AHAN International Program Director, Emily Busch Visits Bangladesh and Myanmar

July 30th-Aug 10, 2010

AHAN International Program Director, Nippon Kan Vice President, Emily Busch Sensei visited Bangladesh and Myanmar for the second time this past July-August.

The purpose of this visit was to check on the status of AHAN supported projects there, to check to see if  goals were be being achieved and to work on projections for future stages of project development. AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarters requires that all projects be personally inspected at every stage of development to insure that all materials are being used properly and that all project goals are on target.

If AHAN is in support of a project that is not meeting its goals, resource re-allocation is possible. These follow-up procedures have been put in place to help project recipients meet their goals and encourage the work they are doing for themselves. Ongoing dependence is not an AHAN project goal and is carefully monitored.

Written by
David Geras
Nippon Kan Treasurer

Emily Sensei’s Visit to the Madrasa Orphanage, Dhaka Bangladesh

July 31st-Aug 3rd, 2010

Emily Busch Sensei visited the Madrasa Orphanage in Dhaka to check on the installation and use of AHAN supplied building materials and to meet with the cleric elders to discuss material needs for future projects.

Before stopping at the orphanage, we spent the morning at local Dhaka markets purchasing large supplies of body soap, laundry soap, 100 new plates and arranging for the delivery of AHAN’s monthly supply of 500 kilos of rice.

Touring the building, I thought about all of the progress that has been made building this new facility and felt proud that AHAN Bangladesh had been part of this tremendous effort. I am also impressed that this small handful of cleric teachers have built this five story building by themselves.

Currently, the clerics have plans to build a second building to be used as an orphanage for boys. Before this project can begin however, we need to make sure that the first building is completely functional and operational.

Many thanks to AHAN and to Emily Sensei for visiting the capital city of Dhaka.

Written by
Maji Sarkar
Bangladesh AHAN Coordinator

Emily Sensei’s Visit to the Myanmar AHAN Learning Center

Aug 4-9th, 2010

With Homma Kancho’s financial support, a facility was found and purchases for the AHAN Learning Center in Yangon in June. The purpose of my visit was to check the progress of repairs to the building and the progress of moving the AHAN Learning Center to its new location. In May, Homma Kancho delivered five new computers to Myanmar donated by the Minoru Yasui Inn of Court in Denver, and we also wanted to see what progress was being made installing the new computers into a new computer-lab. The second reason for my visit was to help purchase a new badly needed generator to supply power for the building and the computer lab.

Upon my arrival, I was more than pleasantly surprised; I was thrilled to see that the new AHAN Learning Center was up and running in its new location! I was very impressed as we toured the new dormitory rooms (one for boys and one for girls) on the first floor, as well as a functioning computer lab, classrooms, meeting room, shrine area and kitchen. The dormitories had been set up for students from small towns outside of Yangon to be housed while they pursued their dreams of higher education and eventually college. Financial means are not criteria to study at the AHAN Learning Center in Myanmar, only aptitude and a positive and motivated attitude!

Teaching at the new AHAN Learning Center are AHAN Myanmar Coordinator and government licensed tour guide, Nilar Than’s entire family. Nilar’s father is currently the editor of a major Myanmar English newspaper and former high school principal. Her mother is a high school English teacher with decades of experience and Nilar’s sibling are all teachers and educational professionals.

The entire family’s dedication and enthusiasm is apparent and goes a long way to insure the success of this newly founded enterprise. I was very proud to represent AHAN in supporting the development of the educational and boarding programs found here at the NEW Myanmar AHAN Learning Center.

 Talking with students.

After visiting the AHAN Learning Center, we made a trip to the Yadanapon Buddhist Orphanage to deliver our monthly supply of 500 kilos of rice, school and medical supplies and three refurbished laptop computers.

In September of 2009, we met a boy at the Yadanapon Temple whose worn flip-flop sandals inspired us all.

As a jewelry designer, this summer I designed a necklace charm in the likeness of this sandal to represent AHAN. On this visit I gave two of the silver necklaces to AHAN staff and the priests in charge of the temple seemed pleased with the necklace design.

Plans are in the works to create these AHAN sandal pendants as  a fundraising tool for AHAN projects.

After all missions were accomplished, I was lucky enough to spend a few days with Nilar’s family traveling through beautiful southern Myanmar. We spent time marveling at the beauty of the countryside, thinking up new ideas and projects for the AHAN Learning Center and enjoying time together. Oh, and we met some elephants along the way…

Written by
Emily Busch