Help Provide an Education to Refugees in Myanmar

Dear friend,

Last summer, we were contacted by a school that had previously hosted a Tekkatho library we established in 2019. The school had been destroyed by airstrikes during ongoing conflict, and the community was urgently searching for a safe alternative location to continue educating their children.

They had identified a possible new site in the grounds of a former monastery school in a more secure area of the country and asked whether we could help support the relocation and rebuilding process.

We were glad to respond. In partnership with our funding partner Constant Good, we supported the transfer of the school site. In Myanmar, religious land cannot be bought or sold, but its use can be transferred through a formal process that allows education activities to continue in former monastery grounds. Once this arrangement was in place, we worked with the community to help establish the new school.

Together, we supported the construction of a classroom block, re-roofed the water storage tanks, and improved essential infrastructure including drainage systems and toilets. We are now continuing to raise funds to install solar panels, which will provide reliable electricity to the school in an area where power supply is limited or unavailable.

The new school, named Pinnya Alin (Light of Education), is located in a peaceful, green setting beside a lake. It has opened its doors to all children in the local area, including those displaced by conflict.

So far, 180 children have enrolled. This includes 25 children from the original school that was destroyed, who have been able to continue their education and teaching in safety.

This project is a vital example of how community initiative, combined with targeted support, can restore access to education even in extremely challenging circumstances.

We're so grateful to you for making this work possible. Please continue standing with us to help more children learn in safety.

With thanks, 

Celia on behalf of the Tekkatho team

Dear friend,

Every so often, we hear from one of the communities where a Tekkatho library was established many years ago. This month, we received a particularly encouraging update from Maw Poe Khont Library in Kayin State, which continues to thrive and serve communities across the Dawna Hills in mountainous Kayin State.

The local team describe the library as “a vibrant and valuable resource for the community” and the figures are striking.

The library now holds more than 3,800 books, with the collection continuing to grow. Over just two months, 500 e-books were downloaded, reflecting increasing demand for digital resources. The library plays a central role in community life, with 150 children taking part in regular activities and more than 100 people attending the Thadingyut festival.

Access is also improving for those in more remote areas: use of the mobile library has increased by 30%, helping to reach isolated villages. Learning goes beyond reading, with 80 community members attending a recent health and hygiene session, and weekly homework support now reaching over 120 students.

The team is also expanding digital workshops, improving access for isolated villages, and planning new training for teachers. Despite many challenges, the Maw Poe Khont team have built and sustained an active hub for education and community life in a very hard-to-reach place. They've even asked for two more libraries!

Their work has only been possible because of your continued generosity and commitment. Thank you for helping to keep this library alive and growing.