2018 of Pyinnyar Pankhin

Welcome To 2018 of Pyinnyar Pankhin

Giving a hurried look to Pyinnayr Pankhin through 2015 to 2018

 Pyinnyar Pankhin’s dreams won’t be dead for any season and any reason but will come to life with the help of you. Pyinnyar Pankhin Center has passed through hardship and prosperity, earnings and debts, helping and hampering etc. However, no matter what, we could help a lot of children and won’t stop this any. Occasionally, we take a look previous pages of Pyinnyar Pankhin.

First, the classes of Pyinnyar Pankhin, in 2015 were in Nan Oo Temple, Shwe Bon Thar, Myanaung but in 2016, being increased a number of students until over 300 demanded to move a new place. Therefore, the classes were moved to Nay Chi High School, in Myanaung and all classes were taught there for 2016 and 2017.

Later, with the idea of buying own place would be great to teach different kinds of class all the year round, we tried to have own place for the classes.

On 15 August, 2017 Pyinnyar Pankhin had bought a new plot or seventh one located alongside the Myanaung golf club with no money to pay for it. The meeting was held to find solutions. In the meeting, doing educate people, fund raising, collect money, organize others etc. were opinions about how to fix this problem.

We do not want to build castles in Spain anymore. Some of ideas were unrealistic and very vague about getting money. So, removed all of them and only collecting money was selected because we needed urgent solution. Actually, Pyinnyar Pankhin had, or have had its own plots but they were not okay enough to start buildings. It is a long story but want to tell a brief way.

• First, the plot was on the left of City Fire Department, beside Targyitan Street
  A man complained about it and we have lost it, sadly. About it, two posts; one in Myanmar, (8, June, 2016 on Pyinnayr Pankhin Page can be seen at) and one in English, 11, June, 2016,) were posed. English post was like this; 

The Chrystal cave the Boars wanted to be less bright 

or the previous pages of Pyinnyar Pankhin’s plot

• Part (1) 
  It is said that “The Pannyar Pankhin trespassed on and the fence must be removed within 7 days”. “That is because someone has complained of the plot.” I was surprised by that news, actually, it made me shocked rather than felt surprised. 

To be honest with you, the Pyinnyar Pankhin has run its classes under hardship. Most of awkwardness bases on accommodation. Classrooms in the Naychi high school can be used only during school holiday, not any other time. Nan Oo Meditation Center, opened its classes last years is just a religious area and not a teaching place.

Meditation is practiced in silent and teaching is done in loud voices. Therefore, it, sometimes, leads to be mutually inconvenient. The best way to fix these issues is teaching should be done at teaching place. We don’t need to get in each other’s way if so but be even more likeable.

So, getting a place for Pyinnyar Pankhin Center made all of Pyinnyar Pankhin members and students happy. However, the delight for Pyinnyar Pankhin was completely wiped out by the news; Pyinnyar Pankhin Center must remove from its place due to complaint.

That is the most awful news I have ever heard. I cannot understand why they are not satisfied with what Pyinnyar Pankhin is helping students in their learning. Is this personal or for something else? No matter what, it kills student’s enthusiasm, eagerness, and dream and kicks their bright future out, actually.

I want to know what kind of happiness they gain from destroying student’s education. They may have that destroying-happiness and we also have helping-happiness. 

Please ask us “Would you give up helping students for this way of attack?”

The answer is “No, not at all but we will keep going more forcefully.” Do bear in mind that kind of complaint could not demolish our goal; helping students in education, at all but even more clear and brighter to go ahead.

A Jataka Story is good example for this attack. 

Once upon a time, Bhodisatta became a hermit and lived in a hut of leaves. Near his hut was a crystal cave in which lived thirty Boars. Near the cave, a lion used to range. His shadow used to be reflected in the crystal. The boars used to see the reflection, and terror made them lean and thin-blooded.  

They thought, “We see this reflection because the crystal is clear. We will make it dirty and discolored.” So, they got some mud from a pool close by, and rubbed and rubbed the crystal with it. However, the crystal, being constantly polished by the boars’ bristles, got brighter than ever.

They did not know how to manage it, so they determined to ask the hermit how they might sully the crystal. To him therefore they come, and after restful greeting, they asked how to fix this problem. Bodhisatta said:

Tis precious crystal, spotless, bright and pure; No glass- its brilliancy forever sure, Nothing on earth its brightness can impair, Boars, you had best betake yourselves elsewhere.”

(Note* the direct meaning of Mani in Pali means ruby in English and Badamyar in Myanmar. Yet, giving translation Mani as crystal rather than ruby is much clearer and more understandable. So it is done as should be done.)

To be continued…….The role of Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Myanaung will be mentioned later.

• Second plot was an open area that is near Myanaung Railway Station. It is belonged to Ministry of Rail Transportation of Myanmar. We sent petition for the plot to Parliament and Ministry of Rail Transportation to rent legally or offer it (if possible).                                                                                                                                                                                                        It is pretty much uncertain to get but probably we might take much time until children become the aged ones due to legal process. We knew that but we had that idea as we had no money. Later we ignored it. 
• Third plot was in the compound of “Myoshwe” Welfare Monastery. The monastery offered it. We thanked but did not accept it after discussing, concerning freedom of Pyinnyar Pankhin students. 
• Another monastery, called Waipyan Religious Education Center, offered its plot too. We thanked but we did not accept it as well.
• Fifth plot was near entrance of “ Nyaung Shwemyaing” village. The villagers offered its plot for Pyinnyar Pankhin building, thinking getting educational opportunities for their kids. It is very closed to the city and very nice place too but wide enough for only one main building, not for library and canteen anymore. We did not accept it, also at the risk of sounding ungrateful. 

• Sixth plot was in Sein Wathmun Area, on the way to “Taigone” Village. We bought the plot sponsored by “Yaung Ni” factory. The area is good because it is vast and locates between both cities; Myanaung and Kyankhin.                                              

That means students from both cities can come with easy. Unfortunately, under the ground, there are two irremovable gas pipes. It is dangerous to start building and for the students as well. So, we have to leave it.

• Seventh plot is the present one, located alongside Myanaung Golf Club. There is nowhere we have not been looking for in or around Myanaung. This place is the best. So, we bought it with having no money at all.
  The meeting was about how to pay off the debt we have.

Travelling back to November, 2017 

After meeting on November 1st about how and when the plot was cleaned , all agreed that November third was a good day to do so. On November 3rd, 2017, parents, students, committee members, volunteers from different organizations joined the cleaning.

In Pyinnyar Pankhin plot, wild plants were so thick that we could not even see a short distance. Together with rakes, baskets, mattocks and lawn mowers, all came and helped to do cleaning. Children were helping sometimes, running and playing at times under and on the trees with the feeling of what we have our own place. That was impressive scene.

Not only the wild plants but also sometimes some trees, their branches were blocking the ways were cut with disinclined heart. Cleaning, cooking, eating were done happily, hand in glove. They might think “This is a small step we take” but actually it was big step through brighter future for the children in and around this area. With no first step, there is no second step any.

“Setting goals is first step in turning invisible into visible”

– Tony Robbin. Because of the first step, now we all are inside.

After cleaning in November, we need to do something. However, the something is we did not know what for sure exactly but it became actively alive after Daw Aye Yar Mg Mg and Engineer U Zaw Win’s visiting Pyinnyar Pankhin on December 26, 2017.

Among media role, fund-raising activities, finding donors for the building and teaching section, which part and how would be taken were discussed responsibly during their short trip. That was very foundation of what we build up on later, no matter how much big.

As result, U Zaw Tun visited Pyinnyar Pankhin and set a proper place for the temporary teaching building on December 31, 2017. On January 2, 100 sacks of cement and zins for the building donated by U Zaw Win’s company were happily accepted. Those are foot to keep walking, tongue to keep talking, oxygen to keep breathing, light to keep seeing and actually, those are truly representative of everything, coming.

Pyinnyar Pankhin felt that that was unexpected sharing was gained from expected children’s education. No matter what, we will keep going energetically.

On January 4^th, 2018, we staked out the plot and a small stake-ceremony was held in the Pyinnayr Pankhin plot after inviting some Buddhist monks for the blessing and chanting.

Making a garden is not for a flower, not for a color of flower, not for a type of flower but we are trying our best to bloom in the view as far as we can see. Pyinnyar Pankhin Committee members, some volunteers, engineers joined the ceremony.

On January 5^th, 2018, our volunteer Mr. Alan H who is Scottish in England arrived in Thailand. I met him in the airport before he continued his another trip to southern part of Thailand. Children in and around Myanaung would able to learn English from native speaker in different way of teaching, correct pronunciation and intonation.

He brought books, color pencils, maps, DVDs, CDs and other teaching accessories for the children of Pyinnyar pankhin. He carried these heavy things in the thinking of very details of what and how to teach. That is more than great! He saw our post in volunteer website and did contact with us. At that time, it was too early to know how lucky we are.

The January of 2018 was up and running in Pyinnyar Pankhin. With starting a building in, we rushed off our feet by going here and there, dialoguing with different persons. Some were aware of this situation and helped us but some were usual opposite of whatever we do nevertheless.

The problem is they stayed completely behind and have never showed themselves anytime. They tried to stop construction of the building in Pyinnyar Pankhin. There is no way to stop to do so. So, the following post were written and posted:

It is strongly believed that the perfect Workshop Building of Pyinnyar Pankhin English Training Center will become soon visible with an epic endeavor of Pyinnyar Pankhineses, engineers and donors.

It is, according to “One seed story” written (translated) by Wise Pyinnyar Pankhin, the seed “opened itself, sent up a little shoot and then sent down a little root, absolutely” and means it as well. What we are billion percent sure is we Pyinnyar Pankhin creates this shelter for children in and around Myanaung, if possible, Ayeyarwady, even Myanmar. 

The word “Done for the nation”, we feel, is too big for us but because of your and our help, better education is expected for children within our reach and beyond that if possible, to whom highly respected as vanguards of our nation. That is our dream and we are trying hard to become the dream true. 
We hope you all will join us rather than hampering. 

Ven.Neminda (B.A. M.A. Colombo) 
Lecture
Mahachularlongkorn University
79 M.1, Phahon Yothin Road, Kilometer 55.
Lam Sai, Wang Noi, Phra Nakhon 
Sri Ayutthaya, 13170, 
Thailand

 

On February 8^th, 2018, with the help of Ko Man Kyaw Oo in Thailand, Mr. Alan H got business visa, even within one day, sponsored by Pyinnyar Pankhin itself. The visa was powerful enough to stay 70 days officially in Myanmar and also, is able to extent 90 days without leaving Myanmar.

In 2017, volunteers from Germany came to Pyinnyar Pankhin with visit visa and there was a big disputation between Pyinnyar Pankhin and immigration office. That was so awful.

The counselor of Myanmar embassy in Thailand was sage and thoughtful of what and how much children in Myanmar gain knowledge and skills from furnishing such kind of volunteer with business visa. That is why he did help. We really thank him or her with all our hearts. Helping others or next generation does not necessarily mean sometimes, we definitely need money but we just do what should be done wisely.

After getting visa, some times available were spent usefully by going used book store in Bangkok and Mr. Alan H bought books for the children of Pyinnyar Pankhin. I learned the lesson of what is the true love of a teacher.

Maybe teachers scold and rebuke for what students have done something wrong, probably even shout at them publicly, but secretly, teachers always find ways to improve students’ life in some ways. Who know!

   

As a lecture of Mahachulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, in first semester, I always followed the final exam schedule of university, but in second semester, I demanded for my own schedule of the final exam. In my lecturing life there, I asked for nothing from the university, have never failed to go classes.

 What I pushed for is I need to have my own schedule for the final exam in second semester. Like always, in 2018, all of final exams would finished at the end of March and it meant that Pyinnyar Pankhin Classes would move backward one month.

No way to be so. Therefore, I told the office that I would leave Thailand in the early morning of February 27^th, so, all exam-stuff need to be done on February 26^th, I would drop you email the result of exams after checking them in Myanmar. The university agreed with it. On February 27^th, Mr. Alan H and me left Bangkok early morning for Myanaung.

. 

In Pyinnyar Pankhin, on February 28^th, Pyinnyar Pankhinnese, students, parents, teachers were indeed as busy as a bee by taking their reasonability each.  A volunteer teacher, Mr. Alan H asked “Can I also move these bricks like others….because I feel guilty of helping nothing while others do”.

First answer was “No!” concerning about hurt himself and later it turned into “Yes” for his helping mind. “Actions speak louder than words.” Actually students learn what teachers do rather than what the teachers say. Sitting an armchair or holding hands behind back, some order to do that, not to do this, is also teaching “You don’t need to help anything when you become a master.” 

That is a highly effective silence-lesson that no many teachers, parents notice. Doing so, teachers are away from the students in the same class, parents are away from the children the same house, they are not close staying together. 

Do as I say, not as I do is obvious determinant of what many teachers/ parents later become unsuccessful with huge effort.  

In Pyinnyar Pankhin, all work or eat as one. Cleaning the ground, putting desks and chairs, watering class-are were done with the help of different persons. It is believed that many students were excited about the placement test. 

Academic Year 2018
the Brief Teaching Design of Pyinnyar Pankhin Engish Training Center in Myanaung

1. I. Reading for Class I: 
   • Read the books 
   • and tell the teacher what they read with body language. The language is in Myanmar and English.
2. II. Reading for Class II:
   • Read the books 
   • and tell the teacher what they read with body language. The language is only in English.
3. III. Reading for Class III:
   • Read the books
   • And tell briefly the teacher what they read with body language. The language is only in English.
4. IV. Reading for Class IV: (Academic Training Class)
   • Read the books with limited time
   • And tell briefly the teacher with body language The language is only in English. 
   • Take Olympic Math Class
5. I. Listening for Class I
   • Watch music videos,
   • funny video, 
   • learning video (English For You: Lowest Level)
   • and let students tell what they watch. The Language is only in English.
6. II. Listening for Class II
   • Watch music videos,
   • funny video, 
   • learning video (English For You: Lowest Level and Elementary Level)
   • BBC Learning English ( The English We speak)
   • and let students tell what they watch. The Language is only in English. 
7. III. Listening for Class III
   • Watch music videos,
   • funny video, 
   • learning video (English For You: Lowest Level, Elementary Level and Intermediated level)
   • Competition videos
   • BBC Learning English ( The English We speak)
   • and let students tell what they watch. The Language is only in English. 

      B. IV. Listening for Class IV (Academic Training Class)
           • Watch music videos,
          • funny video, 
          • learning video (Justice Lectures of Harvard University)
          • Competition Videos  
         • BBC Learning English (The English We speak and Six Minutes English )
         • and let students tell what they watch. The Language is only in English

30. I. Speaking for Class I: 
    • Practice spoken English with conversation videos, 
    • with public speaking videos, 
    • with story games,
    • with funny game, 
    • with training videos for better actions, accents and pronunciation 
    • with Gogo’s videos Volume 1-30. The language is only in English.
31. II. Speaking for Class II
    • Practice spoken English with conversation videos, 
    • with public speaking videos, 
    • with story games,
    • with funny game, 
    • with training videos for better actions, accents and pronunciation 
    • with Gogo’s videos Volume 1-30. The language is only in English.
32. III Speaking for Class III
    • Practice spoken English with conversation videos, 
    • with public speaking videos, 
    • with story games,
    • with funny game, 
    • with training videos for better actions, accents and pronunciation 
    • with Gogo’s videos Volume 1-30. The language is only in English.
33. IV. Speaking for Class IV (Academic Training Class)  
    • Practice spoken English with conversation videos, 
    • with public speaking videos, 
    • with story games,
    • with funny game, 
    • actual speaking Videos,
    • with training videos for better actions, accents and pronunciation,
    • with debate videos. The language is only in English.

D. I. Writing for Class I: 
• Grammar study and let the students practice it with grammatical rules at once. 
• Check their writing and let them know what.

• Use the book of Pyinnyar pankhin English Training Center’s grammatical forms of English 
  • and Primary English 1 printed by Singapore. The language is only in English.

1. II. Writing for Class II: 
   • Grammar study and let the students practice it with grammatical rules at once. 
   • Check their writing and let them know what.
   • Use the book of Pyinnyar pankhin English Training Center’s grammatical forms of English 
   • and Primary English 2 printed by Singapore. The language is only in English.
2. III. Writing for Class III: 
   • Grammar study and let the students practice it with grammatical rules at once. 
   • Check their writing and let them know what.
   • Use the book of Pyinnyar pankhin English Training Center’s grammatical forms of English 
   • and Primary English 3 printed by Singapore. The language is only in English.
3. IV. Writing for Class IV: 
   • Create stories and let them write
   • Check their writing and let them know what.
   • Take the test of primary and secondary English exam papers of Singapore.
   • Take the test of primary math exam papers of Singapore. The language is only in English.

On March 1^st, 2018, after a brief opening ceremony, placement test was held in Pyinnyar Pankhin compound. Students from different cities such as Myanaung, Kyin khin, Phaye shwe kyin, and Ka Naung took the placement test.

In order to be acquainted with international school system and see students’ comprehension level of English, it is believed that placement test is the best way to check rather than keeping separate classes as a government school. Pyinnyar Pankhin has no capacious room that can seat about 200 students. Therefore, the placement test was held under the trees.

Pyinnyar Pankhin’ is made with responsibilities and loving kindness  In Pyinnyar Pankhin Classes, Teachers;

1. Neminda
2. Aland H
3. Zin Min
4. Miss Theri Thet Paing
5. Miss Khaing Win Kyi
   do teaching, students do learning, Pyinnyar Pankhinnese do helping, parents do cleaning, trees do giving shelter, winds do refreshing for the coming generation. In Pyinnyar Pankhin, everything is under no obligation to do but as responsibilities.

What about you?

Misty morning cannot kill eagerness of Pyinnyar Pankhin students, teachers  and parents but it is taken as “lovely morning”. “A key to a vital life is eagerness to learn and a wiliness to change” – Mary Anne Radmacher.

We teach students to come eagerly rather than regularly. We polish students’ eagerness rather than high marks of the exam, we coach them how to learn rather than what to learn, we school them to make a life better with everything available rather than finding a better life. 

Getting good marks in the exam is not the goal of Pyinnyar Pankhin but it is maybe a tiny piece of result of what students make effort. Again, we are not teaching for the exam but for the life.

The meaning of what a true teacher is.

In the lesson, the teacher stated the word “hamburger” unexpectedly. A simple and honest question of a student was what was hamburger, wondering “Is hamburger…..

• a name of a beautiful girl?
• a type of a weapon?
• a kind of a tree?
• a title of a book?
• a place of somewhere?
• a class of the people?
• a sort of the sport?

A part of responsibilities is making clear what students are unclear, making aware of what they don’t understand, fixing the broken pieces the students have missed by telling or doing. A simple question melt heart of teachers.

The best way to elucidate what it is was let them see what and taste how. The teacher made hamburger for the students and had together with the students happily. In Myanmar, it is traditionally believed that teachers are respectful.  No respect is born itself but make with loving kindness like this event.

 

A message from the visitor-elephant 

An elephant visited Pyinnyar Pankhin. Teachers and students fed him food for the stomach and love for the heart. Children were happy loudly. At that time, I could hear a voice, message voice above the loud noise of children. It’s from the elephant.

The voice was; 

• “Kids, you are happy when you see me and so do I.
• You feed me. Thank you! but I am so sorry I am not able to give food to you back.
• You are students, I am not student, but just an elephant. 

• If I came here for the classes, I am quite sure that no one would teach me. Now you have teachers and they teach you. How lucky you are!
  • Even though I am accepted as a Pyinnyar Pankhin Student, I won’t understand the lesson. Now you understand lessons. In your language “so cool!”.
  • You can achieve your dream but I can’t. (my dream is I want to stay in the forest)
• You can get what you want but I can get what they want. I have no choice, Kids but you do.
• If you try hard, you can be a master. For me, no matter how much I try, I am a good servant at the most, nothing more that, Kids. What are you waiting for? Grab opportunities!

Now, my master told me “It’s time to go home” So, Good bye, Kids”. 

Pyinnyar Pankhin students and teachers made an excursion trip to Thayat Sann Elephant Camp with purpose of linking knowledge with the real world. The camp is at the base of Rakhaing Mountain Range.

Students were very, maybe over active, thinking of what we are running in the thick of weeds, playing in the deep woods, listening to a soft sound of current in the mountain stream, making noise of taking pictures and selfie near the stream, paying attention to a single sound of rustling leaves, resting underneath of the shade of the trees, seeing many elephants, students had lively steps.

We laid down the strict rules for this trip; No one is allowed to go into the deep woods and swim in the deep part of the stream. 

We don’t know how to call it; sometimes between expectation and reality is huge different. The rules turned into a joke, lively steps became lifeless ones, noisy sound changed into silence.

That was because the forest with no trees, the stream with no water passively welcomed students, teachers and parents. However, villagers and officers welcomed warmly. The weather was so hot that no active smile was on the face of everyone.

     

We did not need to give a long explanation how beautiful the forest is but just showed them what it is. 

No water in the stream is a shame about beauty.
No tree on the mountain is a shame about the nation.
No active smile on the face of artless villagers is a shame about opportunity.

A student girl said “I want to be the president of Myanmar………… to protect the trees”. 
“Will be, kid, will be, we believe in you” say to ourselves.

Pyinnyar Pankhin is made of all. 

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” –Henry Ford

Volunteers made Pyinnyar Pankhin divine and neighbors kept Pyinnyar Pankhin clean. Parents and students stood with Pyinnyar Pankhin. They are taking their responsibilities. It is bellied that law is not to do things bad but responsibility is to do things good. Every single person has his or her responsibility as a student, teacher, parent, husband, wife, leader, follower, citizen, and an immigrant etc. 

Pyinnyar Pankhin is the place where your beloved ones will live, this is the thing which your dear ones will learn, this is the heart that your darling ones will survive with. How much we can get that can change our life is personal but how much we can give that can change others’ is national. Development, no matter where, is in your responsible hand, not others’ providing. 
So, come and join Pyinnyar Pankhin. 

Travelling back to March, 2018

One of our volunteers, who was putting his heart and soul into teaching ,Mr. Zin Min was going back to America soon. The farewell party was held with a heavy heart in Pyinnyar Pankhin. Saying “au revoir” to the teacher, Pyinnyar Pankhin family and students participated in the party. 
Meeting and leaving look like enemy but actually they are friends, following each other. All we can do about it is just accept it because that is a part of nature.