Do you have a teacher that greatly influenced you? I think we all do. They’ve enriched our lives and we enjoy the benefits to this day.

In many countries, especially those that suffer from conflict, students don’t have the chance to benefit from the wisdom and guidance of good teachers. Your support is helping to change that.

U Thura is a teacher in a very remote village in Myanmar.

“When we first arrived in the village in July 2022, we were met with skepticism and distrust by the conservative and superstitious locals,” he shares.

U Thura is part of the Teachers Establishing Education Services (TEES) in the BRIGHT project. The BRIGHT project, with funding from Global Affairs Canada and your support, is helping out-of-school children in Myanmar, Niger, and Sudan receive an education. TEES is an innovative, sustainable, community-based solution to the many barriers to education faced by children in remote and sometimes conflict-affected communities. TEES enables inclusive, primary education for out-of-school children, especially girls.

U Thura’s first observation of his students’ community was its poverty. Parents were reluctant to send their children to school due to superstitions and traditional beliefs.

But U Thura and his fellow TEES teacher were undaunted. They determined to earn the community’s trust and make a lasting, positive impact.

The two TEES teachers went from house to house, explaining the importance of education and the benefits it could bring to the children and the community. They also worked closely with the village’s youth leaders, community leaders, and elders. These partnerships played a crucial role in convincing hesitant parents to send their children to school.

Their efforts paid off. Slowly but surely, most of the children came to school. But they weren’t satisfied to stop at a head count. U Thura and his fellow teacher saw other ways they could further encourage the village’s commitment to education and ultimately to its own improvement.

The teachers recognized that the lack of proper infrastructure hindered the village’s development. With the help of private local donors, they built a school and constructed village roads. Moreover, by saving their own stipends, along with donations from external local donors, they plan to install a water supply system, including running water pipes for the entire community.

While the teachers haven’t fully gained the trust of all the community members, they have gained the trust of the majority.

Your dedicated support has helped to place these outstanding teachers in this village. Today, 31 students regularly attend school. They’re embarking on a journey that will help them realize their potential. In addition, 13 students attend the Accelerated Learning Program, making up for lost time in their education so they can pursue their goals.