In Celebration of 60th Anniversary of UNICEF in Myanmar

United Nations Children’s Fund14th Floor, Traders Hotel223 Sule Pagoda Road Yangon Myanmar P.O. Box 1435

Telephone 95-1 375527 - 32 375547, 375548 381215, 386423Facisimile 95-1 375552 Email [email protected]/myanmar

©UNICEF MYANMAR/2010/Aye Myat Thu Painting by young artist Ma Aye Myat Thu at UNICEF 60 Years in Myanmar Art Competition

SPECIAL ISSUE

In Celebration of

60th Anniversary of UNICEF in MyanmarChildren’s Art Competition and Exhibition

Volume 4 No 3. September 2010

UNICEF Myanmar Newsletter Volume 4 No 3. September 2010

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From left to right

Top row1) Kaung Set Lwin (BEHS 1, Dagon)2) Hla Yamin Eain (BEHS 1, Dagon)3) Phyo Ko Ko (BEHS 1, Lanmadaw)4) Kaung Zaw Hein (Yankin Teaining School)

2nd row1) Kay Zin Wut Yi (BEHS 2, Kamayutt)2) Khine May Thu (Yankin TTC)3) Thinn Naddi (Yankin TTC)4) Win Thant Thant (BEHS 2, Bahan)

In Celebration of 60th Anniversary of UNICEF in MyanmarChildren’s Art Competition and Exhibition, 10 - 13 October 2010 Organized by: UNICEF in partnership withMyanmar Traditional Artists and Artisan Organization


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Children taking part in Art Competition held in com-memoration of 60 years of UNICEF in Myanmar at No. 2 High School Education of Latha Township.

Three girl students drew the group painting commemorating UNICEF’s 60 years of work for

the children of Myanmar

Four boy students drew the group painting commemorating UNICEF’s 60 years of work for

the children of Myanmar

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UNICEF Representative Mr. Ramesh Shrestha speaks at the Award Giving Ceremony and Art Exhibition commemorating 60 years of UNICEF in Myanmar

Invited guests at the UNICEF 60 yearsU Thaung Han, Chairman of Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisan Organization handover prize to the winners

The Regional Communication advisor for UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Ms Madeline Eisner with UNICEF Representative and guests at the children’s art exhibition.

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©UNICEF MYANMAR/2010/Myo Thame

Attending Child Friendly School helps Phoe Htoo Overcome Physical Disability

Seven-year-old Phoe Htoo lives with his family in Quin Ka Lay village, Nyaungdone Township in Ayeyawady Region. He attends second grade in Sar Ahtet village primary

school in Nyaungdone Township in Ayeyawady Region. His par-ents live hand to mouth feeding and caring for six children.

Attending primary school is doubly hard for him due to his physical disability and his parents’ financial constraint. “But I never gave up the hope to go to school and be able to learn, play and make friends. I do not want to stay behind when my brothers, sisters and friends go to school. My dream came true when Daw Khin Mar Kyi, the Head of the Primary School came to my home and encouraged my parents to send me to school. I would like to grow up to be a doctor.”

This photo essay frames a day in the life of Phoe Htoo:

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Phoe Htoo’s day starts taking a bath with his mother, Daw Aye Aye Thein, at the village tube well.

Phoe Htoo walks to Child Friendly School by using crutch on the main road of the village.

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Phoe Htoo gets to school with his friends. Thanks to the Child Friendly School initiative, one of which Phoe Htoo is attending in Nyaungdon Town-ship, which strives to provide equal access and learning opportunity to all school aged children regardless of their background and ability, gender, religion and socio economic conditions.



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Phoe Htoo absorbed in learning in the classroom. “I learn Myanmar language, Mathematics, English, and Science – of which Maths is my favourite”, he says. Phoe Htoo, like any other child, can enjoy learning, playing and making friends in the school.

Phoe Htoo and friends having lunch in school while his teacher lends a helping hand to Phoe Htoo.

Phoe Htoo and his friends draw pictures. The school offers educa-tion through children’s participa-tory learning activities.


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At his leisure time, Phoe Htoo likes to get together and play his friends. Attending the CFS keeps him from being isolated and marginalised because of his physically disability.

Not having a leg does not prevent Phoe Htoo from taking an active part in the football matches in the school playground, especially in the Child Friendly School, where he is encouraged to participate in all learning and recreational activities.

On the days that she can, Phoe Htoo’s mother waits to fetch him at the school gate. The days that she is not free, Phoe Htoo joins friends and teach-ers from his village to go home with.

“No matter how anxious he is, it would have been very difficult for us to send Phoe Htoo to school without the as-sistance from the Head of our primary school and UNICEF”, said Daw Aye Aye Thein, Phoe Htoo’s mother. “UNICEF sup-port with the basic necessities such as school bags, exercise books, text books and statio-nery also helps a lot. A family as poor as mine can afford to send even a child with disability to school.”©

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Students of Child Friendly Model School in Thit Kyar Gone village in Kawhmu Township share what UNICEF means to themBy Ye Lwin Oo

Hmwe Myintzu Aung , 9, Grade 5

My school was rebuilt by UNICEF after Cyclone Nargis in May 2008 destroyed the old school. It was also upgraded as a Child Friendly School. In this new school, all classrooms are

fully furnished with bench and desk for all of us and with all other things that we need for learning and our teachers need for teaching. We receive UNICEF school bags, textbooks, exercise books, pencils, rulers etc for all of us. Compared to the old school that collapsed, the new building is nicer and bigger. The toilets are clean. And there is a playground – where we enjoy playing with friends. I never feel lazy to come to school nowadays. I am happy that UNICEF has helped build the new school for me and my friends.

Zaw Linn Htut, 9, Grade 5

I learnt about UNICEF when it came to rebuild our school which was destroyed by cyclone Nargis. UNICEF helps education of chil-dren in my country. The school is now very convenient with better

facilities and infrastructure. I can’t wait to go to school every morning. My favourite part is walking on the rope bridge in the playground. I also play football. I want to be an engineer so I can build schools like this one day.

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provides lunch for us free of cost. When I am not feeling well, the centre cares for me – sending me to clinic where a doctor sees me for medical check-up and treatment.

I used to be a primary school student. I dropped out from third grade as my fam-ily could no longer afford to send me to school. My mother sells bottled drinking water on the street. I also sell them in and around the cinema halls (theatres). This is the main source of our income. I want to be a mechanic at the auto work-shop when I grow up. I am interested to repair car engine and frame.

Mar Ju, 12

I came to know UNICEF as the organi-zation which supports me to learn and live with life skills through the drop

in centre. I joined the centre a year ago. What I like most about the centre is I can play with other children in the break. After lunch, we enjoy watching movies or television program including edutainment about personal hygiene and sanitation every other day. We sing songs together. Thanks to these activities, I do not feel lonely or isolated and I am happy.

I have been selling postcards for the past three years for my living in downtown Yangon like Bogyoke Aung San Market, Zawgyi House and at the corner of Traders Hotel. There are also days I do not sell any postcards at all. I do not have a big plan or ambition in my life. I want to be a vendor – I would like to open a betel nut shop when I grow up.

of three siblings in my family. The day I joined the centre was the first time that I heard the word “UNICEF” and what it does. I enjoy playing games at the centre. I am also happy to learn Myanmar and Mathematics. I made friends with other street children and I enjoy getting together with them. They are also home-less and had to leave school just like me.

I have lunch there with friends and then we enjoy a break from our daily reality. I find life skills course offered in the after-noons by UNICEF very helpful. I want to be a cosmetics vendor when I grow up.

Myint Moe Oo, 13

To me, UNICEF not only gives life skills lessons but also provides meal and healthcare for street

children. I am learning to think as well. I joined this centre four months ago. Be-cause of UNICEF, I can get an education while working. I am interested in learning Myanmar. On week days, I do no need to worry for lunch. The drop-in centre

Aung Kyaw, 14

I had not heard about UNICEF before. But now UNICEF stands for me as the organization helping street children

and promoting our rights for education and healthcare. I go to the drop-in centre organized by UNICEF in the downtown area which is close to my place – the Yan-gon Railway Station. At the centre, I have a chance to study Myanmar, Mathematics and Life skills in the course. I also have lunch at the centre.

Sometimes, the teachers from our centre take us on excursion tours. We went to the zoo once. I loved it. I do not need to worry about my health here at the cen-tre. Plus, I have a chance to make friends with other street children. The teachers are very friendly and helpful.

My family came from Lewai Township in Mandalay Region, upper Myanmar to Yan-gon in search of livelihood. I had to drop out of primary school while studying in grade four as it was suspected that I may be infected with tuberculosis and infect other students. Next year, I hope to start again in the fourth grade primary educa-tion at No.4 Basic Education High School, Mingalat Taung Nyunt.

Thaw Thaw Shwe, 14

One day, a year ago, my mother brought me the news on the drop-in centre. She said the

centre is in downtown of Yangon and it provides street children with non-formal education, meal, life skills course and basic healthcare services. My family came to Yangon from Maw Gyun Township in Ayeyarwaddy Division. I am the second

Children of Drop-in Centre recognize UNICEF and its work in Myanmar

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Accounts of young people from Aphauk village in Kawhmu Township on UNICEF and its work

Tint Tint Nyein, 18

I had heard little about UNICEF until I joined the EXCEL programme. It helps young people like me to broaden our outlook. This is what I think UNICEF does. I joined EXCEL programme as soon as it

started in my village. I was very interested to participate in the pro-gramme and the facilitators also encouraged me. I had to drop out from the eighth grade in 2005 due to my health problem. I express my thanks to the facilitators and UNICEF for supporting the programme for us. Because it helped me to lead a happy and healthy life. Moreover, the life skills course taught me to make the right choices, to distinguish good and bad choices. I can also discuss openly and share knowledge freely among friends. I would like to open a grocery shop and run my own business when I am older.

Thinn Thinn Aye, 19

W hen it comes to the word 'UNICEF', I have vivid and deep-rooted memories of it

helping our communities after the Cyclone Nargis which devastated our region two years ago. UNICEF distribut-ed family kits, corrugated iron sheets to rebuild houses and health services to the cyclone affected people and families. Another important fact that comes with the word for me is that I joined UNICEF’s EXCEL program in 2008. I had dropped out of school in Grade 3. The life skill lessons helped me improve my confidence when it comes to dealing with people. A significant change in me due to the program is that “my behavior” which has changed for the better. I share whatever I learned from the program with my friends and neighbours. I also made friends and I’m happy to play and spend time with them.

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Myint Myint Maw, 16

I came to know UNICEF through EXCEL programme which supports the education of children who are not able to go to school. It really helps young people like me who could not continue schooling for dif-

ferent reasons. Facilitators from EXCEL programme came to our home and asked me to join the programme in 2007.

I studied up to grade four then I had to leave school due to the family’s financial problem. I now live with my father and elder brother since my mother passed away. EXCEL helped me distinguish between what is need and what is want and how to prioritize. It is most important lesson that shapes my life to a better way, thanks to UNICEF.

I learnt about personal hygiene and sanitation which I now practice at home. For example, I clean and change drinking water in the pot regu-

larly so the drinking water is clean and it is free from mos-quito larvae. I have no big ambition in my life. I just want my brother not to become in alcoholic and that is all.

Sai San Wai, 17

I did not know about UNICEF until I took EXCEL lessons. But now I know UNICEF supports EXCEL, a useful programme for children like me.

I had to drop out of school in fifth grade due to financial constraint of the family. I joined the EXCEL program four years ago. I learnt many useful things from EXCEL such as how to commu-nicate and behave well with other people. This is a very important lesson and I can now relate to others much better and in a positive way. I can also now differ-entiate between ‘need’ and ‘want’ and that what we need must get prior-ity over what we want. I also learnt about HIV and AIDS, how it is trans-mitted and can be prevented, in the Life skills course that I would have no opportunity to learn such important messages otherwise. With the knowl-edge I gained from EXCEL, I would like to give back to my society as I grow up.


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“Unless we wash our hands before eating, bacteria touching our hands may get into our bodies while we eat. This can make us sick of diarrhoea and

many other diseases. It is not good for us as we won’t be able to play or go to school,” said Yu Nandar Myint, a 10 year old fifth graders in the Nyaung Pin Tha village primary school in Pantanaw Township.

Yu Nandar Myint is one of the 1400 children who joined the Global Hand-washing Day event from 16 schools organized by UNICEF in the Pantanaw Township on October 15. This is the first time she got to practice hand washing in such an event together with her friends, parent and teachers. She, along with other primary school children, has learned the importance and the practice of hand-washing from life skills classes. But this was like a big fun event, Yu Nandar Myint, said she enjoyed the day.

She joined her friends to sing a hand-washing song:

Before touching food,We must wash our hands with soap and water Let’s wash our hands wellSo no bacteria can get into our bodiesLet’s enjoy ourselves! Enjoy ourselves! Let’s go and wash hands when we are asked to come for lunch.

Global Hand-washing Day inspires children of Pantanaw to regular hand-washing

Globally diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections cause 3.5 million under five child deaths every year. Washing hands with soap and water especially after using toilet and before eating helps reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal disease by 40 percent.

“Washing your hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet can considerably reduce the risk of diarrheal dis-eases. It can also reduce the risk of acute respiratory infec-tions and influenza,” said Mr. Dara Johnston, Chief of UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Section.

Since 2008, October 15 has been marked as Global Hand-washing Day all over the world including in Myanmar to raise awareness of the benefits of regular hand-washing practices. “I have learned from my school lessons that we need to wash hands. But to tell you the truth, I seldom remember to practice this before touching food and after using the toilet. The Global Hand-washing Day event today showed how we must do it and how important it is. Being here today makes me want to practice hand-washing regularly.”

Partner agencies for the third annual Global Hand-washing Day in Myanmar organized events across the country in line with the global theme for 2010 ‘More than just a Day” which aims to make the simple, life-saving practice of washing hands a regular habit.

Primary school children in Ayeyarwaddy Delta wash hand together on Global Hand Washing Day 2011.

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Thet Wai Linn, a grade five student from Setnaywar village primary school said “I have leanrned about hand-washing habits through UNICEF’s Life Skill course. Hand washing is one of the 4Cleans – Clean Food, Clean Water, Clean hand and Clean Toilet.”

The official ceremony and songs led to practical demonstration of thoroughly washing hands with soap and water before children proceeded for having lunch together in a festivity mood. The students, teachers and parents from all primary schools participated in the activities of the day that also included health talks.

“Hand washing as an important habit is a key topic in UNICEF’s Life Skills course. Today children had the practical training in washing hands with soap before eating, after using the toilet,” said Daw Htay Htay Kywe, school teacher of Basic Primary School from

Setnaywar village, “Hopefully this will imbue in our students the need to move from learning to doing.”

In the past, open defecation was common in this region due to lack of toilet facilities. Local schools did not have proper fly-proof latrine and water supply either. But things have started changing since UNICEF supported WASH in Child Friendly School Project and Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Project have started working in the area.

“We are glad that UNICEF supported Child Friendly Schools help promote our children’s hygiene and health habits by providing standard water supply and toilet facilities in school,” said Daw Tin Tin Win, assistant teacher from Setnaywar village Primary School.

In total 14,000 students from 65 schools actively participated in Global Hand-washing Day events organized by UNICEF, government, other local and international NGOs in Myanmar.

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Student, on the way back from toilet, is coming to basin to wash her hand with water and soap. All the children from the primary school practically demonstrate hand-washing before lunch and after using toilet during the event on that day.

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Children enjoy having lunch at the school after washing their hands with soap thoroughly. Before having lunch, all the children demonstrated hand-washing behavior practically. The event aims to imbue children with the practice of regular hand washing at the critical times – before handling food, after eating, after playing and using toilet.

School teacher Daw Htay Htay Kywe, made an opening speech at the event of Global Hand-washing Day on October 15 at Basic Primary School from Setnaywar village, Pantanaw Township, Ayeyarwaddy Region.

More than 200 children from Setnaywar village Basic Primary School are listening to the health talk about the importance of regular hand-washing habit organized by UNICEF during the event. About 1,800 students from all primary schools in Pantanaw Township participate in the event.


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All contributions published in this newsletter are written by UNICEF Myanmar staff membersUNICEF Myanmar Quarterly Newsletter September 2010 Editor: Zafrin Chowdhury Contributors: Sandar Linn, Ye Lwin Oo, Wendy Myint Myint HlaLayout & Design: Win Naing

By Ramesh Shrestha Representative, UNICEF Myanmar

It’s been a long and eventful journey. If UNICEF Myanmar was a person, at sixty years it would be time to retire. But at sixty, UNICEF Myanmar is growing even stronger and ac-

tive to support and advance the cause of children of Myanmar.

As you can see from the summary milestones of UNICEF and children in Myanmar presented in this issue of our newsletter, since our cooperation in Myanmar began in April 1950, UNICEF has remained a steady and reliable partner of the people and children of Myanmar at all times – extending services to the need of the time and consistently contributing toward healthy and happy life for children.

UNICEF Myanmar, in partnership with the Government, invested relentless efforts in reaching all children with basic services such as prevention and eradication of major childhood diseases, pro-moting universal quality primary education, helping in the creation of a safe and protective environ-ment for children. Since we began, UNICEF has tirelessly fought yaws, leprosy, malaria, illiteracy, and promoted education and nutrition for children championing Universal Child Immunization and exclusive breastfeeding.

Myanmar has successfully contro-lled polio, measles and maternal-neonatal tetanus. The primary school enrolment has reached an all time high. Substantive steps have been taken in full implemen-tation of Myanmar Child Law which extends a broad umbrella over a range of child protection issues. In some cases, the battle has either been won or made positive strides. In some others the combat goes on through strategic programme interventions, partnership and advocacy. UNICEF is happy to be able to pursue its mission of improving the lives of children in Myanmar.

In the UNICEF in Asia Monograph (1988) that captures UNICEF’s history and growth through the decades of past

century since its inception, now retired veteran UNICEF Representative Dr. Wah Wong mentioned, “The paths to improving the situation of children and women are many. The challenge is to find the right ones which will converge at the major cross-roads of child survival and development.”

It is indeed true that under the global UNICEF umbrella, each country and region went through discovering the right path and the course of action that best responded to children’s needs in a particular time and circumstances.

UNICEF Myanmar transitioned and matured through its own experience as well as the insight gained by the organization glob-ally through the mass campaign era in the 1950s to disease control and mass education in the 1960s, through strengthening basic services and reaching the communities in the 1970s. The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its massive recep-tion across the world ushered in renewed vigour the child survival and development era in the 1980s – with Universal Child Immunization picking up its pace in all countries. The Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals brought more unified and focused targets in the 1990s and in the first de-cade of the twenty first century.

The next five years will witness the world marching toward the grand finale to the end-mark of Millennium Development Goals. UNICEF Myanmar aspires to make progress toward and beyond 2015 for the children of Myanmar to grow from strength to strength.

In conclusion, we would like to acknowledge the contribution of our partners, donors, patrons and UNICEF National Com-mittees who made it possible for us assist children’s needs in Myanmar. Thank you for placing your trust on us, we look forward to your continued partnership.

14th Floor, Traders Hotel, 223 Sule Pagoda Road, Yangon, MyanmarPh : (95-1) 375527 - 32 Fax : (95-1) 375552Email : [email protected] Website : www.unicef.org/myanmar

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An early poster after UNICEF’s inception with emergency focus in 1946

UNICEF Myanmar Turns Sixty

Documents

In Celebration of 60th Anniversary of UNICEF in Myanmar