Children playing at a new school built with support from Plan

February 2010: Thousands of children are benefitting from Plan’s rehabilitation and recovery projects in Myanmar, set up after Cyclone Nargis devastated the country nearly 2 years ago. 

One of Plan’s major accomplishments has been the construction and renovation of schools. So far, Plan has helped communities to build 33 schools that serve thousands of students in the Ayeyarwady delta region. Nine of the schools are specially reinforced buildings built in areas that are vulnerable to disasters. Six more are being built.

Community support

Ma Bay village primary school, which was reconstructed by Plan and partner Bridge Asia Japan, now has an enrolment of more than 300 students.

School headmistress, Daw Nyo Nyo Ngwe, said: “The community looks after this school with all of our hearts - if a window or a wooden plank is broken, we will replace it immediately.” 

Ms Daw continued: “Students have the opportunity to develop their ‘happy thinking.’ At the old school they couldn’t. Now students have the chance to develop their mental as well as physical qualities by playing in the playground.”

Devastation

Before the cyclone hit, the old, weak structure with leaks in the roof and filthy latrines made the school a very unpleasant place for students to be each day.

Then, after Nargis swept through, the village was in such bad shape with so many deaths to deal with, that the community neglected the destroyed school and there was no money available to improve it.

Love to learn

But now with the new reconstruction, the school enjoys high community participation and students love to learn. Plan received a certificate of appreciation by the community for its efforts, with the regional chairman of Myanmar’s government in attendance. 

Similarly, in Tae Tae Ku village, where 8 students died from the cyclone, children now play on seesaws right outside their brand new primary school which Plan helped to build with the community. There are now clean, hygienic toilets instead of the unsanitary pits they had to use before.

Win, a fourth grade student at the new school, said: “Now, I only think about going to school, studying and playing in the new playground.” 

Plan has partnered with UNESCO to train thousands of school principals in disaster risk reduction in Myanmar. Find out more via the UNESCO website.

Learn more about Plan’s global emergencies work.