FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2019
Yangon – The United States is proud to support the opening of a new school addition in the Basic Education High School Thanatpin in East Bago. Deputy Chief of Mission George Sibley participated in the school opening on June 1 together with school officials. The Thanatpin community, a Peace Corps Volunteer, and the American non-profit organization, Build a School in Burma, worked together to build a new facility to help meet the community’s needs.
The Peace Corps Volunteer has worked hand-in-hand with Myanmar teachers at the Thanatpin school for two years, improving English education and promoting cross-cultural understanding in her adopted Myanmar community. Together, the Thanatpin community and the Volunteer found ways to meet the community’s needs for additional school space. They connected with Build a School Burma – an organization founded by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers — to organize the construction and funding for the project. Build a School in Burma has built 40 schools in Myanmar to date.
“This celebration embodies the U.S. commitment to building lasting friendships with Myanmar,” said Deputy Chief of Mission George Sibley at the ribbon cutting. “We are proud to further the Government of Myanmar’s goals to provide quality education to all children in the country,” he added.
This month, the first full cohort of Peace Corps Volunteers completes their service in Myanmar. The Peace Corps operates at the request of the Government of Myanmar and provides qualified men and women who contribute to education goals while also promoting a better understanding between the people of the United States and Myanmar. Peace Corps Volunteers began working in Myanmar in 2016, living and working side-by-side with their Myanmar counterparts. Currently, 60 Myanmar Volunteers are working in Mon State, Bago, Magway, and Yagon Region, to strengthen local capacity, facilitate exchanges, and build friendships between Myanmar and the United States.
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[Burmese Translation]
