Another mile stone in the education program of the Marist Mission in Ranong has just kicked off.

The 2nd Batch of the Online Course together with Mr. Duncan McLaren, the Head Monk, the MMR Staffs and Teachers.This was attended by Mr. Duncan McLaren – Director of the Online Course, the MMR Team and a Buddhist Monk, who gave an inspiring thought to the students.

The Monk said that knowledge is a key to development, both personally and communally.  He emphasized that knowledge without wisdom is not helpful.  Holistic education enables the student to grow in both knowledge and wisdom.

The monk spoke to nine migrant and refugee students of the Marist Mission Ranong who are embarking on an 18 month on-line diploma course through the Australian Catholic University.

With the cooperation of professors abroad and local tutors, these students will grow in knowledge and wisdom enabling them to be leaders in the future of Myanmar.

Toby Saw, one of the online course students, received his I.D. from Mr. McLaren; at the background is Maurice, one of the MMR Volunteers.

After five years of working out of a three rented centres scattered around town, Marist Mission Ranong will move into their own purpose built “Marist Education and Community Centre”.  This Centre will serve as a school for over 150 poor Burmese migrant children and hundreds of adult migrant workers as well as a centre for HIV/AIDS outreach and Online University study.

The foundations have been completed and work has commenced on the concrete columns that will hold up the pre-cast slabs of the first floor. Construction began in July 2012 and the first phase is expected to be complete by January 2013. The project combines Thai and New Zealand engineering expertise.

As construction proceeds, fundraising continues as we work to raise the remainder  of  the total construction cost.

Many thanks for our generous donors and benefactors who make our dream a reality.

Students proudly show their certificates.

Ranong, Thailand. MMR students are proud and delighted to receive the computer certificates from Thai government’s Centre for Non-Formal and Informal Education (KoSoNo) Ranong province.

The Centre’s Assistant Director,Mr Chayanin, distributed the certificates to 33 students who finished and passed sixty hours of computer skills and training.

Last year January 2011, MMR signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Centre for Non-Formal and Informal Education (KoSoNo).  The MoU aims to provide educational opportunities for the less fortunate Burmese children and young people in Ranong.

The certificates were distributed during the MMR’s mother’s day celebration.

Mr. Chayanin reads the content of the certificates before distributing them to the students.

One of the students personally receives his certificate from Mr. Chayanin.

The Graduates together with MMR Team, Ranong Authorities and the Staffs from Australia .

On 7 August nine young students graduated in an impressive ceremony.  They graduated with a Diploma in Liberal Studies from the Australian Catholic University (ACU).  Present in Ranong for the occasion was Linda Gail Crossley, Executive Dean of the ACU Department of Arts and Sciences, together with Duncan MacLaren the Director of this course, and some other international friends.

For the past 18 months these students have been studying the course on-line with the help of two local tutors, Andrew and Nuala Moraes, who are Marist volunteers from New Zealand.  Internet technology enabled international collaboration.  Professors from ACU, the Jesuit Universities of Fairfield, Gonzaga, and Regis in the USA, and York University in Canada, conducted specific units.  In this way students from Burmese migrant work communities were able to study internationally from the Thai-Myanmar border where normally tertiary education would be impossible for them.

The programme was made possible by the generous scholarships from ACU and the dedicated commitment of Fr Kevin Medilo SM, the Director of Marist Mission Ranong, who coordinated this pilot project.   In September a second batch will begin a similar course which continues to promote education as a right, not a privilege, for these gifted students in the hope that the graduates will benefit from a broad-based education, develop critical thinking skills, and be prepared as future leaders in Myanmar.

By Pat Devlin

Right at the back of the graduates are (L-R) Rev. Arnold Garferio,sm; Fr. Kevin Medilo, sm and Fr. Pat Devlin,sm.

MMR Students perform a traditional burmese dance during the graduation ceremony.

This monk was one of the distinguished guests during the program. He represented the predominantly faith tradition of the MMR Students. In this photo he is seen talking with Linda Gail Crossley, Duncan McLaren and one of the graduates.