Empowering Myanmar’s YouthA proposal for a ministry through a Bible college and

an apprenticeship at an entrepreneurial school in Yangon

First off, THANK YOU for liking this page! I’m so glad you’re here. It is through here I can keep you well informed the best I can during the course of my work in Myanmar.

Anyway, let me tell you real briefly about how I got here.

Name: Sarah Fish (far right)Age: 23Country of Origin: Myanmar (Burma)Aspiration: University President/Non-profit Director

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I grew up in Yangon (Rangoon), the bustling hub of Myanmar where my parents continue to serve as missionaries.

This is a multicultural city of nearly 5 million people in a country of around 90% Buddhists and over 100 ethnic groups.

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I’m currently at Kentucky Christian University, finishing up my bachelor degree in University Studies & Bible. I graduate on the 12th of May.

God has been moving in my life these recent months, leading me to postpone grad school to return to Myanmar and go straight to the field.

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So, this slideshow was created to give you, old and new friends alike, an overview of what I will be doing when I return home to serve in these institutions.

Because these are non-profit schools under Christian mission organizations, I am required to raise funds for my own expenses. If any individual, family, or church is interested in investing in God’s kingdom through this work, I have also included my budget in here.

That being said, I am really looking forward to the things God has in store for me, the schools, the students, and Myanmar in this next chapter of my life!

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ContentsYangon Christian College & Seminary (MACM)

BackgroundAnticipated Activities

Opportunities Now Entrepreneurial School (NMSI)BackgroundAnticipated Activities

BudgetConclusionPrayer Concerns

Click on any of the headings to jump to slides.

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YCCSBackground

Yangon Christian College and Seminary was started by my father in 2003 to equip committedChristians in Myanmar for leadership in ministries. 

This preparation includesthe spiritual formation of students together with the academicspecialization and practical training necessary for serving God in apluralistic world.   

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YCCSBackground

The students have been an invaluable asset to my parents’ ministry, Myanmar Agape Christian Mission, by pursuing opportunities to be the hands & feet of Christ through mission trips, inner-city evangelism, etc.

I continue to receive newsletter from graduates who are doing ministries from social entrepreneurship to medical evangelism.

So, I believe in the cause of this school and at large in investing in the education of Myanmar’s youths because God has been transforming lives through them.

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*Students from YCCS visiting a Children’s Home on Pyin Sa Lu Island

YCCSBackground

YCCS has recently moved into a new location to cut costs. They had originally been renting out a building, but due to the rising price of rent, it would save them a significant amount of money by building its own campus.

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*All furniture now in storage on property

YCCSAnticipated Activities

2012-2013: For a period of time, I had taught a couple of classes at YCCS. This time around, I will be serving as the interim academic dean with the objective of assessing and developing the program to ensure learning is achieved with the lack of resources available in the Burmese language. One of the challenges will be to help the students acquire English language skills a lot of the classes are taught in English and use English materials.

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YCCSAnticipated Activities

Support and Assessment of Professors Communicate with professors to plan learning objectives

for the classes. Create policies & procedures that will improve student learning and viability in the school system. Keep data of students’ progress & evaluate the results.

Coordinate Activities For Learning Outside of

Classroom Plan and implement seminars, service learning

opportunities, and extra-curricular programs that will give the students an enriched learning experience at the college.

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Opportunities Now Background

Myanmar Opportunities Now is an entrepreneurial school under YouthHope started by my friends Ryan and Mary Russell in response to the lack of opportunities that impoverished urban youths in Yangon face.

It is set to open its first year this 7th of May. The students will attend a 24 week training program and create a business plan to receive a micro loan by the end of the program.

The school building

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Opportunities NowBackground

It provides access to high-quality, interactive education to those who would not normally be able to attend school.

For a youth to miss out on school because of poverty means to miss out on a valuable opportunity to develop skills for a meaningful employment later in life. They instead have to resort to labor for a meager pay which, contrary to their’ beliefs, keeps them in the cycle of poverty.

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Opportunities NowAnticipated Activities

2013-2014: I will be serving as the classroom coordinator with the objective of coordinating and evaluating the teachers and curriculum during its first crucial years. It will be an apprenticeship under YouthHope, a branch of NMSI. I am looking forward to working with the Russells and learn from this valuable experience.

Teacher Interviews and Evaluation Assess the effectiveness of teachers and maintain communication

with teachers about their classes and needs.

Curriculum Evaluation Work with teachers on curriculum and their additions and

communicate with micro-finance institutions on if curriculum meets their needs for a loan.

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Opportunities NowBackground

So, what Opportunities Now strives to do is offer an alternative, providing its students with the structure and tools to go from a situation of limited opportunity to a position of transforming an idea into a profitable endeavor. There is a general lack of appropriate training and leadership role models for the skills that it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. This is where Opportunities Now comes in.

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Opportunities NowAnticipated Activities

 Story CollectorWrite up short students and teacher stories

and collect business plans to put them on the website.

Event PlanningPlan Saturday seminars including advertising

and plan social events for students during training and put together plan that keeps students who go through program connected to the school after they leave.

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BudgetMonthly Budget

Transportation Fees 200,000 K

Food 150,000 K

Dental, Medical, & Eye care

150,000 K

Cell Phone Bill 10,000 K

Allowance 300,000K

Total Amount (K) 810,000 K* ($1= around 800K)

Total Amount ($) $1012.50

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Budget

One Time Gift

Plane Ticket to Myanmar

Around $1500 currently

Laptop $500-$700

Cell Phone 350,000 K (equivalent of $432)

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During my apprenticeship in 2013, I will step down from the academic dean position in YCCS to teach classes instead. All in all, everything is in God’s hand and what He plans to do with me and this ministry is much better than my own plans and expectations.

Thank you so much for your interest to support, pray for, and/or follow my small part in God’s story of hope and transformation for the people of Myanmar through Christ using the education of their youth.

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Prayer ConcernsFor Myanmar as it continues to undergo reforms that

could give the country freedom, stability, and development. The country has long been under the rule of a military dictatorship, but in recent years, it has been working towards becoming a democratic nation. Please pray for our leaders.

For YCCS as it raises funds for its buildings in time for the start of the school year and settle in its new location. For Opportunities Now as it starts its first crucial years and achieves what it needs to grow.

For me as I raise funds and prepare for the work that awaits me. For wisdom, diligence, and unceasing passion on the field. For a humbling learning experience as I take on big responsibilities and develop into a servant-leader.

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