Projects
Skills Training Program
This program has taken on 26 students who are eager to learn and grow in various areas such carpentry, sewing, masonry, English, computers, driving, photography and videography, music, and bamboo handicrafts. Not only are they gaining valuable skills in these areas, but they are also being introduced to soft leadership skills that will enable them to become the future leaders of their communities.
The current state of Myanmar has brought about many challenges and obstacles for individuals and communities alike. Despite the difficulties, a Skills Training Program has been implemented with amazing results.
This initiative is providing a sense of hope and a positive outlook for the future during these times of war and economic crisis. These students are incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and they are making the most out of the resources and skills available to them. It truly showcases the resilience and tenacity of individuals who are determined to succeed despite obstacles.
Skills Training Center
We understand the importance of providing a sanctuary for growth and positive development as well as empowering the youth to create a secure future for themselves and their families. Our vocational training center aims to teach essential skills such as carpentry, masonry, organic agriculture, sewing, computers, baking, English language, and effective life skills. Our focus is empowering the future leaders of Myanmar to bring about lasting change through developing skills that benefit them and the nation.
HOPE School
The HOPE School project continues to thrive in this season, despite all the challenges of war and economic crisis. The school is located in the Palaung mountains near Kalaw and functions as a preschool / KG, as well as a community center.
Thank you to all of you who invested in this project and continually prayed and hoped with us.
The school is a popular place for both training and hanging out. Many individuals come here for healthy recreation, reading books (mini library), English class & community development.
Music & Video Studio
We believe that a bright and positive future for the new generations needs to be accompanied by an expression of creativity in local cultures.
It is our great privilege to open up an Audiovisual Studio in our Skills Training Center. Youth are being trained in photography, videography and media production. They are already creating their own songs, short films and other creative materials. This is a source of inspiration not only for their generations, but for their whole communities as well, as they celebrate their heritages and talents.
Raising Animals
Due to the current state of war and economic crisis in Myanmar, the inflation rate has risen to a staggering 150%, making it exceptionally challenging for families to meet their basic needs. Despite these dire circumstances, however, we have discovered a valuable solution that provides families with the self-sufficiency they need to endure this tumultuous period.
By encouraging families in Southern Shan State to raise animals like pigs, ducks, chickens, and fish, we have been able to offer them a lifeline to financial independence. With our help, many families have successfully established basic set-ups to raise animals around their homes and are already seeing positive results. They have harvested the first offspring and are able to sell them to cover their expenses and support the basic needs of their households.
We are honored to be able to support these families in such tangible ways and are grateful to play a role in helping them sustain themselves through these difficult times.
Environmental Protection
TOP is committed to the protection of our natural environment, with the vision to be stewards of God’s creation, and to respond to the practical needs of the communities that we work with.
Through various programs, TOP encourages the management and protection of natural resources. We particularly aim to influence the new generations, by training them to recycle, manage their household waste, clean their local communities and to critically think about the materials that they buy and dispose of.
We organise community clean-ups, often through the fun activities and team games.
We are actively seeking to develop and implement practical and healthy waste management systems in our local communities, as currently most communities burn their waster in public spaces.
Deforestation and the use of strong pesticides is also widespread in Myanmar. As a result, most farmers see the complete devastation of their farmlands within 3-5 years. Is therefore highly important to equip local communities with organic composting and pesticide techniques, as well as alternative means of cooking (instead than open wood fires).
Discipleship
TOP aims to empower and equip a diverse the youth of Myanmar, who are keen on bringing positive change in their communities. We believe that a person with an eager and teachable heart, and who is aware of the needs in society, is able to have an enormous positive impact on their society.
Here are some examples:
Nary, age: 25. She was sponsored by TOP to do a nursing course in Cambodia. She has a vision to open centres to take care of elderly people, who would otherwise be abandoned in their old age.
Hlway Ngae, Palaung, aged 25. She was the first of her village to complete university. She was also sponsored by TOP to join a preschool course, as well as a Discipleship Training School. She now plays a leading role in her community through nursing care and education. She also works as a teacher for one of our schools. She is actively training the youth in her community to become leaders of influence.
Mu Pho & Eh Tar Daw, aged 27 and 22, are also teachers at our school. They were also sponsored by TOP to do a teacher training course in Cambodia.
Schools in slums and rural areas
The mission of TOP is to provide accessibility to quality education to communities in need across Myanmar and Southeast Asia. We are dedicated to creating schools and other learning centers to ensure that more children can acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a better future. Our current projects include supporting three preschools, two primary schools, and a day-care school located in a deprived slum in Yangon. We believe that access to education is a basic human right and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all children regardless of their background or financial circumstance. In addition, we also support home-based learning centers throughout Myanmar, which helps to bring education to those children who are unable to attend formal schools. We are proud to be making a difference in the lives of so many young learners and we look forward to continuing our work in these vital communities.
Teacher Training
The older generations of Myanmar still remember a time where Myanmar was well reputed for its quality of education in Asia. Sadly, decades of civil-conflict and military dictatorship have left the academic system in ruins. Since the movement towards democracy, the youth have a passion to be trained and have opportunities of development. TOP is committed to work with local partners in order to train new generations of teachers, who are able to implement modern resources and techniques, as well as being able to develop their own methods, in order to engage an efficient and content-rich education.
In line with this passion, TOP organises workshops and trainings in Myanmar, Bangladesh and China. These workshops are range from 1-4 weeks and aims at capacitating the target teachers.
Both our primary school are also centres of teacher training, as well as spaces for apprentice teachers to gain experience and follow an education system in both Myanmar and English.