Resilient in the face of an Unprecedented Global Pandemic and Coop de ‘tat 4/28/2021
The years 2020-2021 have become one long resiliency test for both the Esther Project and the children. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, like everyone in the world, the Esther Project has encountered an unexpected and invisible enemy. The project team’s response was impressive to the unprecedented pandemic which caused many lives to be lost every day. When the public schools shut down at the end of 2019 due to the pandemic, the Esther Project increased our efforts and stepped in to help the orphaned children continue their education while schools were shut down and many of the students in Myanmar have lost their opportunity for an education.
While our country was finally beginning to see some progress made against the pandemic, the Esther Project experienced another resiliency test as a result of the coup de ’tat in February. This has created a bigger and more complex situation for not only the Esther Project but the country of Myanmar. The future of our country and of the education for the children has shifted dramatically and now remains uncertain for the foreseeable future
Literally, it has been a very challenging season for the project since the coup. The situation between the military and protestors have created risks for the people day and night and have resulted in a continued stop of accessing educational opportunities for the students across the country. While the current situation has made life much harder to live in Myanmar, and much more dangerous for the staff we will not give up on providing educational services to the children who are the most vulnerable and ignored.
“We continue to hold regular classes in Hlegu and Hmawbi centers where the situation is calmer and safer; our centers in North and East Dagon as well as Shwepyithar while not able to operate daily due to security concerns have been able to hold classes on average of 3 days a week, and lately have been able to conduct regular classes. Over this course of time we have noticed that our students are more dedicated to their study as they understand the value of learning during this difficult time.
“We have instituted a number of new activities that promote the student’s morals as well as their English and computer skills. Since the Esther Project has become the only accessible educational opportunity for the children in the orphanages, the orphanage caregivers and the students have requested that we continue the daily classes throughout the rest of the year, as the public schools are still closed.”
Although the current ground situation in the country makes it impossible for the Esther Project to function normally; that the obstacles we confront currently affect our normal way of doing things, through this trial we have learned to create new ways and even boost our capacity to educate the over 300 children we are entrusted with.
“Our daily journey to each of the orphanages is very risky as each staff member faces possible arrest by the authorities or encountering protestors who are opposed to any type of work being done (even educating children). We are concerned and wary of both sides, but they will not stop us from reaching the children. We take every single chance available for us to visit the orphanages and have classes. When the in-person classes are not an option due to safety issues each of our staff members holds virtual classes over the internet which we provide access to for the orphanages.
Overall, we remind ourselves and our students by a saying “The thing that does not kill us, makes us stronger”, the Esther Project has become more resilience due to the pandemic and the coup. And the staff has grown in their confidence to deal with problems and critical situations, that seem to confront us on a daily basis.
Solomon