 Today we went to see the temporary school building that Arakkha Foundation has erected on the patch of land that it now owns. It is great that our partner is able to afford the land and to build its own school as it allows freedom and the ability to teach in whatever way we see fit. The local teachers here are very passionate that their duty includes not only the job of teaching, but the role of caregiver alongside. After all, hungry children do not learn well!  It is great that our partner is able to afford the land and to build its own school as it allows freedom and the ability to teach in whatever way we see fit. The local teachers here are very passionate that their duty includes not only the job of teaching, but the role of caregiver alongside. After all, hungry children do not learn well! So early on Saturday, two teachers begin the unenviable job of grating coconut to cook into a tasty and nutritious soup for around 50 youngsters. They have a metal implement around which they roll the halved coconut and a tray onto which the peelings fall. One of the female teachers is clearly a pro at coconut grating, and when a young male teacher tried to help out she quickly shooed him away, reasoning that if you want the job done right, it’s quicker to do it yourself, even if your fingers do get a little weary! Whilst the talented three female teachers prepared and cooked the soup, the two male teachers sat with Van and me facilitating conversation between us, the foreigners, and the local children. It was a lovely thing to see and be a part of. The children were slightly timid at first, but they were very curious and their teacher soon showed them by example that talking to us was nothing to be scared of.  We stuck to simple topics that the children had been learning in class. It was great for them to have a real life context in which to use ‘where do you live?’ and ‘do you have any brothers or sisters?’ I really hope that we gave them extra motivation to learn English and excel. Their teacher is clearly a dedicated individual who loves his job and his role in the community as well as the individual children. It was delightful to witness. It really showed us that it is crucial to get good training to rural areas because without such help, how can the population continue to improve its efforts?
In the afternoon, after the children had run home clutching their spoons and bowls, we went to the beach for a walk and a chat about local teaching conditions. The project co-ordinator hosts classes in her front room for 40 students at a time who need to practice for the matriculation exam which is the entrance exam for university in Myanmar. She is loved in the community and is greeted by waves and calls from the students wherever she goes! Chloe Smith NEH Coordinator and Teacher Trainer
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