Despite coup, Missoulians rally for Myanmar schools

This outreach project began as a book study. We learned that one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time is the treatment of women around the world. Perhaps the most important solution is the education of girls and women. In many places around the globe, there is little if any social support for girls to be educated, and in fact, a lot of pressure socially, and financially, to keep girls at home.

We chose to become involved with Studer Trust, which at the time had an 11-year track record building schools and fostering students in Burma (now called Myanmar). Our fundraising provided support for six girls in Myanmar to continue their education and obtain the certificate required to enter the skilled work force or prepare for university education. 

In fall 2015, a group of 16 volunteers from Holy Spirit traveled to Myanmar on a three-week teaching mission, helping teachers adopt a method of teaching English, in English , to young students. While there, our volunteers learned about the lack of preventive and treatment dental services, and we provided funding for a dental clinic which serves over 17 nearby villages in addition to the students, monks and teachers at the monastery and its dental school. 

Some of our volunteers have made additional trips to Myanmar to help with further teaching. Another group of teacher volunteers traveled to Myanmar in early 2018.