2011 Metta Spectrum

First of all, our Metta Spectrum team would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your generosity and kindness. For 2011, we would like to give you our report in two parts _ rehabilitation work and caring for the young generation.

Rehabilitation work in disaster stricken areas

800, 000 kyats contribution for rehabilitation work in Cyclone Giri and Nargis affected areas, one in Rakhine State and the other two in Irrawaddy Division.

School building project at Nga Yoke Chaung village, Rakhine State

2011 work started with our contribution for rehabilitation in Cyclone Giri stricken Nga Yoke Chaung village, Pauk Taw Township, Sittwe District, Rakhine State. The village is on the eastern side of Ah Lae Pha Yone Kar Island. It has no State school but has only a self-support one for 122 kindergarten to eighth standard students.

As the school building had been totally wiped out by Cyclone Giri, a new building was needed. We contributed for rebuilding a one storey school building. Estimate cost for this was 5, 600, 000 kyats. The construction started in January 2011 and was completed within 2 months.

Donating for Phaya Hteedaw at Phayar Hla village, Haing Gyi Kyun

Some pagoda hteedaws (pinnacles) were either broken or blown off by Cyclone Nargis and so new ones are needed. Many pagoda compounds are also still in need of repair after Nargis. Our contribution is for a new pagoda hteedaw at this village.

Pagodas at Phayar Hla village, Haing Gyi Kyun

Caring for the aged: New buildings for Home for the Aged, Phayar Hla village, Haing Gyi Kyun

After the Cyclone Nargis, some aged people were left homeless. As they have no one to look after them, they have been taken care of at a temporary Home for the Aged. Out of those Home residents, some are not so well while others are very frail. A few even have passed away and so the number is on the decrease.

To give them a better and healthier life, Sayadaw U Arlawka of Jetawun Kyaung, Yangon, took the initiative to construct new buildings out of his own funds. To improve the quality of life and for their long term well being, it is crucial that they are provided with better accommodation. Metta Spectrum has made a contribution to this project.

New buildings are now under construction. However, more funding is still needed for the completion of this project and also for providing better facilities. Jetavun Prahita Kyaung, Kyaung Rd, Myaynigone (at the back of Dagon Center), Sanchaung, Yangon. Tel: 01 501763 Metta Spectrum has donated 800, 000 kyats in total _ 200, 000 kyats, 100, 000 kyats and 500, 000 kyats respectively at the above three places. We would like to bring your attention to your last year gift, a big pond, for Phayar Hla and nearby villages. This summer, people there are enjoying the water you have provided for them.

Caring for the young generation

Care for the infants: Myaing Nunnery and Prahita Kyaung, Bogyoke Aung San St, No (5/7) Quarter, Shwepyithar, Yangon

There are about 500 students from KG to 7th standard in this nunnery school. It also has some orphans staying under the care of the nuns. Recently, month _ old babies arrived. One was only 15 days old when it first arrived. With boundless metta, the nuns are taking care of these babies. In addition to so many other things that are needed in raising these babies, milk powder is essential. We addressed this urgent need by donating 200, 000 kyats for milk powder. Sayagyi Daw Thunandar, Principal Myaing Nunnery & Prahita Kyaung, Tel: 7306 2817 Tel: 7306 2817

↑ Milk Powder for Myaing Nunnery babies

↑ Lovely babies of Myaing Nunnery

↑ Baby under the loving care of the nuns

Foreign language learning: Taninganwe Kyaung, Myoma Hnit Yatkkwet, Bogalay Myo

↑ English textbook “First Words for Primary”

↑ Children at Sunday School

↑ Kids getting their “First Words for Primary”

↑ Excited and delighted with their new books

↑ Teacher and students enjoying the new books

↑ Kids talking about the pictures

In this primary monastic school, students have special English classes (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). “First Words for Primary”, Longman Press is the English text book used for the children. This year only Grade 1 students were accepted and in the coming years, classes will be upgraded up to Grade 5. We provided the required English texts for 45 first graders and their teachers. The price of a copy of the text being 1500 kyats, it cost 72, 000 kyats in total. These school children will also need English texts like this for the coming years. With great cetana, Sayadaw U Pandita of this school is making an effort for the children to have good communication skills in English. He expressed the need for language books for these special language classes. Taninganwe Kyaung, 045 45699, 09 4925 9973, 01 7303 9739

↑ Children busy learning and having a really good time

Investment for the future of the youth: Library books for Kyauk Kwin village near Pyay Myo

This village has only a primary school. Due to poverty and difficult transportation, only a few students can pursue their studies after finishing the primary level. Kyauk Kwin Sayadaw has now started a village library which is much needed for the village. With the library in their village, students and villagers can read good books and widen their knowledge. Our contribution for this village library is 200, 000 kyats for books including some English language learning books for the beginners.

Mingalar Prahita Kyaung and Home for Children, Phayagyi Village, Twante

Our 3rd time donation for the children here. There are hundreds of children, boys and girls, being taken care of at this place. Our team is very glad to see that the school as well as the students are developing well. 67 students sat for the 10th standard exam last year. There are some new buildings for the children and it has many sewing_ machines. This summer, training classes for making dress were given and the trainees are now making dresses for all the children of their school _ a very good long term arrangement.

This time, our contribution for these children is donating library books worth 100, 000 kyats. As the number of children at this place is increasing, more support from the community is much needed.

↑ Our team with some students

Aye Yeik Mon Prahita Kyaung and Home for Girls, Aung Myay Tharzan Tsp, Mandalay

It was originally just a nunnery years ago but later on, the nuns started to take in orphan girls giving them food, shelter, education and loving care. The place, in 2011, houses a total of 115 persons _ 107 girls, 4 nuns, 2 teachers and 2 staff members.

All the girls are getting education from pre_school to university level: 20 children from pre-school to forth standard, 8 in fifth standard. 10 and 9 respectively in sixth and seventh, again 10 and 9 respectively in eighth and ninth. Tenth standard has 18, the highest number. 5 girls are now getting university education. They have passed tenth standard and are now studying further by correspondence. There are also 13 girls who are taking vocational training. Two have become university graduates.

This tells us how these children have been flourishing under the compassionate care of the nuns. Three children whose physical and mental development are not normal are also among those who are well looked after at the nunnery. Our heartfelt appreciation of their noble work.

This year is our third time donation at this place. We donated cash on our first visit in 2007, library books on second visit in 2008 and again library books in 2011. We are very happy to be able to add some good books to their well organised library. The total cost of the books is 100, 000 kyats. With its very successful achievements, this place serves as a model in so many ways. We should be supporting such good institutions.

↑ The Main Entrance to Aye Yeik Mon

↑ Some of the books the girls will be reading

↑ Students in a long queue

↑ Aye Yeik Mon Library

↑ Student List at Aye Yeik Mon

2012 Work

In addition to our wide range of welfare activities, we have worked hard for our library project, donating library books at various places. So far, we have been able to donate only in some States and Divisions, even though our aim is to reach out to many places across the country.

Now, we are already in 2012. So far, we have invested nearly 3,000,000 kyats in our library project. Our 2012 activities have already started in full swing with a stronger focus on “For Children to Read”. We aim to reach our set target of 50 places by the end of 2014.

We have donated at many institutions. Most of the institutions where we have donated books have from 100 to 200 young students. Some even have 400 to 500. We have also donated books at village libraries and village tract libraries. A village library can serve many readers in a village. In the case of a village tract library, it can cater for many villages nearby, thus serving many more readers. To such libraries, a huge number of readers can have access.

We are happy with the thought that thousands of children and people will be reading good books and gaining lots of benefit. We believe that your kind support will enable us to reach out to a wider audience and more places. The 50 places target is a very humble target set with our limited funds in mind. We hope to be able to aim at a bigger number with your support.

We thank you so much for your continued support and generosity.

We also thank all our very dedicated team of volunteers for their untiring work for our children and people.

Happy Myanmar New Year to you all!