U.S. EMBASSY AND THE ASIA FOUNDATION HOST BOOK DONATION CEREMONY AT JEFFERSON CENTER MANDALAY
November 6, 2018
Mandalay, Myanmar — Today the U.S. Embassy and The Asia Foundation donated 10,527 books at a ceremony at Jefferson Center Mandalay to benefit institutions in Upper Myanmar, bringing the total number of books donated by the U.S. Embassy and The Asia Foundation in 2018 to over 43,000 books for institutions in every state and region in Myanmar.
Today’s donations of business, history, literature, and children’s books benefit 147 organizations, including community libraries, public high schools and universities, as well as government agencies and political party libraries in Magway, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and Sagaing Regions, as well as Chin, Kachin, Kayah, and Shan States.
“An informed and educated citizenry is the foundation of a democracy. And books are essential for this education process — books inform, educate, entertain, and enlighten,” U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer John Groch said at the event opening. “The U.S. Embassy is honored to be part of the efforts to improve education throughout Myanmar.”
The Asia Foundation Senior Program and Operations Officer Mi Ki Kyaw Myint explained, “The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program seeks to infuse young people with a love of reading; build knowledge in the business, legal, and science professions; sharpen vocational and research ability; and enhance much needed English language skills to be globally competitive.” The Asia Foundation books for Asia program is the longest continually running book donation program in Myanmar. In addition to the educational institutions, The Asia Foundation has also provided special collections of books to the President’s Office and other government and political institutions.
Since 2007, the U.S. Embassy and The Asia Foundation have worked together with the National Library to donate over 235,000 English language books to more than 400 educational organizations and institutions in every state and region of the country.
On November 1, the U.S. Embassy and The Asia Foundation hosted a ceremony at American Center Yangon to donate over 11,000 books to institutions in Ayeyarwady, Bago, Nay Pyi Taw,
Tanintharyi, and Yagon Regions, and Kayin, Mon, and Rakhine States.
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