

Training for Burmese Teachers Centre in Thailand and the Thinking Classroom Foundation init iated by the PB alumnus Dr Thein Lwin; Health & Hope devel oped b y another PB alumnus Dr Sa Sa on the Chin State-India border; the Thabyay Education Foundation; and the In-tensive English Programme i n Kac h i n St ate. Al l such projects have had to develop in diff icult and often re-stricted circumstances. But the commitment, ingenuity and focus on progress and opportunity for Burma ’s young people confirm that the future will be bright as long as polit ical and educational freedoms are allowed.

Prospect Burma - 25 Years in Action

Lady Gore-Booth with Daw Suu, 1995

Dr Thein Lwin and Vice-Chair Patricia Herbert

(extreme right) at his centre in Chiang Mai, 2004.

Early PB training project in borderlands

6

Deep thanks, too, should be given to the many donors,

both institutional and individual, who have helped

Prospect Burma in providing educational outreach along

the way. Some have requested anonymity, and there is

not enough space to name all. But important funding has

come at different times from, among others, such

institutional donors as The Aung San Suu Kyi Trust for

Health and Education, US State Department, UK

Overseas Development Assistance, Camellia

Foundation, Clothworkers Foundation and HSBC, while

moral support and publicity have been provided by such

well-known figures as HRH The Prince of Wales and

George Soros. BBC Radio Four Appeals by Joanna

Lumley and Maureen Lipman also proved timely and

successful.

A particular highlight was the 2012 hosting of Aung San

Suu Kyi’s meeting with the Burmese community at

London’s Royal Festival Hall. The list is too long to

mention all the supporters and volunteers who have

helped Prospect Burma through 25 years of crisis and

change. At PB’s core has been the long-standing

stability provided by its veteran patron, Viscount John

Slim; just three chairpersons, Alan Hall,

Martin Morland and Robert Gordon; and the

vice-chairperson Patricia Herbert. But nothing

would have been possible without the common

ethos and belief in continuing to provide

educational opportunity during a grave time of

need. The flame of education has been kept

alive, and the hope now is that Burma’s peoples

do indeed have a better future.

(Martin Smith)

Prospect Burma Timeline 1989 Formed in London, UK 1989-90 Emergency aid for student refugees, teaching materials, library funds

1990-94 Health, language and vocational training projects for student refugees

Teacher training programmes for Karen and Karenni communities

Support to establish refugee school on the Indo-Bangladesh border

1994 PB Scholarship Programme started with grant from Aung San Suu Kyi’s Trust for Health and

Education, established with Nobel Peace Prize funds.

1995-99 Annual Scholarship Programme launched for study at universities worldwide

Support to media training programmes for Burmese in Thailand

First English language classes in India: New Delhi school established (1998)

Funding for computer, women’s and vocational programmes in Kachin State

2000-05 International scholarships expand to over 100 students annually

Support to Teacher Training for Burmese Teachers in Thailand

Funding starts for Intensive English Programme for teachers, Kachin State

PB Partners, Institutional Partners and Adopt-A-Scholarship schemes launch

2006-10 Grants begin to English language students at the British Council, Rangoon

New project initiated with Teacher Training for Burmese Teachers Centre

Increased funding to English programmes in India and Kachin State

Launch of American Friends of Prospect Burma

2011-14 Scholarships pass 1,300 total for Burmese students with total of 2,310 grants

Hosting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s meeting with Burmese community at London’s Royal Festival Hall

Support to education and training programmes for former political prisoners

Funding to Thinking Classroom Foundation

Support to Health & Hope in Chin State and for students at colleges in Shillong

Prospect Burma team and Board of Trustees with Daw Suu, 2012

Prospect Burma - 25 Years in Action

7

The Spirit of Prospect Burma - Our Alumni

Prospect Burma’s founding principle was, and remains, the need to invest long-term in the education of

the next generation, those upon whom the country’s future and hopes for positive change depend. At this

pivotal moment in the country’s development, we are especially proud of how our alumni have evolved

and are giving back at home and abroad. Congratulations, you are an inspiration to the next generation.

Dr Nwe Nwe Aye is another of our early and illustri-

ous alumni, who has recently retired from her post as

Senior Adviser at UNAIDS, China, to return home. She

reflects: “I went to London 20 years ago to study at the

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Towards

the end of the course, I missed my family so much so that

I decided to return home and continue my thesis there.

PB provided me with funds that enabled me to complete

the data collection and thesis from home. Even more val-

uable than this funding support was the moral support,

counsel and friendship that I received in abundance from

PB ladies - Evelyn Aris, Lady Gorebooth and Kyi Kyi

May, throughout my time in the UK. I had seen them work

relentlessly to keep supporting students from Burma,

never once giving up hope despite many hardships.

News of our achievements and success always raised

their spirits and kept them going. 25 years on today, Pro-

spect Burma is thriving, so are the generations of people

who have benefited from its visionary investment in edu-

cation. We must keep this “Prospect Burma” spirit alive

until we reach the time when every student in Burma can

have access to good quality education in their home loca-

tion within the country.” 1995: UK, London School of

Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, MSc Public Health

Mai Ni Ni Aung is well-known for her

innovative weaving project (see:

www.sonetu.com). She writes: “The

education I received and the contacts

I made as a result of my Prospect

Burma scholarship gave me opportu-

nities that would not have been possi-

ble otherwise. The work at SOAS

gave me a foundation upon which I was able to expand. In

particular, I realized there were many ways that I could con-

tribute to the development of my Chin ethnic group in a re-

mote part of Rakhine State in Myanmar and also preserve

the traditional backstrap weaving skills. This work could

create employment opportunities for Chin women so that

they could meet their basic needs and help support their

families. My education has been essential in the work I do

in Myanmar. I plan to continue to work in Myanmar for the

improvement of the Chin people and to give them the edu-

cation and skills needed in a modern Myanmar.” 1997 &

1998: UK, Westminster University, Journalism; University

of London, SOAS, MA Development Studies

Dr Thein Lwin is a former PB Trustee and a dedicated

educationalist. An ex-political prisoner, after completing

his Newcastle University studies, Thein Lwin in 2001 set

up a Teacher Training for Burmese Teachers Centre in

Chiang Mai, and, later, a Migrant Workers Training Centre.

In 2007 Prospect Burma, thanks to dedicated funding from

a supportive Trust, was able to increase its support to The-

in Lwin’s Centre to develop and implement a significant

expansion of its work through a four component pro-

gramme of Teacher Professional Development, Education

Leadership & School Management, Skills Development for

Refugees and Migrant Workers, and Education Policy &

Curriculum Development, implemented through a series of

workshops in different locations, including inside Burma.

With his Centre now reconstituted as the Thinking Class-

room Foundation (www.thinkingclassroom.org) and re-

located to Burma, Dr Thein Lwin has, after years of exile,

been able to return to Burma to continue his pioneering

work. We pay tribute to his dedication and all he has

achieved and share his belief that: ”Democracy cannot

move forward in Burma without education reform”. 1996 &

1997: UK, Newcastle University, MEd, PhD

Pwint Htun holds a special

place in PB’s history as the

first ever scholarship grant-

ee. A telecommunications

professional, she and her

family continue to actively

support their Burmese and

other communities through

Kiva, an online lending plat-

form. In her words: “I am so

honoured to have been selected as the very first recipient

of a Prospect Burma Scholarship. After graduation, I

joined the wireless telecommunications industry as I get

so much personal satisfaction from being able to connect

loved ones together. In conjunction with enabling mobile

financial services, I advocate for benefits of community-

based village savings and loans groups. Prospect Burma

can be proud of the investment made in my education two

decades ago. I am a proud donor of Prospect Burma be-

cause I know that my funds will be educating someone

and changing more lives than I would ever know.” 1994:

USA, University of Washington, Seattle

8

The Spirit of Prospect Burma — Our Alumni

Thein Naing has a very

unique history with Pro-

spect Burma that began

soon after the charity

was founded. After es-

caping Rangoon as a

young student activist,

he taught ethnic Karenni

on the Thai-Burma bor-

der areas in the 1990s. It

was there that in 1992 he received teacher training from Pro-

spect Burma’s then English teacher trainer, Susanne Smith.

He continued teaching ethnic populations for a total of six

years till 1995. Currently, he works as an OUA scholarship

support person, and an education consultant for Mon, Karen

and Kachin communities in Australia. He recounts his jour-

ney: “I received PB sponsorship again in 2001 for a Master

degree in Education. My research, “Diversity and Multicultur-

al Education in Burma”, was eventually translated for a Bur-

mese teachers’ training textbook in ethnic areas. PB’s sup-

port greatly helped me in many ways: firstly to acquire

knowledge and skills I desired for the marginalized popula-

tions; secondly, I became a professional teacher trainer, re-

searcher, and an academic consultant with the exiled Na-

tional Health and Education Committee, and finally, in 2009 I

set up an education magazine publication house, Maukkha

www.maukkha.org.” 1991-2: Burma, PB teacher training;

2001: Australia, Monash University, MEd

Saw Blessing is a Karen who describes receiv-

ing the PB scholarship as “a stepping stone and

turning point” in his life. His education not only

awakened a thirst for political knowledge and skill

but has also allowed him to contribute to his coun-

try’s development back home. He has worked at

Myanmar Institute of Theology as Head of the Social

Studies department and as a lecturer in Political

Science. At present he is an independent political

commentator who writes political articles for maga-

zine and journals and has published two books in

Burmese, titled (in English) “Political Tradition of

Democracy” and “The Exodus: Possibilities of Public

participation in Peace Process”. When asked how

being a PB scholar affected his outlook for the fu-

ture, he responded with an inspiring Nelson Man-

dela quote; "Education is the most effective weapon

which you can use to change the world". 2008-10:

Thailand, Ramkhamhaeng University, MA Politi-

cal Science

Hsar Doe Doh Moo,

a former refugee,

has built a career

working for progress

in his native Karen

community. In his

words: “It was chari-

table organisations

like PB that stepped

in and made great

efforts and commit-

ments to rekindle the hopes of displaced and refugee

students in their pursuits for higher education in uni-

versity. I came to realise that PB had invested in my

education so that I can be agent of change for my

community and part of the solution for creating a bet-

ter, prosperous, and democratic country of Burma.

With the education and rich experiences that I had

gained, I began my professional career working with

the Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity

(KRCEE). Three years later I joined the Karen organ-

isation called the Karen Environmental and Social

Action Network (KESAN) www.kesan.asia as the

environmental education coordinator. Thank You to

the Prospect Burma and Happy 25th Anniversary.”

2004-07: Thailand, Mission

College, BA Psychology & Education; 2008-09:

Assumption University, MSc Counselling & Psy-

chology

Dr May Myat Win previously worked as Medical officer

with Aide Médicale Internationale (AMI) in Maela refugee

camp for Karen refugees on the Thai-Burma border. Current-

ly she is an MD on emergency mission for the health care of

refugees from Central African Republic in Cameroon, with

MSF Swiss. Her sentiments are: “Receiving the PB scholar-

ship is the turning point in my life. I learnt advanced tropical

medicine and used the knowledge I gained, to save the lives

of not only Myanmar citizens but also people from other parts

of the world. For the future as a

PB scholar, I would continue to

work for the most vulnerable

populations in the world and for

Myanmar. I would like to share

my experience and knowledge

gained from my work in other

parts of the world.” 2009: Thai-

land, Mahidol University, MSc

Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

9

The Spirit of Prospect Burma — Our Alumni

Lin Lin Aung is an academ-

ic and aid worker with much-

travelled experience. Her jubi-

lee message reads: “Being a

PB scholar has always been a

tremendous honour and inspi-

ration for me. It allowed me to

receive a world-class educa-

tion in the United States and

gain valuable work experi-

ence. My education prepared me for my job at the In-

ternational Youth Foundation, where I gained valuable

experience working with disadvantaged youth and

communities. I have since worked in 12 countries

throughout Asia and Africa. The moral support of the

PB family also was critical to my survival and growth as

the first young woman from my family to ever study

abroad. I am thrilled to be returning home after 14

years of studying and working abroad. Over the next

few years, I hope to be able to contribute to the nation’s

development in substantive ways as a professional and

educator.” 2001–06: USA, Mary Baldwin College, BA

Economics & Business Administration; Johns Hop-

kins and Georgetown Universities, MA SE Asia

Studies, MSc International Development

Kyaw Thu Ra initially worked

as a Researcher for Extractive

Industries Transparency Initiative

(EITI) in Burma. At present he is

a Governance Programme Of-

ficer for Oxfam GB in Burma. He

says: ‘”My Prospect Burma

scholarship allowed me to study

Philosophy, Politics and Eco-

nomics. This gave me a package

of innovative and theoretical knowledge that has been

very supportive to my work with regards to Governance

and Development in Myanmar. As a Chairperson of

Board of Directors at Scholar Institute (formally known as

YDIN), I am directing and reforming the organization with

aims of embracing democracy and human rights, gender

and women empowerment including governance compo-

nent with home-coming scholars.” 2009-13: Thailand,

Rangsit University, BA Philosophy, Politics & Econom-

ics

Phone Myint Maw is a young

visionary who returned home

after graduation last year deter-

mined to fulfil his dream of open-

ing a school to, as he describes,

‘..share knowledge and distribute

experience about Social Scienc-

es to the public in Myanmar..’

We are delighted that his dream

has come true and the A Linn

Thit (School of Social Sciences)

will soon open in Rangoon. He

writes: “Everyone has someone or something that has

made an impact on his or her life. After I was awarded a

PB scholarship, my educational goals would be impacted

in many ways. First of all, being chosen as a recipient of

Prospect Burma scholarship was a huge honour. PB aid-

ed me for four years in pursuing a stronger future for my-

self and hopefully others as well. Secondly, I had confi-

dence in myself to reach my goals. Most importantly, I

could have the means to pursue my dream of obtaining a

degree. A more advantaged person might not under-

stand the magnitude of scholarships and financial awards

to secure educational success, but I did. I fulfilled my

dream of becoming a professional in the social sciences

field. The Prospect Burma scholarship changed my life.”

2010 - 13: Thailand, Rangsit University, BA Philosophy,

Politics & Economics.

For Dr Aung Zaw Moe, receiving the PB scholarship

allowed him to complete his studies within a shorter

period of one year. The impact of this assistance was

long lasting. He says: “The scholarship allowed me to

enter the workforce earlier than I expected. I know from

experience how difficult it is to get a degree without

proper financial support. I started a small community

fund to support the kids for primary education since

2011. Although my field of study was Public Health, I

worked more in the field of community development. I

built a small NGO “Kyan-Dyne-Aung” (KDA) in my vil-

lage (Kamarnut village) that provides education ser-

vices to children and youths. I also worked with other

PB scholar alumni for Education reform in Myanmar

since 2012. I hope I could

work together with other PB

scholar alumni for develop-

ment of Myanmar.”

2010: Bangladesh, BRAC

University, MSc Public

Health

10

The Spirit of Prospect Burma — Our Alumni

Phyu Pannu

Khin is another

of PB’s bright

young alumni; she

was recently

awarded the 2014

Norman J. Peter-

son Award at Mon-

tana State University for being the International Student

of The Year. She writes: “Four years ago, I was a Bur-

mese teenager hoping to study in America. I had been

accepted to a U.S university with partial scholarship but I

could not afford the rest of my tuition. Prospect Burma

has made a significant difference in supporting my edu-

cation from such a difficult position. As a PB recipient,

this experience has opened up doors for me to the world

where you no longer see borders and limitations but grow

and strive for the best you can be. I am now studying

neuroscience in the Honors College at Montana State

University. A couple of research grants I have received

allow me to study Huntington’s disease and neural tube

closure during nervous system formation. The opportunity

of doing medical research has been so valuable which

will allow me to contribute in health development of my

country one day as I have always dreamed of.” 2011-14:

USA, Montana State University, BSc Community

Health

John Zar Ring Thang founded a local non-profit organi-

sation called Agency for Basic Community Development

(ABC) based in Rangoon and Kalay in the aftermath of the

2008 Cyclone Nargis. Their activities include child protec-

tion, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), grassroots

empowerment, community forest, community founding and

civic education, human rights education, and promotion

and protection of the rights of migrant workers.

(www.abcmm.org). He says: “The Prospect Burma

scholarship enabled me to accomplish my formal academ-

ic journey. It subsequently helped me take ‘a road least

travelled’ in Burma. I try to live my best potential in life. I

dreamt of helping people help themselves in basic way. I

am glad to be a Prospect Burma scholar because PB

commits itself to promote freedom and democracy in our

country. As a PB scholar, I dream, and commit myself to

the cause of nonviolence, peace, reconciliation, freedom,

federalism and integral human and ecological develop-

ment in Burma. I do congratulate Prospect Burma for its

silver jubilee. I am glad to know that PB continues to help

Burmese scholars.“ 2006-08: Philippines, St Vincent’s

School of Theology, MA Theology

Joshua Set Paing Htet holds a special significance

for Prospect Burma, not only for his academic achieve-

ments but also for the first PB marriage. He says: “If it

wasn’t for Prospect Burma, I wouldn’t have been able

to finish my law school, get my Masters from Oxford

and become a lawyer at Allen & Overy where I am part

of the Myanmar group, engaging in many exciting pro-

jects including teaching international finance laws at

Yangon University, training the lawyers at the Attorney

General’s Office, and helping Telenor rebuild Burma’s

telecom network. Through Prospect Burma, I have also

met many like-minded scholars including my wife - they

constantly inspire me to work hard and keep Burma

close to my heart. Being a Prospect Burma scholar

gives purpose to our years away from home. Many

charities change lives, but every time Prospect Burma

changes a student’s life, it is a step closer for the 60

million to a better life.” 2006: UK, BPP Law School;

2011-12: UK, Oxford University, International Human

Rights Law

Hawng Tsai has special-

ised in education, teaming

up on some projects with

another PB alumnus, Dr

Thein Lwin. She reflects:

“Since completing my stud-

ies with the support of the

Prospect Burma Scholaship

Programme, my life has

changed significantly and I

am able to make a substantial contribution to the de-

velopment of education in my country. I graduated in

2011 from Miriam College, Manila with a BSc in Child

Development and Education. Back in Burma, I am the

Education Programme Officer for Thinking Classroom

Foundation www.thinkingclassroom.org and a teacher

trainer. Courses focus on active learning and critical

thinking methodology, educational philosophy and the-

ory, and teaching and learning strategies. I also teach

adult literacy to Burmese migrants in Chiang Mai, Thai-

land. I am a member of the Board of Directors of the

Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking International

Consortium (www.rwctic.org) based in Romania. I am

also actively involved in the National Network for Edu-

cation Reform - a civil society organization working for

the reform of educational policy and law in Burma.”

2007-10: Philippines, Miriam College, BSc Child De-

velopment and Education

11

The Spirit of Prospect Burma — Our Alumni

Htun Htun Aung started an in-

ternational charitable network

called SMILE in 1999 to help or-

phans and poor school-children in

rural areas of Burma, which has

been continued since then. He

reflects: “I received my basic edu-

cation in Myanmar (Burma), voca-

tional education in Singapore, and

professional and higher education

in the United Kingdom. My passion

and commitment to the development of education in Myan-

mar stems from my personal experiences, particularly the

unusual and long education trajectory I had to take. My ex-

perience as a PB scholar was a major turning point in my

life as it enabled me to receive a world-class education at a

world-class university which elevated me to embark on

meaningful and exciting educational works in Myanmar. I

have been continuing my educational works and leadership

in Myanmar since I was a Prospect Burma scholar, and I

want to bring about significant and wide-ranging positive

changes that will ensure the mass student popula-

tion receive a higher standard of education in Myanmar

which can contribute towards social, political and economic

developments of Myanmar.“ 1998-2001: UK, LSE, BSc in

Philosophy and Economics; 2012: UK, Oxford, MSc in

Education

Thet Hnin Aye worked as a psycho-social support officer for

8 months with Myanmar Red Cross Society and is currently a

protection field officer at the International Committee of the

Red Cross. She writes: “Receiving a PB scholarship gave me

the best opportunities to obtain broader expertise in health

science, develop the sense of multicultural cooperation and to

prepare every necessity for the competitive professional life.

These opportunities were not available in the culture of au-

thoritarian regime before the transition took place in 2011.

After doing my Masters degree with PB support, I successfully

made the career changes to support the needs of my country

as a responsible educated good citizen. Without PB support, I

would have spent my working

hours in clinics or hospital as a

nurse. My life is a satisfactory

reflection of my professional ac-

complishments and I am happy

to be contributing to the needs of

the country in this historical tran-

sition.” 2010: Thailand, Mahidol

University, MSc Public Health

Mung Shaung Aung writes: “I was awarded a PB

scholarship in 2010. During my years of study, I fully

developed my awareness, sense of service, profession-

alism and skills. Currently I work at a Teacher Training

Center (Pinya Sanyae Institute of Education) which

trains young people to implement Children Centred

Approach (CCA) to disadvantaged and vulnerable chil-

dren in the delta region and remote areas. I teach Edu-

cational Psychology, Computer, Science, and English

and am also making a documentary film for my insti-

tute. Every year the institute produces about 20 quali-

fied teachers who can serve and teach compulsory and

supplementary subjects. My valuable experiences in

Thailand have helped me a lot to share the knowledge

and ideas with hungry students who want to make a

change. I strongly believe that the classroom is the cru-

cial place to change attitudes and develop skills of peo-

ple in Myanmar during the dramatic changes in politics

and other aspects of life.” 2010-13: Thailand, Asia

Pacific International University, BA Psychology and

Education

Nehginpao Kipgen is a political

scientist and general secretary of

the U.S.-based Kuki International

Forum whose general research

interests include democratization,

democratic transition, human

rights, ethnic conflict, identity

politics, and foreign policy. His

academic research focuses on

the politics of South and Southeast Asia, with speciali-

zation on Burma. He has published peer-reviewed

academic articles and over 100 other articles in vari-

ous international newspapers and magazines in five

continents: Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North

America. He is author of Democracy Movement in

Myanmar: Problems and Challenges (Copal, 2014).

His anniversary message reads: “Congratulations

Prospect Burma team for the upcoming silver jubilee

celebration. Of course, PB has had a tremendous

impact on my life. I would like to thank the past and

present PB leadership for keeping alive the spirit of

democracy and education in Burma, despite the diffi-

culties and challenges. Because of the initiatives of

PB, many have a chance to realize their dream.

Again. Keep up the good work!” 2001: India, Madurai

Kamaraj University, MA History; 2003: USA, Ball

State University, MA Political Science

12

The Spirit of Prospect Burma — Our Alumni

Dr Khin Mar Mar Kyi is an aca-

demic who has produced an

award winning documentary on

Burmese migrant women’s lives,

titled Dreams of Dutiful Daugh-

ters. She is currently the Daw

Aung San Suu Kyi Research

Fellow in Gender and Burmese

Studies at Lady Margaret Hall,

University of Oxford. She writes:

“I received my Prospect Burma

scholarship while I was doing my Masters. This helped

me to achieve the result of high destination and to contin-

ue my PhD and to become the winner of ‘Excellence in

Research’ in Australia. Prospect Burma scholarship is the

only scholarship programme that has made the longest

contribution in supporting Burmese students. Without this

scholarship, many of us will never achieve our goals in

rebuilding Burma. Now I have had the opportunity to

study anthropology on Burma which is crucial discipline

and yet rarely studied by Burmese. This scholarship has

allowed me to not only maintain focus on my studies and

research, but to also help me continue with my passion of

humanitarian activities and work voluntarily for my com-

munity and country, all of which allow me to take part in

rebuilding Burma for its peaceful and democratic future.

Thank you.” 2004-07: Australia National University,

PhD Trafficking of Burmese Women and Children

Yin Min Tun played a pivot-

al role in the creation of a

digital library for Burmese

universities. When asked

how her experience as a PB

scholar affected her outlook

on the future, she replied: “Without a doubt, my career

and life would be totally different if I had not come to the

UK to do my Master’s Degree. Being a Prospect Burma

scholar has gradually shaped my life and way of thinking

since I arrived in the UK. I know that I have been privi-

leged to have the opportunity to study at a UK university

and have access to their 24 hour online e-resources and

open access self serve system to borrow books. In future

I would like to share the opportunity of accessing up to

date world class educational materials, which were so

beneficial to me in my studies, with students and aca-

demics in Myanmar.” 2002 & 2004: UK, Manchester

University, MSc Environmental Monitoring/Planning

& PhD Climate Change and Hydrology

Dr Khyne U Mar, affectionately dubbed “The Elephant

Lady of Burma”, first featured in our Newsletter in 2002,

and since then has gained international recognition for

her work on the preservation of elephants and the

environment in Burma. Now a Postdoctoral Research

Associate at the University of Sheffield, Khyne has

served as consultant veterinarian for captive working

elephants in India and South-East Asia, and for

international zoos. With decades of experience in data

collection on Burmese timber elephants and expertise

in elephant reproductive physiology, she currently is

working on the Myanmar Elephant Research Project, in

conjunction with a UK research team and the state-run

Myanmar Timber Enterprise. Of Oozies and Elephants

is a recent award-winning documentary by Suzanne &

Simon Campbell-Jones which follows the work of

Khyne and her UK and Burmese colleagues in the

remote and diminishing forests of Upper Burma. 1999-

2006: UK, Royal Veterinary College, MSc Wildlife

Conservation; UCL, PhD Conservation Biology.

Dr Sa Sa, a Mara Chin, wrote in our 2004 Newsletter

of his struggle to realise his dream of becoming a doctor,

and related how his fellow impoverished villagers sold

livestock to help him get to India and then to begin his

medical studies in Armenia. In particular, the words of

an old lady who gave him all she had (2000 kyats =2

US$) saying the villagers depended on him to bring med-

ical care to his fellow Chins, stayed with Sa Sa and in-

spired him in the long years ahead. He reflects: “We are

so thankful to Prospect Burma which not only helped me

to become a doctor but is also now helping six more stu-

dents to follow in my footsteps; another 12 in bachelor

degree studies here in India, and has also helped us to

print more than five thousand text books for Community

Health Workers. Without PB I would not have completed

my medical studies, then trained more than 700 commu-

nity health workers (CHW), 41 Traditional Birth Attend-

ants (TBA), built two training schools, and helped 106

boys and girls to receive a school and college education.

We are grateful to Prospect Burma forever!” 2002-08:

Armenia, YSMU, General Medicine

PB is particularly grateful to benefactor Genette Dag-

toglou for her support for Sa Sa and fellow medical stu-

dents, and also to the M.J. Samuel Charitable Trust for

enabling us to begin funding Chin students in Shillong

who will be returning to work with Sa Sa. We also share

in the happiness of Sa Sa and his wife, Mary, on the birth

of their first child in July.

13

Adopt-A-Scholarship Programme Links Across Continents

“It means a lot to know someone thousands of miles away cares enough to want to

help me fulfil my dream of a worthwhile education”

INTRODUCTION

In 2004 Prospect Burma launched its Adopt-A-Scholarship

scheme giving benefactors the opportunity to support a schol-

arship for a Burmese student. Sponsors under this scheme

contribute £800 (or more) and can, if they so wish, select a

specific degree subject that they would like to support. Pro-

spect Burma then selects a matching student from its success-

ful annual scholarship applicants, and sends the “Adopter” de-

tails of the student, their annual study reports and grade tran-

scripts. We also write to the student to tell them that they have

been specially selected for support under our Adopt-A-

Scholarship scheme and, as the quote from an AAS student

above shows, this personal link is especially meaningful.

Some sponsors also choose to correspond with “their” student,

while others have had the opportunity to meet them in person.

To date Prospect Burma’s AAS scheme raises on average

£23,000 a year, but we would love to sign up more sponsors

(see details on back page) as every year we have, for lack of

funds, to turn down many deserving applicants for our scholar-

ships. We asked some of our most faithful and long-term AAS sponsors, as well as some more recent ones to tell us

more of their own connections with Burma, why they wished to help, and what it has meant to them.

Jane Gibson, one of our earliest supporters, writes as follows:-

“My love affair with Burma began with my husband’s posting there in 1953 when we sailed up the Rangoon River in

the early morning mist through which gleamed golden pagoda spires. We had many Burmese friends and visited

each other’s houses, all very free, but this was to end with the military take over after we left and we couldn't even

write to our friends, some of whom went to prison.

We knew the Gore-Booths from our time in Burma (during Paul Gore-Booth’s ambassadorship), so when Lady Gore

-Booth together with Evelyn Aris helped found Prospect Burma in 1989, I was delighted to renew the connection. I

have now sponsored several Burmese students who were studying in the UK, and much enjoy meeting them and

keeping in touch with them. I took my most recent student, who was studying at Oxford and had invited me and my

grandson to dine at his college, to Prospect Burma’s 2013 summer party where I won a case of champagne!”

Tom White recalls momentous times in Burma:-

“To be posted to Burma had been my ambition for years, but it was only in 1985 that I finally got there on being ap-

pointed British Council Director. One of my responsibilities was to expand the British aid pro-

gramme in English language teaching from two posts at Rangoon Teachers' Training College

(Institute of Education) to others at regional universities. If these plans had come to fruition, it

would have been the largest programme of its kind in Asia. But sadly it came to a halt on 18 Sep-

tember 1988 when the pro-democracy demonstrations came to a violent end, and all our teachers

had to leave Burma. The only consolation was that the British Council library in Rangoon

AAS-supported nursing students, Victoria Lay

& Khin Mar Win. Both attained their degrees

from Assumption University in Thailand in 2008.

14

Adopt-A-Scholarship Programme

Links Across Continents

remained accessible to students, as it is to this day. Every cloud has a silver lining, and thanks to the gener-

osity of Aung San Suu Kyi and that of many lovers of Burma around the world, we have Prospect Burma,

which has enabled Burmese tertiary level students from a wide range of disciplines in science, technology,

medicine, education and administration to receive training in overseas countries, and return to Burma to use

their skills and experience to contribute to national development

I shall always remember the unexpected arrival at our house of three

teenage schoolgirls during the demonstrations. All the schools had

been closed for weeks, and they had plucked up courage to come

with their request: ‘Mr White, we have been marching every day for

weeks to demand democracy - you are from a democratic country,

can you tell us what it is like?’ I do hope that I managed to make

sense, as I told them about free and fair elections, the right to form

political parties, the freedom of the press to criticise the government,

the impartiality of justice, the rule of law, etc. Alas, I never saw them

again, and could only hope they all survived in those dangerous

times.

As things turned out, my four years in Burma came to an end in mid-

1989, and I was posted to South Korea for what would be another

challenging and fascinating four years. This time, it was to a land just

emerging from dictatorship, with a political prisoner still under house

arrest, but who, a few years after my departure, become the presi-

dent of his country. I live in hope that Burma will at last find its way to

a similar prosperous, tolerant and free society, and thus make the

many sacrifices of past decades at last worthwhile!”

Jane Redgrove, a more recent “Adopter” tells us:

“It had long been my heartfelt desire to visit Burma and I would keep brochures of the country and look at

them often! As a gift from my late mother some years ago I had the most adventurous and incredible 23

days traveling around Burma. It was clear to me that there was a deep need for education. The situation and

what I experienced was one of the most moving of my life.

I searched the internet for a charity in Burma supporting the education of its youth and came across Prospect

Burma and the more I found out the more excited I became! I think reading how the charity began and the

fact that it had Aung San Suu Kyi's endorsement and personal support sealed it for me. She has been some-

one whose life I have followed and been deeply inspired by, having complete and utter admiration and re-

spect for what she has endured. I was delighted and felt so privileged to be invited by Prospect Burma to

hear Suu Kyi address the Burmese community in the UK at the Royal Festival Hall in 2012.

Finding Prospect Burma and being able to support one or two students a year under its Adopt-A-Scholarship

scheme has been a joy, as is knowing that my contribution is making a difference to someone ’s future that

will enable them to help their country. My only regret is not having known of Prospect Burma years ago.

Congratulations Prospect Burma for all you have achieved over the last 25 years – I am in awe of what you

do and have done to secure a better future for the youth of Burma.”

Bei Cho Tha is currently studying

Medicine at the South Western

University in the Philippines thanks to

the generosity of an individual donor.

15

Prospect Burma in India

Our English Language Teaching School

(ELTS)

Prospect Burma’s

activities in India

go as far back as

1990 when we be-

gan helping an

English language

school for Bur-

mese refugees in

New Delhi run by

pro-democracy activist, Daw Thin Thin Aung, then and

now a prominent women’s and human rights campaign-

er. In those early years, there were in Delhi alone over

1,000 [some estimates say 4,000] desperately poor

Burmese refugees, mostly Chins, escaping persecution

by the Burmese military, forced labour demands, and

economic hardship. Many had been able to obtain offi-

cial UNHCR refugee status and papers. But English

language skills were essential if the refugees were to

improve their prospects in India and equip themselves

for higher education.

By 1998 Prospect

Burma was the sole

funder of the School

and its intake and

classes had ex-

panded to include

computer training.

In recent years we have only been able to continue our

support for the School thanks to dedicated funding from

the Camellia Foundation whose Trustees and the late

Peter Leggatt [d. 2009] of Camellia plc. have taken

such an active interest in the School. A special highlight

for the School, its pupils and staff was Daw Aung San

Suu Kyi’s visit there in 2012, but we are also immensely

grateful for visits to the school made over the years by

individual PB supporters (as well as PB Trustees and

staff, and volunteers), all of whom were utterly charmed

by the students they met.

But, times have changed and numbers attending the

school have declined with some students returning to

Burma, others being accepted for third country resettle-

ment, while there are now many more English courses

open to them than in the past. Therefore, in consulta-

tion with Camellia Trustees and the School, Prospect

Burma has made a difficult decision: to close the school

in gradual stages over the next few months. Words

cannot fully express our thanks and admiration for Sen-

ior Teacher, Sayama Neera, for her devoted service for

the past 17 years to the school and its students; our

thanks too to past school Principals, as well as to Peter

Pau Tuang and other retiring staff.

Prospect Burma’s Scholarship Programme

By the late 1990s Prospect Burma saw a huge increase

in applicants to its scholarship programme to study at

Indian universities, including for part-time distance

learning courses at Indira Gandhi National Open Uni-

versity (IGNOU). In 2002, for instance, a record 90

scholarships were awarded to students in India. Anoth-

er major funder of scholarships for Burmese students

was the Open Society’s Supplementary Grant Program/

Burma, but in recent years this Program has been com-

ing to an end, consequently increasing demand for Pro-

spect Burma scholarships. Prospect Burma has been

greatly helped in the administration of its scholarships in

India by its Delhi-based agent, Lata Pillai (Cho Lwin),

but we have now ceased funding part-time or corre-

spondence courses, and applications from refugee stu-

dents are diminishing, while more are applying from

Burma with valid student visas to study in India.

Also, beginning in 2014, with support from the M. J.

Samuel Charitable

Trust, Prospect Bur-

ma has launched a

dedicated scholar-

ship programme in

liaison with Dr. Sa

Sa, to educate se-

lected young Chins

at colleges in Shil-

long [as well as some Chin nursing students in the Phil-

ippines] who will then be returning to work in Chin

State.

In addition to ELTS and Scholarships awards, PB has

also funded weaving and tailoring classes in Delhi or-

ganised by Burma Assist in order to help Chin refugees

earn enough to support themselves.

16

Celebrating our alumni authors

Congratulations to our past scholarships students

who are now published book authors, namely:

Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung (1997 grantee for PhD at

University of Wisconsin). Ardeth is now Professor & Chair,

Political Science Department, University of Massachusetts

Lowell): Behind the Teak Curtain: Authoritarianism, Agri-

cultural Policies and Political Legitimacy in Rural Bur-

ma (Kegan Paul, 2004); The Karen Revolution: Divided

Voice, Uncertain Ends (East-West Center, Washington

DC; & Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore,

2008); Beyond Armed Resistance: The Non-insurgent

Members of Ethno-national Groups in Burma (East-

West Center, 2011); The “Other” Karen in Myanmar:

Ethnic Minorities and the Struggle Without Arms

(Lexington Books, 2012)

George Zunwa (2001 & 2003 grantee for MSc in Agron-

omy and Agriculture at Allahabad Agricultural Institute-

Deemed University). George has been hailed as the “first

Kachin scientist” and is an active promoter of Kachin lan-

guage, literature and culture: Vegetable Crops: Simaw

Simai Hkai Nmai Ni [in Jinghpaw]; Kachins are not

Tribe [2002]

Ko Ko Thett (2006 grantee, Social Sciences, Manchester

Metropolitan University). After refugee resettlement in Fin-

land, Ko Ko Thet is currently pursuing research studies in

Belgium. A gifted poet and translator, he attended the

2013 & 2014 Irrawaddy Literary Festivals in Burma: Bones

will Crow: 15 Contemporary Poets [in English & Bur-

mese, translated by KKT, co-edited with James Byrne]

(Arc Publications, 2012); Daw Suu’s 25 Dialogues with

the People 1995-1996 [in English & Burmese, translat-

ed by KKT, edited by H-B Zöllner] (Kankawwutyee, Yan-

gon, 2014)

Lian H. Sakhong (1998 grantee for History PhD, Uppsala

University). A political activist, arrested after suppression

of 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations, Lian fled to India,

and gained asylum in Sweden. Awarded the Swedish par-

liament’s 2007 Martin Luther King prize, he became direc-

tor of the Burma Centre for Ethnic Studies and in 2012

returned to Burma, where he was greeted by huge

crowds, to participate in peace initiatives: Religion and

Politics among the Chin people in Burma, 1896-1949

(Uppsala, 2000); In Search of Chin Identity: a Study in

Religion, Politics and Ethnic Identity in Burma (NIAS,

2003);In Defence of Identity: the Ethnic Nationalities’

Struggle for Democracy, Human Rights and Federal-

ism in Burma (Orchid Press, 2010; NIAS, 2012); Feder-

alism and Ethnic Issues in Burma (Chiang Mai, 2009);

Principles of Democracy [in Burmese] (BCES, 2012)

Tharaphi Than (2003 grantee for MA at SOAS). Tharaphi

went on to gain her PhD, and is now Asst. Lecturer, Dept.

of Foreign Languages & Literatures, Northern Illinois Uni-

versity. When Cyclone Nargis hit Burma, Tharaphi and her

husband (also a PB alumnus), flew home to join in relief

work, subsequently founding a charity to help cyclone vic-

tims: Women in Modern Burma (Routledge, 2014)

Thein Lwin (1996 grantee for MEd & 1997 for PhD, New-

castle University). An ex-political prisoner and education-

alist, Thein Lwin is founder of the Teacher Training for

Burmese Teachers Centre in Chiang Mai which has been

reorganized as the Thinking Classroom Foundation. A

former PB trustee, he is now based in Burma: Education

in Burma, 1945-2000 [in English & Burmese] (Chiang

Mai, 2003); Education and Democracy in Burma: an Over-

view of the Current State of Education and Sugges-

tions for the Future [in English & Burmese] (Chiang

Mai, 2008)

Zoya Phan (2002-03 grantee for BBA at St. Theresa-

Bradford, Bangkok, & in 2005 for MA in Politics & Devel-

opment at University of East Anglia). Zoya’s family fled to

a refugee camp in Thailand when their Karen village was

attacked by government troops. Zoya is now a leading

Burmese democracy activist, with asylum in Britain, and

International Coordinator of the human rights organisation

Burma Campaign UK: Little Daughter [with Damien Lewis]

(2009); later edition titled, Undaunted: My Struggle for

Freedom and Survival (Free Press, 2010)

Prospect Burma would love to hear from any other past

scholarship recipients who have published books.

Some of our alumni have forged academic careers out-

side Burma, but not only do they make return visits to

Burma, but their intellectual work and research is of

influence and information to policy makers and ordinary

Burmese citizens, thereby contributing to addressing

and solving Burma’s many outstanding problems.

Lastly, we would like to thank Western authors Gerry

Abbott and Christina Fink who have over the years

generously donated the royalties from their books on

the country to Prospect Burma.

17

Prospect Burma has had to respond to many educational needs and crises during the past 25 years. Although the

current government of President Thein Sein has recognised the need for educational reform, it will still take many

years to make up for decades of military oppression and neglect of socio-economic issues.

Prospect Burma’s scholarship programme to enable young Burmese to

study at universities worldwide remains our core activity. It is gratifying to

note that, as pioneer investors in the education of Burma’s youth, our faith

in Prospect Burma’s mission is constantly being renewed by the contribu-

tion PB’s alumni are so demonstrably making to build civil society and im-

plement positive change in so many areas of national life today. The huge

need and demand for our scholarships continues. To improve outreach and

performance, we have been funding internship placements, coordinated by

Thabyay Education Foundation (whose Programs Director Zin Mar Oo is a

PB alumnus), to enhance our graduates’ professional skills and career pro-

spects. We have also commissioned an independent evaluation of a random cohort of scholarship recipients to

help us assess the impact of our programmes and to inform our strategic planning.

At the same time, more of PB’s presence has been building in-country in tune with the changing environment.

Since 2004 Prospect Burma has attended current student conferences or-

ganised in Thailand, and gained much inspiration and feedback from the

students. But we have also set up a Facebook page for PB students who

can thereby network with each other, as well as send their latest news. An-

other exciting development is the formation of the Myanmar Scholarship

Alumni Association, which this year held its 3rd annual conference in Ran-

goon (attended by PB Trustee Kyi Kyi May). MSAA members have

launched an Empowerment Programme for Parliamentarians, organised

English proficiency classes, workshops and debates on national and inter-

national issues, and knowledge exchange and research data sharing.

Prospect Burma was also pleased to recently set up a new and important project, with three local partners, of

courses for ex-political political prisoners in-country, providing English tuition as well as computer and vocational

training to enable them to earn a livelihood after years of deprivation. Since 2004, PB has also awarded 69 schol-

arships for disadvantaged students to attend English language courses at the British Council in Rangoon at a cost

of £200 per student, per term.

Meanwhile, Prospect Burma is delighted to see the maturing success of oth-

er projects it has long been supporting in the ethnic borderlands. These in-

clude the Intensive English Programme in Kachin State attended by gradu-

ates of the local teacher training college (whose principal was another PB

alumnus). A particular focus has been on education and vocational training in

communities suffering from poverty and conflict. A star example is Dr. Sa

Sa’s Place of Health & Hope in Chin State (see his story on p.12). Also,

key organisations such as the Thinking Classroom Foundation and Thabyay

Education Foundation have been able to open offices and expand their work

inside Burma. Against this backdrop, the “fear factor” which in the early years

inhibited many students from open publicity and activity has greatly diminished, and citizens dare to hope for a bet-

ter future for their children. But nationwide peace is yet to arrive, many refugees and civilians remain displaced

from their homes, and democratic reform is still only at a beginning. Prospect Burma

greatly welcomes your continued support: please help us to help Burma on its

long road to peaceful, democratic development.

Prospect Burma in Burma

18

News & Events

Save the date - Wednesday 24th September 2014

Once again Prospect Burma is delighted to announce a classical recital in the elegant surrounds of The Savile Club .

The programme includes Nathan Williamson performing a Beethoven piano sonata and a contempo-

rary classical piece inspired by Burma. Nathan will be joined by Josh Htet (vocal/guitar)

for various well-known traditional and modern folk songs from Burma. Nathan studied at the Guildhall

School, Oxford and Yale Universities and receives regular commissions from around the world for

new compositions. Josh Htet is a PB alumnus who graduated from University of Oxford and is cur-

rently a lawyer in London.

Admission to the concert with a welcome drink is £20, and for the added option of a 3-course dinner

with wine, the price is an additional £30. Welcome drink 6.30 pm, Concert 7.15 pm, Dinner 8.30 pm. Dress code is smart

casual, jacket and tie required, no jeans or trainers. Reservations should be made as soon as possible directly with The

Savile Club by giving your credit card details to Maja on 020 7491 5563 and quoting Prospect Burma Concert. The Savile

Club is located at 69 Brook Street, London W1K 4ER.

Please inform our Communications and Fundraising Officer, Audrey

Ngozo at: communications@prospectburma.org if attending. We look forward to meet-

ing you there!

In Memoriam: Martin Williams, 1944 - 2014

Martin and I first visited Burma in 1991

and were fortunate to stay with Ralph

and Ruth Isaacs who lived in Po Sein

Road in Rangoon during their British

Council posting. Here, they heroically

kept libraries open and provided ac-

cess to English language training.

Ralph and Ruth became firm friends

and introduced us to Prospect Burma.

Later, Ralph gave his collection of lac-

quer to the British Museum and he and

I presented an exhibition there in 2000.

For Martin and I, that first visit was memorable for so many

reasons, visual and emotional, and we returned repeatedly

until 2005. That last visit included a trip to Mrauk-U and the

beauty of that riverine landscape will always remain very vivid

for me. Back in London, the meetings of the Britain-Burma

Society and the activities of Prospect Burma became high-

lights in the annual calendar. So, when in 2006 we celebrat-

ed our Civil Partnership it was logical that we should choose

Prospect Burma as one of the two charities we asked our

guests to support.

It was for this reason, and the memories of Burma – Pagan by

moonlight, boat travel on the Irrawaddy, the beauty of hand-

woven textiles – but above all the kindness of so many Bur-

mese people we had met and the possibilities that we had

glimpsed for Burma during the visit to London of Daw Suu,

that it was obvious at Martin’s funeral that Prospect Burma

would again be one of the charities which we would ask our

friends to support. (Richard Blurton)

Introducing Prospect Burma’s newest trustee:

Dominic Hammond

Dominic is an Oxford graduate who works as an Invest-

ment Banker in London. He writes, “I was initially interest-

ed in Burma because my grandfather spoke so fondly of

the country. He was stationed there towards the end of

WW2 having come through India from Europe. He kept a

journal which is filled with stories about the jungles, the

landscapes and the generosity of the Burmese people.

His experiences in Burma and the fascinating and rather

tragic political situation that arose since then inspired me

to visit Myanmar as it is now. I travelled around the coun-

try in 2009, walking in the hills in the north and retracing

my grandfather's journey from Yangon to Mandalay.

Working in finance I am particularly interested in how for-

eign investment in Myanmar, the most enticing of frontier

markets, will play out and how the nascent administrative

bodies and legislature will flex to accommodate the in-

vestment that should help the Burmese economy prosper

and develop. Early stage education is of course vital to

the broader health and wealth of a thriving country but

Myanmar's particular situation, establishing new govern-

ment entities and industries in a very short space of time,

will require strong, insightful leadership. Access to higher

education is therefore, in my opin-

ion, crucial to the viability and

sustainability of Myanmar's

"opening up" and thus Prospect

Burma's objectives are worthy

and important and I'm delighted to

help further them.”

19

Prospect Burma’s Legacy in Pictures

BURMA - MYANMAR

‘This is Burma’, wrote Kipling. ‘It is quite unlike any

place you know about.’

Contact us for a tailor-made holidays to Myanmar, Vietnam,

Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka &

Maldives

T: 020 8901 7320 E: holidays@indusexperiences.co.uk

www.indusexperienes.co.uk

20

Founded in 1989, Prospect Burma invests in a positive future for Burma through its young people. We give

underprivileged Burmese students, from all ethnic and religious backgrounds, access to higher education

through our scholarship programme. Our main objective is to build a core group of skilled Burmese people who

have studied subjects vital to the rebuilding of civil society in Burma. It is a condition of the grant that students

commit to return home to participate in development and nation building.

DONATION SCHEMES

PARTNERS: £25 per month

Prospect Burma is in great need of more Partner donors. Our long-

standing individual Partners of Prospect Burma provide us with

essential core funding for our work and the continuance of our

scholarships in the years ahead. Just £25 a month gives us the

secure support so vital to our work.

ADOPT A SCHOLARSHIP: £800

The Adopt a Scholarship Scheme costs £800 per part-scholarship

per year and lets benefactors support scholarships in specific areas

of study. The average cost of a scholarship is £3,500 per year, and

benefactors can choose to contribute to a part-scholarship at £800 or

full scholarship at £3,500 per annum.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS: £2000 per annum

If you are an organisation or business company wishing to support

us, we also have an Institutional Partners’ Scheme costing £2,000

per year. By becoming an institutional partner with Prospect Burma

your organisation will be improving lives and developing communities

within Burma.

HOW CAN YOU DONATE?

BY POST: Please send your donations, payable to Prospect

Burma, to the address on page 2. If you are a UK taxpayer, signing a

Gift Aid form (available on our website) with your donation increases

the value of your gift by 20% at no extra cost to you. Our IBAN

number is GB07RBOS 161725 100119933 and our SWIFT code is RBOSGB2L.

ONLINE: Online donations may be made through this website: www.justgiving.com or direct to us

through the “Donate” button on our website www.prospectburma.org and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/

prospectburma. You can also find us on two shopping giving sites www.easyfundraising.com and

www.giveasyoulive.com/join/prospectburma

GIVING FROM AMERICA

BY CHEQUE: Please make cheques payable to American Friends of Prospect Burma, which has US501c

(3) status, and send to: Zali Win, Treasurer, P O Box 257, Accord, New York 12404

THROUGH AMERICAN FUND FOR CHARITIES: Prospect Burma is supported by the American Fund for

Charities, a US501c(3) non-profit organisation EIN 52-2109597. Donations to the American Fund for Charities

from US taxpayers are tax deductable to the extent allowed by US law. Prospect Burma is registered as AFC

Charity No. AFC133. For further information please visit: www.americanfund.info

Dancer 2004, by Nay Myo Say

Nay Myo Say is a leading contemporary

artist whose work combines elements

from Burma's modern art movement

with traditional cultural elements.

This gorgeous painting was donated to

Prospect Burma by Daw Aung San Suu

Kyi at her 2012 Royal Festival

Hall meeting with the trustees.

How to Help