The new ISM Community Service Blog is up and running! Please check us out as the school year progresses. We hope you'll like what you see as we work together to TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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06/01/2011
05/17/2010
Ayeyarwady Esme School Completed
Dear All, October 7, 2009
Hoping this finds you well. We are proud to announce that the school in Myanmar, which was being built in Esme’s name, has finally been completed. This school, built to replace one destroyed in Cyclone Nargis, is a beautiful building with three classrooms, pristine tiled toilets, and yard space for children to play in. Please look at the pictures included below to see the final result of so much generosity.
The people of the local village are extremely grateful to everyone who has helped to make this project happen. Whether by donations, spreading the word, or simply giving us the support of your good wishes, these efforts, combined with the efforts of the Myanmar people to build the new school, have made a tremendous difference in the villager's lives. The villagers give a "million thanks" to those who helped, and say that "This is the best school in the whole region." They also say that "Now we are all safe and our children can go to school safely." By building the school in Esme's name, the Myanmar people believe we have also helped her, and we have brought many more smiles to the world than before, which was always one of Esme's gifts.
We sincerely hope that the efforts to bring more goodness and positive changes to the world will carry forward, and that we will all be inspired by Esme's story to continue spreading as much light as we can throughout the world.
With love,
Todd and Meghan
05/20/2009
Hmaw Bi Orphanage Trip
For our last visit of the 2008-09 school year with Mr. Todd and the community service group, we did something special. We went on an hour trip to Hmawbii on the 16th of May, with both high school and middle school students. This was the first time that middle school students went on this annual trip that has been going for three years now!
The two orphanages in Hmawbii which we have adopted and visited each year are called “A Kid’s Life” and “Olive Garden”. ‘A kid’s life’ is a quite poor orphanage which grows roses and fruit such as pineapples, bananas, and guavas. This orphanage is a good example of one that works toward sustainability. They sell the things they grow in the market and use the money to provide food for everyone living at the orphanage.
When we first went there three years ago, it was breaking down and really poor but it was really surprising to see how far this orphanage has grown since our last visit. There are 22 orphans and as one of the orphans told us, it feels like living together in a big family there. They really love music and have great musicians there! We all were a big, happy family and they sang songs to us and we sang songs to them, so it was a good time for all of us. After some songs together, we got into groups and played soccer on their football field which was very enjoyable too. Looking at their smiles they got when they got their presents was very special to us and we were very happy that we have made them happy, even if it was just a day.
Another orphanage we visited was the “Olive Garden”. Like “Kid’s Life”, this orphanage was also very poor when we first visited it but now, they just built a new building and the orphans there were pretty happy too. These orphans were very appreciative and their cheers when we brought in the presents for them were very heartwarming for us. They composed us some songs and we sang them some songs too and we were a big family again. Although they are orphans, we treat them like we treat each other and showed them that we care for them too. “Just like the boat we gave you all, you will get on that boat and row to the other side like a big family until you reach the other side” stated Mr.Todd.
As the last visit with Mr.Todd and our community service club, we all would like to thank Mr.Todd for all he has done for us and our country. We hope Mr.Todd and Ms.Meghan will come back one day, to see the smiles on those little orphans and we all wish you the best in Thailand!
By. Yuri
04/18/2009
WWW Orphanage Visit- 6th grade
Yatanarmyintzuyi Payahitaghar Orphanage Visit
It’s very nice to see everybody helping out with Community Service. During our Week Without Walls trip to Pyay, we visited the Yatanarmyintzuyi Payahitagahar orphanage. Like our last visits, we donated stationeries like Shan bags, rulers, pencil boxes, pencils, erasers, and sharpeners to each child. We also provided the orphanage with food such as oil, rice and snacks for special prizes for the activities we did at the orphanage.
We divided our groups into 6 groups; Art, English Teaching, Jewelry Making, Games, Soccer, and Badminton.
The English teaching activity was not only enjoyable for them, but it was a fun for us too. Orphans also enjoyed this booth because they sure did learn some English because of the competitions and the prizes they won when they won the competition.
Aye Aye very focused on teaching the fruits to little orphans.
Sandee, Crystal, and Yuri teaching new vocabularies to little orphans.
Orphans having a good time making jewelry. Our jewelry group was very fun and exciting for the orphans. These jewels provided a nice gift for the orphans and they could show-off their nice designs.
Vivian, Nadi, Ms.Pauline, Hein Moe, and Htet Myat, the teachers of jewelry making. ;P (see right)
Arts was also popular during our visit. Orphans who were often quiet and liked art showed up for this Art activity. This includes coloring books, free-drawing, tracing, and etc. Many pictures of many topics were drawn by the orphans and were really interesting to see what they had in mind by looking at their pictures.
Wardah, Seung Bin, and Blake were
clustered by young artists eager to draw! (see left)
Orphans had fun playing games like snake- and –ladder, and many other board games. Sporty kids also like playing badminton and soccer and sure did have fun and got all sweaty.
Overall, both the orphans and us had fun during our orphanage visit to Yatanarmyintzuyi payahitagahar orphanage.
“Together we can make a difference!”
By. Yuri
01/26/2009
21st Primary School Painting Project
It's wonderful when so many people come together, giving freely of their time for the benefit of others. Over the past two Saturdays (Jan 17 & 24th) over 50 ISM students and teachers came ready, willing, and able to scrape, sand, wipe, brush and roll the walls of the "21st Primary School", a little Burmese Govt. School located about three minutes walk from ISM. From the looks of this little school it must have been many many years since it was last painted and cared for in this way.
Each of the two Saturdays the early painting crews arrived at 7:45 am with painting clothes on. Carrying our painting supplies, we walked over to the little school and began the task of preparing the walls for painting (the most important part of a good quality paint job). This included sanding, scrapping, wiping, and taping... As the morning went on, more and more students and teachers arrived to lend a helping hand, including the MS and HS community service students, teachers from the Elem., MS, and HS, the HS girls
The little school is home to 120 first through fifth graders, many of whom live in a very
As the days work went on the feeling of separation between us and them began to dissolve. We were simply all working together for a common purpose. And painting, as we
Whenever ISM students and teachers, and our new friends from the neighboring village, walk or ride or drive by the little school, it will hopefully be a reminder of what we are capable of doing whenever we put our hearts and minds together into making a positive difference in the world.
Thank you for reading and sharing in our joy.
MS Community Service Club
P.S. A BIG THANK YOU TO MAY NINE (6D) AND SI THU'S (6D) FAMILIES FOR DONATING ALL OF THE PAINT AND MANY OF THE BRUSHES, ROLLERS, AND TRAYS THAT WERE USED DURING THIS PROJECT!
01/10/2009
Our Adopted Orphanage
The Middle School Community Service Club along with a couple of high school volunteers arrived at Thatanar Rakhita Orphanage in Yangon, equipped with activities and games ranging from badmintin to necklace making to arts and crafts. We were also very fortunate be accompanied by a Burmese, English Doctor who gave the kids a check-up and offered medicated soap to treat the ever persistent ring worm that most of the kids have had for years. It was a great joining of efforts to help both the physical and emotional well being of the kids.
Each time we go, we try to think of more ways that we can help. For example, as they enjoy the necklace making so much, we're thinking about helping them make and sell necklaces and bracelets and by doing so we hope that this could be one of the ways that they can begin to sustain themselves. With every visit we make we learn more about them and friendships begin to grow. And the gift they give us in return is surely the smiles on
Hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
The MS Community Service Club
11/15/2008
November Fundraising...
November has been a big fundraising month for the MS Community Service Club. First, there's the ongoing 2nd annual "November Bake Sale". Special mention needs to be made about the one lady who has made this event so successful for us this year and last. Ms. Hla is one of the CSC members Aunties, who has provided (at cost) most of the baked goods we've been selling every Wednesday of November two years in a row! A BIG THANK YOU to Ms. Hla for all she has done to help our Bake Sale be so successful. Her generosity is helping so many, as everything we earn goes to people who are so much in need of our support.
The community service club has also had some special donations from Wardah's (6B) family who gave us three chocolate cakes with peanut M&Ms on top. Also, Yuri, Sumie's (6S) & John Paul and Khant's (6B) fruit flavored drinks were a hit. Nadi's (6B) brownies were quick to go and Mr. Todd's A+ Banana Muffins were a winner as
On to another important fundraiser, International Day, which is a major school wide event. In this event, hundreds of people from all walks of life come to celebrate the many nationalities that join the ISM community together making us truly an international school. This was our third year selling drinks and sharing with people what we do in Community Service through a slide show presentation. Usually we have no trouble selling hundreds of drinks with ice and lime to our thirsty customers. It's a non-stop fast paced job being behind the counter at this event. And, thanks to Mary and Crystal's (6B) families for donating the drinks, we were able to make this the most successful
With the earnings from these two events, we plan to soon go to Thatanar Rakhita Orphanage to deliver much needed wished for items to them. Updates coming soon about that visit.
Thanks for reading and supporting the MS Community Service Club!
TOGETHER WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!
11/01/2008
Growing Community
A three minute walk away from ISM Middle School lies a little local Myanmar School made up of about 120 elementary students ranging from about 5 to 11 years old. This year ISM 6th Graders embarked on a service learning project which invited ten girls and ten boys from this little school to visit our classroom.
In the beginning to help us overcome some shyness in meeting for the first time, we played some games together and formed "buddies". Throughout each of the five visits they've made so far, ISM students took care of their buddies in the activities we planned for them. Some activities we did included: "Blind Walking" (taking turns guiding each other while blindfolded); "Charades" (to teach and practice new English vocabulary words); "Reading Buddies" (again learning English together); "Lantern Making" (thanks to Ms. Pauline!); Origami; a Piñata; Soccer; Math Games and more.
Many of the students from the neighborhood school live in the village just next to ISM. It's been interesting to see the difference in size of ISM students to the neighborhood kids. It's obvious what the results of poverty and malnutrition can do to a young person's body over many years. And yet, even though our kids and the Myanmar school kids have some differences, they are both finding that there are plenty of similarities. They both love their families, like to play soccer, learn English, do math, play games, do art, etc. They're learning from each other and it's been nice to watch them make friendships together, forming a larger community outside the walls of ISM.
10/13/2008
Working Together, Making a Difference
Middle School Community Service students have been working with the basic idea that if every one works together toward a common goal, we can reach our goals more easily. With about 230 students (including teachers) in the middle school, just a little from each of us adds up to a lot! And during the week of Sept. 29 – Oct. 3 we came to prove it. This week we called “Charity Week” and each day had a theme for the donations we wished to give away. At the end of the week we delivered the donations directly to an orphanage which was greatly in need of these items. The daily themes included hygiene, clothes, school supplies, food, and money days.
Each day of “Charity Week”, middle school students could be seen bringing in something from their home to contribute to the sum of the whole. When all was said and done, we had over 900 hygiene items (including soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes); over 800 pieces of
The success of this week took us all by surprise. It was wonderful to be able to deliver most of the items listed above to Thatanar Rakhita Orphanage here in Yangon on the following Saturday, October 4th. Thatanar Rakhita Orphanage is one of our adopted orphanages which houses approximately 130 children ranging from 1 year up to 18 year olds.
Not only did we deliver these much need items, we also came prepared with several activities to do with the children. One of our goals is to leave them with more than the material items we bring by providing learning opportunities including English teaching, art projects and coloring books for the young ones, beads for necklace and bracelet making and more. We also had some happy times with the children by providing fun activities like a "Lucky Draw", playing "Snakes & Ladders" and just hanging out and talking together. This was truly an outstanding visit and proof could be seen on the smiling faces of every boy and girl who lives at the orphanage.
Together we proved that when we all work toward a common goal, we can truly make a difference!
P.S. Anyone who would like to help us out in any way, please contact: communityservice@mac.com
07/09/2008
Raise high the roof beams!
YIEC’s work continues thanks to the generous donations and the volunteers involved in our projects. As you may recall from previous postings, we have been assisting a monastery in the city of Kungyangon in the cyclone devastated Ayeyarwaddy Delta. The monks there have been working tirelessly to care for the victims of the cyclone in their area, including 750 families from villages around the monastery and 16 families of refugees (about 50 people) from a village in the Kyonemaw area about 20 minutes down the river from Kungyangon.
Since the last posting, the 16 houses in the Kyonemaw village have been rebuilt from the materials YIEC Community Service donated. (See pictures of the villagers building) and the finished houses.
The progress in Kungyangon has been so great that we have been able to scale back our visits. A system is in place now where we only need to buy a few supplies outside of the local area. With our financial support, the villagers are able to arrange purchases and delivery of food and many other supplies from the local shops, enabling our teams to use smaller trucks or no trucks at all. This helps us more easily focus our efforts on the long-term goals of getting the people back to work and school, and rebuilding their lives. The availability of food and other basic needs will be a problem for the foreseeable future, but our hope is that the people can begin to take care of themselves with continued support from YIEC Community Service.
One of our most proud accomplishments has been helping many of the families to start working again. We donated two farming machines for the monastery area and the Kyonemaw village as well as fishing nets for Kyonemaw. Due to the high cost of these items, we could not give enough for each family to have their own, so some families have agreed to share the equipment until they earn enough money to buy what they need. Imagine how proud our team felt when we arrived on June 13th and heard the machines being used in the fields! (See pictures of the machines being used and the villagers posing with the machine in Kyonemaw). We are currently planning a donation of fishing nets for the monastery area.
A difficult question facing the people in Kungyangon is what to do about the bodies of those killed in the cyclone. By mid-June, villagers were still finding 20 to 30 bodies each day. A few brave monks and villagers began collecting the bodies, praying for them, and cremating their remains. This required renting boats to get to the areas, buying the materials to make the fires, and caring for the needs of the workers. YIEC Community Service helped with some of those costs for a short time until another charity organization offered to fund that work. The latest reports, however, are that even these efforts have been stopped by authorities for unknown reasons. We don’t know when they will be able to continue.
A follow-up to the last posting: We have learned that the other group who offered to donate one bag of rice for each of the 750 families in the monastery area was only able to donate a total of 180 bags in the end. While this was a disappointment, it has helped us to rethink our
YIEC Community Service is also building up a relationship with the schools in the area, donating a range of supplies from toilets to chalkboards for classrooms to pencils, pens, books, and school bags for poor students. Keeping to our belief that buying supplies in the area will stimulate the local economy, the chalkboards were made especially for us in Kungyangon [see pictures of school supplies donations].
above written by Mike S.
Again we would like to say THANK YOU very much to all of you who donated your time, money, clothes, and much needed material items! Without your response it would not have been possible to make the positive impact we are making in and around Yangon and in the Delta Region.
Even though Myanmar is no longer in the news, the work goes on and people are still in great need of our help. There is much more Community Service can do to help the Cyclone victims, as well as continuing our many other Community Service Activities we are involved in. We would very much like to keep the spirit of giving alive and well, into, through and beyond the 2008-09 school year!!
If you'd like to support our Community Service work by making a donation, there are a couple of ways you can do this. If you're in the U.S. and you know a teacher who is heading to Y.I.E.C. in August, you can give your donation to them before they leave so they can bring it out to us, or you can send a check or money order to Mike S. before he leaves at the end of July. If you would like to send a check to Mike, please contact him by email and he will then send you his address details: mrmikeyangon@gmail.com
Another way is to send a check to my father's address and he will deposit the check in my account and I will then take the money directly from my pay check in Myanmar. It's a fast and easy way to get money into the country. My Dad's address in the U.S. is:
Richard Davis
811 Crossbrook Drive
Moraga, CA 94556
Please make checks payable to Todd Davis. And please let me know about your donation by email, or by private message through signing up with VOX. This way I can let my Dad know your check is on the way.
If you are outside the U.S. and would like to wire transfer donations, please send an email to either Todd or Mike so we can help to make that happen...
And if you're already in Myanmar and / or plan to be there in August, please let us know if you’d like to help out in any way with your time and talents!
Thank you all again very much for all your support!!!
YIEC Community Service
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