A local teacher tutors street kids at a monastery compound in Yangon. - Xinhua
YANGON: On a sunny Sunday morning in Yangon, Myanmar, laughter and chatter filled the air as about 50 children gathered in an open space at a monastery.
These children, including flower sellers, scrap collectors, and bottle vendors, found solace in this makeshift classroom, where they can learn, eat, dream, and hope.
The classroom is part of Yay Chan Sin, a grassroots education initiative that started in February 2023 under a bridge in Yangon's Insein township. What began as a small effort with just five children has now grown to nearly 400 learners across the city.
At the heart of this effort, 27-year-old founder Phyo Ko Ko Maung is passionate about giving street children the same educational opportunities as others.
"We want to help them live better lives," Phyo said. His vision and a few dedicated volunteers have been now shaping the initiative, with 10-15 volunteer teachers holding weekly classes in public spaces.
They teach subjects like Myanmar, English, math, and science, but also focus on personal behaviours.
"Many of these children have faced difficult lives. We are trying to nurture them in every way," Phyo explained.
For these children, education is a refuge from hardship and hunger. "When they come here, at least they know they will have food for the day," Phyo said.
Among the volunteers, Aye Aye Aung, 23, a private school teacher who dedicated her weekends to teaching math to the children, joined Yay Chan Sin in April 2023.
Despite the challenges of teaching in noisy public spaces, she said she remained committed. Compared to students from her paid classes, she said, "It's different here. These children work hard to survive outside of class."
For parents like Pyae Pyae Phyo, sending children to government schools is often out of reach, she said. The 35-year-old mother said that she has four children, two of whom are attending Yay Chan Sin classes.
She said that she and her husband juggled multiple jobs to provide for the family.
"It's hard to afford the transportation and food for government schools," she said.
Aye Aye Khine, 10, is the daughter of Pyae Pyae Phyo and now learning at Yay Chan Sin for about five months. She said that she can now read the Burmese alphabets.
For many children, like 14-year-old Kyaw Zeya, this is their first experience with education. "I've never been to school. My mum told me to earn money instead," Kyaw said. He spent his days working at a fish market and begging on buses, but every Sunday, he came to Yay Chan Sin to learn.
The initiative has also inspired community support. Yin Wai Myo, a 21-year-old teacher at an international school in Yangon, also donated books to the group on Sunday.
Yin Wai Myo said, "I have also applied to work as a volunteer at Yay Chan Sin. I really respect the volunteers who have dedicated themselves to this initiative."
"Education and health are so important for building a country," she added. - Xinhua
