WHAT WE DO
By partnering with local community organizations, EE accomplishes our mission through the publication of books, development of schools and libraries, and provision of microfinance loans to enable women to become self-sufficient and their daughters to complete their education.
IT Technical Training
Unemployed girls residing in Kachin State, Myanmar, leave their country to seek employment and are at greater risk of becoming victims of trafficking. Their high school education does not provide them with tangible job-ready skills to attain employment.
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Since 2018, EE has run an intensive 3-month IT Technical Training course geared towards young women in an effort to bridge the gender digital literacy gap. The course curriculum includes computer/software literacy, job application training, and problem solving.
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Results thus far have been positive with more than 60% of graduates finding employment or job promotion post course completion. Graduates have moved on to become teachers, NGO field officers, and office jobs.
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Myitkyina Library
In April 2016 EE’s first sponsored library opened in Myitkyina, capital of the ethnic Kachin state in northwest Myanmar.
Htan Kyun School
In 2015 Educational Empowerment, in collaboration with Helping the Burmese Delta, built a primary school in the village of Khin Tan to provide access to education for girls.
Development of
Schools & Libraries
I AM MALALA
In 2015 EE obtained copyright permission from Malala Yousafzai to translate and publish her book, I Am Malala, into Burmese. Translated by renowned poet/author/activist Khet Mar, this book empowers girls and women to pursue their right to education. Just as there are few age appropriate books available in Myanmar for primary grade children, there are minimal books available to adolescent age girls which portray strong female role models.
Local Myanmar non-profit, Girl Determined, which promotes education and rights for teenage Burmese girls, distributed 3,000 copies to girls in their network throughout Myanmar. The remaining 2,000 books are being distributed to libraries and other local organizations, as well as to Burmese refugees residing in Washington state and Ranong, Thailand
Publication of Books
EE and partner Banyan Tree Reading Center have now completed 10 books in our ethnic folktale book series. Through networking with other local organizations and libraries, access to our books has expanded throughout Myanmar.
For many children, these books are the first picture books they have ever seen. As each new book in the series represents a different ethnic group, the preservation of their cultural messages benefits many of the more marginalized constituents.
Our books facilitate early literacy for approximately 6,000+ primary grade children. Printed in Yangon, the books support a publishing industry nearly eliminated during 50 years of military rule.
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