07 October 2008
Yangon YinYang Volume 1 No. 6
Yangon Yinyang Volume 1 Number 6
I’m half a day ahead of you so if it’s news to you, it is history to me.
Dateline: Bagan, Myanmar 18 September 2008
From the 9th to the 13th century Bagan/Pagan was the center of the most powerful rulers of Myanmar. This was before CNN so most of you
probably missed it. During that time over 2,000 pagodas were built in the area. Most of them have been neglected for about 700 years but some were maintained and others were restored. This is one of the richest archeological zones in Myanmar. It is in near the middle of the country, on the Ayeyarwaddy River. I’m traveling with Kyaw Aung, our Program Officer, and Mark Castellino, Program Officer from ADRA UK. Mark and I worked together in Peru where the UK and the EU were funding projects.
probably missed it. During that time over 2,000 pagodas were built in the area. Most of them have been neglected for about 700 years but some were maintained and others were restored. This is one of the richest archeological zones in Myanmar. It is in near the middle of the country, on the Ayeyarwaddy River. I’m traveling with Kyaw Aung, our Program Officer, and Mark Castellino, Program Officer from ADRA UK. Mark and I worked together in Peru where the UK and the EU were funding projects.I’m here because ADRA has a vocational training program across the river, around the tow
n of Pakokku. This project has support from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), ADRA Norway, and The European Union. This is the dry zone and water security is a constant problem. We are drilling wells, constructing storage ponds, and providing pipe and pumps to move the water into the villages. The WFP provides rice, oil, and lentils which we use to pay villagers to do the labor. Norway provides the cash needed to hire the technical staff, pay fuel for the vehicles, and other expenses for the water projects.
n of Pakokku. This project has support from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), ADRA Norway, and The European Union. This is the dry zone and water security is a constant problem. We are drilling wells, constructing storage ponds, and providing pipe and pumps to move the water into the villages. The WFP provides rice, oil, and lentils which we use to pay villagers to do the labor. Norway provides the cash needed to hire the technical staff, pay fuel for the vehicles, and other expenses for the water projects.In addition to water, we have a vocational training program. We provide 3 months of training in Agriculture, Livestock Management, Sewing, Auto Mechanics, Carpentry and Masonry, and Cooking and Food Preservation. After the training, the people return to their villages to earn money 
with their new skills. This part of the project is funded by the European Commission (EC) which is the development assistance agency of the European Union (EU). We also provide food for education with WFP food because if they come for the training, they can’t farm or do the other things necessary to earn their food. This is one of the poorest areas but the people work hard and generally take advantage of the opportunity.
with their new skills. This part of the project is funded by the European Commission (EC) which is the development assistance agency of the European Union (EU). We also provide food for education with WFP food because if they come for the training, they can’t farm or do the other things necessary to earn their food. This is one of the poorest areas but the people work hard and generally take advantage of the opportunity.We built three training centers and conduct classes in all three centers. For the first round we hired specialists to teach. Now the specialists supervise "interns" who are graduates of the first round and are teaching the next round. This has been a very successful
part of this project. In all our proposals we say we are training the trainers but this is one of the most successful. In every village we visited, we found at least one volunteer who was teaching his or her skill to others without any compensation.
part of this project. In all our proposals we say we are training the trainers but this is one of the most successful. In every village we visited, we found at least one volunteer who was teaching his or her skill to others without any compensation.Shortly after starting the training, we formed village education committees which took responsibility for spreading the news about the program, selecting and trainees, and operating the centers. Part of our work on this trip is evaluating and advising. The best part is seeing the success of the ADRA team and the people involved.
We also participated in officially handing the training centers over to the village management communities. ADRA will continue the training courses for two more years and will hire the instructors but the villages are now responsible for all maintenance on the centers. When the ADRA project is complete, the village will use the centers as they see fit. Usually we turn these centers over at the end of the project but this plan allows ADRA to guide and assist in the transition of management so the people should have experience in operating them before it is their sole responsibility. They are also collecting a small fee for maintenance now that they have responsibility. This is one of the best development projects I have seen. Makes me proud to be part of it.The area around the project doesn’t have any guest houses or hotels so we stayed in Bagan on the other side of the Ayeyarwaddy River and crossed by boat each morning and evening. The river is about 6 km wide at that point and it took about 30 minutes each way. 
We spent a day sightseeing. We climbed a tall pagoda and visited a couple of others. We also drove about 50 km (30 miles) to Mount Popa. A pagoda is built on top of a large rock. We climbed 777 steps ( I trust the signs) to the top. Like all pagodas, we have to take our sandals off and go barefoot. Some of the steps are rusted iron and I decided the money spent on the tetanus shot was a good investment.
We spent a day sightseeing. We climbed a tall pagoda and visited a couple of others. We also drove about 50 km (30 miles) to Mount Popa. A pagoda is built on top of a large rock. We climbed 777 steps ( I trust the signs) to the top. Like all pagodas, we have to take our sandals off and go barefoot. Some of the steps are rusted iron and I decided the money spent on the tetanus shot was a good investment.
Monkeys are everywhere at this pagoda. People take tons of bananas and boxes of cigars up the steps to the temple and place them at the shrines. In the evenings, the monks take what they want and give the rest to the monkeys. 
Remember, email goes both ways in this modern age.
Stop by if you are in the neighborhood.
Doug
Stop by if you are in the neighborhood.
Doug
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