Yinthway Foundation Partnership
Educational Empowerment is proud to partner with Yinthway Foundation, a local non-government organization in Yangon, Myanmar. Dedicated to ensuring that all young children of Myanmar receive the care, nurture, and education they need to develop their full potential, Yinthway conducts teacher training, develops classroom teaching materials, and serves as
a comprehensive resource and networking center for early childhood care, development and education (ECCDE) in Myanmar.
a comprehensive resource and networking center for early childhood care, development and education (ECCDE) in Myanmar.
"The Day when the Tsunami Came"
Shortly after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar’s delta area in May 2008, one of Yinthway’s staff visited the communities and villages most impacted by the cyclone and tsunami. Nargis not only brought devastation, but left many people's soul and psyche scarred for life. Over several trips to the delta, she listened to survivors’ stories of their experiences, trauma, and aftermath. She was most taken by the tsunami impact on the children. She spent hours observing the children, spoke with caregivers and parents about the children’s trauma symptoms, encouraged the children to draw pictures expressing their feelings, and even slept in the same room with them at night to earn their trust. The “Day When the Tsunami Came” is based on eight of these children’s stories in the Ayerwaddy Delta, creatively woven together by the author. It includes their stages of grief and their journeys to overcome trauma and move forward in life. The author’s objective is to help traumatized children understand that their feelings are normal and that they, like the children in the story, can come to a place of healing and happiness once again. The book is narrated by a bee because only a bee is strong enough to survive such a storm. The illustrator, U Ayar, lives in Yangon. Illustrations were based on photos of the cyclone-affected area with input from the children and Yinthway staff. The Myanmar version of the book has been very well received. Through Educational Empowerment’s support, Yinthway has published an English version with translations donated by a local volunteer. Proceeds from sale of the books at Yinthway’s cottage industry sites and local bookstores will enable purchase of Myanmar script books for libraries in rural areas of Myanmar. It is also hoped that the books will raise awareness of children’s lives during and after Nargis and its long lasting effects and scars.
