On 13 September 2015, Royal Thai Embassy, the Thai Community in Myanmar and Friends of Thailand came together in the name of TMAV (Thai-Myanmar Alliance for Volunteerism) to launch a volunteer project in Nga Pyaw Gyun Village in Nyaung Tone Township, Ayeyawaddy Region.  TMAV is previously known as TVAM (Thai Volunteer Alliance for Myanmar). The name was changed as suggested by our Myanmar friends who have become active members of TMAV and played leading roles in many activities since they know the language and culture, have experiences, and most importantly, have kind hearts to help others.  Ms. Moe Set Wine, Miss Myanmar Universe 2013, also joined in to help.

This “integrated project” consists of 5 task forces: Hygiene and Sanitation, Nutrition, Capacity Building, Construction and Infrastructure, and Self-Farming to support pupils’ nutrition and income generation of school operation.  This joint efforts are aimed at creating “Model School Project” that can be applied to other communities on the basis of village advocacy for sustainability of the end results.

Not only teachers and students, but also parents and village administrators also attended as they were eager to learn and show their support for the project which was seen as beneficial to both the school and the village.

As part of the education on nutrition, Dutchmill, a leading Thai company in dairy products, sponsored over 500 bottles of milk for all students and teachers at the school, in the hope that children would adopt milk drinking habit as part of their daily healthy diet since milk is high in nutritional values but low in price.  

Campaign against dengue fever will continue to be implemented in the whole village and the school. Villagers were cooperative and ready to apply technique at home to get rid of mosquito larvae, as many of them were aware of serious health threat posed by this disease, particularly in children.

English language class was aimed at school teachers who already had basic knowledge but did not have chance to practice and brush up their skills.  It was hoped that their English proficiency would be improved and these teachers would pass on the knowledge when they teach their students.

TMAV members were pleased with the results and planned to visit the village and the school every month to continued their planned activities, including promotion of personal hygiene of students, breastfeeding for mothers, upgrading of the school library, while English classes would be conducted twice a month.

It is our hoped that activities such as this will bring Thai and Myanmar people closer together through noble mission.