A Myanmar diocese has expanded a youth volunteer program providing teaching assistants in remote villages by also including young Buddhists and Baptists.
The program began in 2002, but only Catholics were invited to join the program at first, said Matthew Kyaw Swa Lwin, an education project officer in Pathein diocese.
However, the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis exposed a greater need for volunteers so we decided to encourage Buddhists and Baptists to join the program, he said.
“Our main aim is to provide primary education among children living in poverty,” said Kyaw Swa Lwin.
The diocese has sent 100 volunteers this year to serve with government appointed teachers.
The volunteers all attended a one month course, where they learned different teaching methods and ways to attract children to attend lessons, Lwin said.
“It’s a great feeling teaching children, despite the fact I receive no salary,” said Than Than Moe, a Buddhist volunteer teacher.
Than Than 22, is working in Phyangone, a small village along with two government-appointed teachers. The relationship with the villagers is going well and they arrange food and lodging for the volunteers, she said.
About 100 children are studying in the village, but the greatest challenge is getting parents to send them to school, she said.
Most parents here never encourage their children, Than Than added.
The expansion of the project has also seen an attempt to introduce a new teaching method.
Volunteers have instructed community teachers to try and use the Child Centered Approach, Lwin said.
However, many are still using the old Teaching Center Method, he said.
The CCA is a new method so it will take time for teachers to get used to it, he added.
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