School Uniforms Donation for the IDP Students in Shwe Zedi Monastery
In the face of ongoing conflict and displacement, countless communities in Myanmar are struggling to survive. This essay highlights the resilience and determination of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have sought refuge in monasteries and meditation centers. These Buddhist spaces, traditionally places of spiritual practice, have now become shelters for those fleeing violence. While local charity efforts continue to provide essential supplies like food and clothing, these initiatives are only possible thanks to the generosity of donors from around the world. In this essay, a local contact shares stories of those impacted by the crisis, illustrating how overseas support has not only sustained lives but has also preserved the dignity and education of children in these communities. By providing a glimpse into their daily struggles and triumphs, we hope to convey the importance of continued international aid during these challenging times.
A local school teacher informed me about the need of the children from IDP families who evacuated from Kyaukme and are staying at Shwe Zedi Monastery. To share some information about her, she herself was staying at that monastery for 3 years so far, as her husband was released from the arrest by the junta since he joined Civil Disobedience Movement and his students joined the protests. He passed away late last year.
As soon as we heard, she and some of her likeminded friends were helping the students to get the used school textbooks and notebooks since it was in mid-June and the beginning of the school year. Therefore, we told her that we would also help those students and she said that the children had already got the school textbooks as her friend, a school principal, donated them. She suggested that they still need school uniforms as they had to flee with a few clothes and could not bring the school uniforms. This is why, my friend was happy to sew the school uniforms for 12 students of IDP families. At first, before they got them, they were allowed by the abbot of the monastic school to come to school with their casual clothes. The children were happy to receive a school uniform for each of them.
Although we heard that there are many other students of the IDP families from Kyaukme who are staying at other monasteries in Pyin Oo Lwin, we had to evacuate as we hear the potential combats which are likely to arise there soon. Anyway, it was great to help the IDP children with the school uniforms and I hope that we could still help other IDP students in other monastic schools as we are in touch with our cousin.
This heartwarming initiative was made possible only through the generous donations from overseas supporters. Without these funds, it would have been impossible to provide the school uniforms for the children of IDP families who evacuated from Kyaukme. These children, who had fled with just the clothes on their backs, were able to receive school uniforms hand-sewn by volunteers. The smiles on the children’s faces as they put on their new uniforms are a testament to the difference that overseas donations can make, bringing dignity and a sense of normalcy to these young lives. So, thank you, dear donor, for remembering us!
