This title was the topic for last weeks Mission Sunday (21 Oct), and we were fortunate enough to hear from Irene Ho about how donations to the Catholic Mission is making a difference in children’s education in Myanmar.
Irene has worked in Myanmar on mission, as a layperson for the last 12-13 years focusing on education, especially teacher education.
Irene said that the support and funding from Catholic Mission prompted the Church in Myanmar to take initial steps towards improvement for education in the country.”
60 years ago all Mission schools in Myanmar were removed, and over the past two years, three new Catholic Primary Schools and a Montessori Nursery centre began. This has given hundreds of young children access to education. Parents are happy because their children are enjoying going to school and learning. The children also learn values such as respect and helping one another.
Catholic Mission also conducts two teacher education programs in Yangon and Mobye, enabling youth from different states to be trained as competent teachers. In addition to laypeople like Irene volunteer teachers from Catholic Education Ballarat, have spent time in Myanmar to show the local teachers new teaching techniques. It also helps the teachers to develop their thinking skills through questioning and more creative lesson planning.
Irene said “looking back and reflecting, it all began by an idea of Catholic Mission to reach out and collaborate with the Church of Myanmar through education. It’s a ripple effect – a series of things happen as a result of this particular action from Catholic Mission, Australia which has touched and changed many lives – “Healing a nation through education” has already become a reality but there is still a long way to go.”
Irene finished her talk by thanking everyone who has donated to Catholic Missions.
Mary Connelly-Gale
24th October 2018
