Back To School July 2023
Dear Friends,
As the summer monsoon brings not only rain, but relief from the record-setting heat, we are settling into a new school year with 130 students.
Thanks to your support, we can continue this journey of education and service. Please read on to discover more about the Andaman Center. In this update you’ll find:
- a video from the first day of school
- a glimpse into the lives of our students
- an introduction to our principal
- a report on school improvements and a request for your help in building a new room, so the kids have enough space to learn
After 6 weeks of holiday, the students have returned, and are ready to learn. Teacher Shein, who we profiled in the last update, made a delightful video of the first day of school, and the kids were enthusiastic in cleaning up the playground and digging in to the garden!
Student Outreach: Notes From the Field
In May of every year, we visit the clusters of Burmese housing to make sure students are returning, and encourage new students to attend, which requires spending time with their parents and alleviating their concerns. Since the Burmese are an exploited community, some parents are very protective, and reluctant to let their children leave the home.
One woman I spoke with, pictured above left, is in a heartbreaking situation – she borrowed money to treat her husband’s illness, but he passed away, and she was unable to repay the debt to the loan sharks. She fled from Myanmar to Thailand, and is eking out a living by collecting recyclables. Through a translator, she told me, “I have a hard life but I hope my daughters have a brighter future. They are really clever, always helping me, and they don’t complain when there is not enough rice.”
