Kyaw Naing knows more than most of us just how precious education is. He has gone from collecting rubbish to studying at university through Marist Mission Ranong. Here is his story.

My name is Kyaw Naing. I was born in April 7, 1986. I attended school when I was five years old. Our village has only grade four, so in order to attend grade five one need to go another place (Long Lo) where is almost two miles from our village.

After I passed grade one, I told my mom several times that “Mom! after I complete grade four, buy a bicycle for me to study grade five” Unfortunately, I had to leave from the school after I finished grade two because of financial problems. I thought it was temporary but it was not temporary.

In 1997, my family had come to Kaw Thaung for work. I worked as a water seller. I earned 50 Kyats per day and I gave this to my mom. I also worked as a garbage collector every evening. While I was collecting garbage, I always saw many students on the road who wore green Long Gyi and white shirts. I was sad, I wanted to be like them but I thought I have no chance to attend the school. I even told myself “You are not to become a student in this life”. Every time when I pray I strongly wished to complete school and to be a university student for a better life. Unluckily, my family income was not enough so my parents planned to go Thailand.

In 1999, my family arrived in Ranong for work. We were placed in a charcoal factory where I’m living and working now. Fortunately, I got a friend named Aung Htway who finished ten standards in Myanmar school. I suddenly said to him “I want to be like you.” He was surprised and he asked a lot of questions to me. I explained my experiences to him and he felt sorry for me, so he decided to teach me but he was available only for one month.

My first lessons were A-P-P-L-E, B-A-L-L, C-A-T, and O-R-A-N-G-E etc. He suggested for me to buy a Burmese text-book and English-Myanmar dictionary book. After one month, he went back to Myanmar. I bought many text-books and an English-Myanmar dictionary book and I read but I did not really understand. I continued my self-studying when I had free time.

After eight years, I could read Burmese little bit and I knew English vocabularies but I could not speak English. Luckily, I met my friend ( Aung Htway) again. He introduced me to his friend Chit Soe who is learning computers studies at the Community Centre which is a part of Marist Mission Ranong (MMR).

When I was twenty two years old, I became one of the computer students at MMR. While I was learning computer studies, I heard an announcement “Teacher Ta Ta and teacher Ronal will offer English classes in the evening”. I was so happy and I joined the class. My beginner level was taught by teacher Ta Ta. I did not understand what teacher Ta Ta explained during the class, but I guessed what the teacher means. Fortunately, I passed beginner class with 65%. Then, I joined intermediate level which was taught by teacher Ronald. I was the worst one in the class. I was the one who put his hand up first when the teacher ask “Who wants to study online (Australia Catholic University)”.

When I spoke english, my classmates laughed and teased me and also my teacher did not understand what I’m talking about. But my teacher liked me because I spoke confidently. I recorded the teaching everyday with my computer and I listened at home again. After three years learning with teacher Ronald, I could understand what the teacher explained and my English speaking was getting better.

In 2012, I had an opportunity to join a group called “Future Group” which was an MMR group teaching the kids especially who are out of  school. In Future Group all tutors spoke in English, taught in English and also I had to share with others in English. After a few months, my English had improved so teacher Ronald told me “Kyaw Naing you can join Australia Catholic University next time.” I was so happy even I could not sleep the whole night. I told my family and I told my friends “Teacher Ronal told me that I can be join Australia Catholic University next time.”

But some friend teased me “You are silly. How come? You just left from grade two in Myanmar. How can you join? You are such a dreamer!”. I challenged them “No! I will try. I can do it”. I decided to spend all my time in study. I studied very hard. Every day I studied from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am and I listened to English Conversation while I was working in day light. I wrote vocabularies on the white board hanging in my room and work place. I spent more than 8 hours per day for my study thorough more than a year including our Evening Class. My neighbors, friends and classmates thought that I was “being crazy in study”. They worried and they suggested I spend more time for my pleasu

Amazingly, I was changed completely. My teachers, neighbors, friends, and my classmates were surprised by my improving. They congratulated me. (ACU). After I studied two months in the MMR Bridging programme, I sat the entrance exam for ACU. I PASSED! I was very happy and I even cried at home and I could not sleep the whole night. Now I’m an Australia Catholic University student studying at University..

Hear more stories of our Burmese Migrants in our Annual Report 2013

Each day we welcome 200 Burmese Migrant Children to the Marist Centre.

As they arrive with their school bags and sometimes with little containers filled with lunch, their smiles and joy at being able to go to school, be safe, enjoy their friends, and look forward to a future with education is obvious. They know they are lucky.

Sadly, for many migrant and refugee children around the world a school that welcomes them, the luxury of a school uniform, teachers trained and committed to their safety and learning is extraordinary rather than ordinary.

Desperation and poverty sometimes means a very young child looks after another little child while Mum and Dad seek work. Frequently at age 11-12 both boys and girls leave what education programme they may have to work and support the family.

Social systems frequently lock migrants into the Dirty, Dangerous and Difficult jobs no-one else will do. The cycle of poverty and lack of education continues.

Marist Mission Ranong helps lift families out of poverty through 5 Education Programmes.

As we approach 2014 we need your support especially to reach a target of $25,000 so we can pay our 12 teachers . Click here to Give the Gift of Education

Click here to learn more about our 5 Education Programmes or contact us if you wish to know more.

Kirsten Sloan, a Lay Marist from New Zealand, renewed her commitment to the Marist Association of Mary recently at Ranong.

As a qualified Nurse and with extensive experience in serving overseas among those most in need, Kirsten arrived as a Marist lay missionary in Ranong in 2013.

Kirsten manages the Marist Mission Ranong HIV-AIDS project supporting many Burmese migrants living with HIV-AIDS.

The whole Marist Mission Ranong team and the Burmese Migrant Community benefit from Kirsten’s knowledge experience and great compassion.

Kirsten shared how “making a commitment to live as a lay Marist is saying Yes to grow in the love of Christ with Mary as my mother, my guide. It is Mary who encourages me, nudges me, gives me courage to step out.”

Kirsten acknowledged that living as a lay Marist is a daily challenge but also a beautiful joy. “As I learn to grow in faith with Mary I also hope that I take on her spirit of gentleness, patience, and bring present to others.”

“Ultimately I learn to think, judge and act like Mary my mother and first disciple. What a wonderful guide for me to have and journey to be on for life.”

The Marist Project in Ranong benefits greatly from the witness and contribution of lay missionaries from around the world willing to serve in the spirit of Mary. The Marist Community seeks to provide opportunities for reflection and teaching of the Marist spirit with volunteers as part of their experience working with Marist Mission Ranong Project.

Saw Toby (2nd from left) with other participants

Three members of the Marist Mission Ranong Health Team participated in the International Congress on Aids in Asia and the Pacific held in Bangkok recently. It was an incredible experience with over 4,000 participants working in the field of HIV AIDS.

Saw Toby of Marist Mission Ranong was incredibly grateful for all those who helped and provided him with a scholarship to attend.  From Burma, and having worked for the past year with the Health Team, it was Saw Toby’s first experience of the large city of Bangkok.

“As a participant in this congress I gained a lot of knowledge such as how to deal correctly with a user of drugs, how to understand those involved in the sex industry etc.  To be honest, there were so many new ideas and things I had never heard of before.”

Attending the congress with so many other organisations from so many countries provided a great opportunity to learn more.  Saw Toby commented that the key population that are at the most risk for HIV AIDS infections are Men having sex with Men, Sex Workers, and those who have a lack of knowledge and education about HIV AIDS.

The emphasis of the congress was to aim toward the goal of Triple Zero: Zero new HIV AIDS infection, Zero Deaths and Zero Discrimination.

Saw Toby now feels a responsibility to share what he has learnt with his family, community and other people who live in remote areas.

Marist Mission Ranong celebrated the graduation of 8 Burmese young men and women through the Australian Catholic University Online Learning Programme with a Diploma in Liberal Arts.

Families and leaders in the Ranong Community gathered to honor the commitment and educational achievement of their Burmese Migrant Young Leaders gaining a University Qualification.

Speaking on behalf of all the graduates, Leah War War shared just how profound the achievement and the academic journey has been for them over the past 14 months.

“We are migrants who are economic refugees in Thailand. One day, we heard how Australian Catholic University was offering opportunities for all people from Myanmar regardless of ethnicity or religion.  This gave us a chance to improve our lives and most importantly gave us hope.”

She shared with everyone gathered that the graduating students all felt it was like a dream becoming true.

“Before we studied at Australian Catholic University our hopes were dimly seen and our dreams were just dreams. We worried about our poor broken English and were afraid that the courses would be too difficult for us.”

“In just over a year we are amazed at how much we have improved. Our English is so much better in writing, listening, reading and speaking. We have also become much better critical thinkers. Now we can think like the limitless sky.”

On behalf of the Marist Mission Ranong Team and especially the tutors involved in supporting their studies, Maurice Atkinson, a Volunteer and Tutor with Marist Mission Ranong, spoke personally to each of the students and shared the sense of  joy the whole community felt in the transformation that has taken place in the graduates.

“When I look upon the smiling faces of our graduates I am filled with a sense of pride.”

He shared the memory of the first days of the Diploma course: “You were all so nervous, you were very reluctant to speak.”

“Many of you were even apologetic, you kept saying that you were sorry that your English was ‘no good’ and when you were asked difficult questions some of you would just shake your head and say ‘I’m broke (meaning not knowing much) teacher’.

“I sincerely hope this morning that when you put on your graduation gown and looked at yourself in the mirror you realised you were wrong. You are confident, you are competent, you are a success!”

The Diploma in Liberal Arts involved learning in Communication, Management, International Development, English, and studies in Human Rights and Environmental studies. All of these studies have helped many of the graduates of the past few years find work with Non Governmental Organisations.

Marist Mission Ranong continues to benefit from the talents, gifts and academic achievments of its graduates who continue to work in the Education, Health and Migrant Support Programmes here in Ranong.

This Australian Catholic University Diploma course is like a candle that provides light and knowledge creating a brighter future for us all”

Leah War War – Graduation Speech November, 2013

Special Thanks to Maurice and Natalie Atkinson, and Lin McMaster – our MMR Diploma Studies Tutors.

The Marist Centre in Ranong was blessed and opened in June 2013 by Bishop Joseph Prathan of the Sura Thani Diocese supported by two Bishops from Myanmar.

The Blessing and Opening was celebrated with prayer, dancing and singing and performances by Marist Mission Ranong Students.

The Ceremony was also attended by Fr Pat Devlin, the Marist Superior of Thailand-Philippines District, by Fr Kevin Stewart, with Geoff Henry, from the Marist Mission Centre Australia,  3 Thai priests and 3 Burmese priests, the Catholic network organizations, the catholic community in Ranong, friends from Singapore, and the Marist Brothers (FMS) from Bangkok.

Fr Jimmy McElroy and Irish students from St. Mary’s College in Dundalk, Ireland were also present during the ceremony.

The whole Marist Team now enjoy working together in one Centre and providing Education, Health and Migrant Support Programmes daily to hundreds of Burmese Migrants and their families.