Great leaders aren’t only presidents and prime ministers, but are teachers, organizers and social workers in our communities. Robert Greenleaf, the American management theorist, noted that “great leaders are born from a spirit of service.” Leaders need to have a vision and know how to plan, but an effective community leader often leads by serving. That is what we at Thabyay Education Foundation promote through the Community Leadership and Social Studies (CLASS) program.
Altogether 34 students from the CLASS program traveled across the country this summer to complete their service learning requirement by volunteering with community-based organizations and/or local schools. Places ranged from Kyauk Tan monastic school in Magway and Aung Myay Oo monastic school in Sagaing to Aindu village in Karen State and Wa-Boe Gone village in Irrawaddy Region.
“The summer service learning program is unique in a sense that students not only provide their services through teaching and community works but also learn from their host communities as part of a cross-cultural exchange,” said Zin Mar Oo, Director of Programs at Thabyay Education Foundation.
Altogether 34 students from the CLASS program traveled across the country this summer to complete their service learning requirement by volunteering with community-based organizations and/or local schools. Places ranged from Kyauk Tan monastic school in Magway and Aung Myay Oo monastic school in Sagaing to Aindu village in Karen State and Wa-Boe Gone village in Irrawaddy Region.
“The summer service learning program is unique in a sense that students not only provide their services through teaching and community works but also learn from their host communities as part of a cross-cultural exchange,” said Zin Mar Oo, Director of Programs at Thabyay Education Foundation.
|  A Kant Kaw student teaching at Shwe Myo monastic school |
“For example, we make sure that students who come from Mon State are required to do their service learning in Karen State or a region other than their own. We provided them with a two-day orientation on cross-cultural sensitivity, classroom management and teaching methodology before their departure to the respective communities.” Orientation is a critical component of the program as students learn what they can expect from their host communities and what will be expected of them.
 Kaung Khant, Saw Myo Min Thu and Zu Zin Ei San | This summer Zu Zin Ei San (a term two student from Mawlamyaing, Mon State) and Kaung Khant (a term one student from Mandalay) were posted at Aung Theidi Monastic School in Pago Region. They taught Basic English to kids from grade one to four. Kaung Kant is a skilled musician and taught the kids English through songs and playing guitar. While Zu Zin Ei San is a Mon Buddhist, Kaung Khant is a Burmese Christian and in an example of cross cultural learning, Zu Zin Ei San coached Kaung Khant in how to address Buddhist monks as he was unfamiliar with Buddhist culture. |
"Our mission is to provide comprehensive educational and professional services in support of human development, peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar,” explained Saw Myo Min Thu, Executive Director at Thabyay Education Foundation. "We are committed to creating a learning environment in which our students can learn to be tolerant and service-oriented leaders with deep appreciation for the diversity that this country has to offer. This is the key to national reconciliation in Myanmar."
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