WOW! What an incredible year we’ve had at Mudita Foundation. The progression we have seen in the last twelve months is simply unbelievable! And none of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for you. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, your Mudita Family.
This newsletter looks back on our 2019 goals and achievements before switching around to see what we have in store for 2020. It’s not just a new year, but it’s a new decade and we are propelling into next year with goals bigger than ever.
Make sure you are following our socials to keep up to date on our progress.
Mudita Foundation’s operations are influenced by Walldorf teachings and as a part of this our students have the opportunity to learn in many different ways. In 2019 we focused on using our beautiful Burmese environment and created garden space to grow vegetables, flowers and plants. We are utilising local materials such as bamboo and have created three bamboo pavilions for our students to learn in. Our grounds housed a concrete building from when we arrived here to set up Mudita Foundation and we painted it with bright and inspiring colours. We also integrated building and painting time into our lessons, so our students feel they have contributed to building their school and learned new skills during these projects. .
It’s no secret that, there is nothing better than a fresh, organic green salad, served with delicious vegetables and topped with a spicy Burmese curry. YUM!
Not only does it get the taste buds tingling, but also the benefits of nutrients with home grown produce is second to none.
This is why we started our Eco Farm. We are able to grow organic healthy foods which in turn gives us the opportunity to include environmental topics in our education programme. The new school year in 2019 brought even the youngest students in Kindergarten, planting seeds to harvest vegetables. All students learned how to plant vegetables and plants in the Eco Farm along with the importance of recycling and looking after their environment. .
New to Mudita’s curriculum is Handicraft and Computer lessons. Handicraft classes are held on Mondays by the local village bamboo master and the students absolutely LOVE IT! Computer class has daily slots for all grades and are taught by our technical volunteers.
A huge thanks to the ISY School in Yangon for providing us with computer equipment. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn basic computer skills, such as “how to use a mouse and keyboard” with advanced skills of using Microsoft and software for editing photography and cutting videos.
In our handcraft lessons, students are learning how to build furniture and souvenirs housed in the Bamboo Restaurant, using local materials, mainly bamboo and painting and decorating in Art Class.
We now have an office for all our volunteers to prepare their classes and research lesson plans for their upcoming timetables. We trust our volunteers to get creative and plan their own lessons with support from our local Burmese teachers.
Our main priority towards the back end of 2019 has been to improve our education programme. We have made a great start by hiring local Burmese teachers and creating a more structured daily curriculum.
We use our feedback forms from our teachers and volunteers to improve our lesson plans. We improved the infrastructure of the Eco Farm thanks to our long standing volunteers.
Not only do we have a wonderful organised Eco Farm and future vegatable planning spreadsheet, but our students learn from the very beginning how to utilise nature and give them a deeper understanding of their environment.
Did you know areas of our school has been standing for nearly two years? Thanks to the searing hot sun and heavy rainfalls, it’s now time to replenish those areas and make enhancements to the buildings we have in place, such as the main concrete building we have split into five classrooms.
Our main focus is building new areas, replenish existing buildings with maintenance and start building projects, such as an open learning area behind our Art Classroom and a new bamboo hut for our new Burmese teachers. We also require new furniture and beds for accommodation so we have lined up the Bamboo Master for 2020 to source extra local materials for Handicraft classes. It’s time to get creative here at Mudita, bring on the new decade, 2020 is going to be our biggest year yet! See you in the future ☺
The Village Leader and Mother Nature – inspirational leaders of Inle Lake
Meet Taggyi and Nan Nan, husband and wife who not only work in partnership at home but also for their community in the village and supporting Mudita School.
Nan Nan, is like mother nature. She has flourished our Eco Farm right from the beginning of Mudita School and continues to maintain and educate volunteers who come to work in our gardens.
The Eco Farm is our main source of food as we live a sustainable lifestyle, but it certainly takes community resilience and we would be lost without Nan Nan, that’s for sure!
Before Taggyi started working taking an interest at Mudiuta School, he was a farmer and also mayor of the village.
Taggyi supports our values and sees how we are making a difference and building a better future for our students.
Taggyi helps out in the Eco Farm with his Wife. He is also responsible for school maintenance, especially since launching new building projects, he organises the repair of broken water pipes and laying new concrete paths. A valued member of our community!
Thank you Nan Nan and Taggyi for your continual support and love for Mudita.
Your Mudita Family is extremely grateful for you both.
Hi, I’m Aye Myo from Mandalay
I am a volunteer here at Mudita Foundation and currently supporting the Eco Farm. I have been on the farm for the last 4 months and I absolutely love it.
Having the opportunity to work in and with nature is amazing. Surrounded by stunning hills and fresh air while planting super delicious vegetables is a fantastic job. Next year, I will teach at Mudita Foundation.
I am learning English right now, which is improving every day.
I will teach the students subjects in Science, Social and Myanmar as it is very important to learn about our country and its history.
23 years old
Mingalaba!
My name is Nwe Nwe, I am 23 years old and I have been working at Mudita School since 2017, when the school officially opened.
I teach the students Geography, History and Science.
I am very happy to be working at this monastic school, as I feel I am part of a solution.
I know I am making a difference and helping Mudita build a better future for the students. The children are inspiring, kind and each have their own sense of humour.
We have a lot of fun, and I must say, I learn a lot from the students! Learning English has always been a passion of mine, and I was able to learn English online as well as developing my computer skills.
My hobbies are reading as many books as possible and cooking in the kitchen, especially with oranges, mango, bananas.
My overall goal and aspiration in life is to become a Doctor and, of course, support Mudita.
45 years old
I am the chef of the Bamboo Garden restaurant in the Mudita school. It’s not just a restaurant but also a meeting point for tourists as well as volunteers and children.
I enjoy being part of this now for two years while improving my knowledge and learning English from the volunteers.
I really enjoy the company of various people during the day. That makes my days really interesting and diverse.
18 years old
Mingalaba, my name is Ei Moe, I am 18 years old and I have been supporting Mudita Schhol for approximately 2 months now. I’m currently maintaining the eco farm. I absolutely love working outdoors in nature. Surrounded by rolling hills, music from the birds and watching the self-planted vegetables grow in this thriving environment, they are super delicious! I also teach Grade 2 Science and ensure the students are getting enough physical exercise ona. daily basis.
My life-long ambition is to be a full-time teacher, so I believe I am on the right path, and in the right place right now.
What is important in life? LOVE HAPPINESS KINDNESS EDUCATION FAMILY CHILDREN We would love to know what’s important to you?
45 years old
I’ve been working here since the school opened in 2017. I teach English, geography, history and many other subjects. I really enjoy using the computers in this school.
21 years old
I’m a mathematics teacher for grade 4 to 7. 4 years ago, I started working here in this school. When The Mudita Foundation came over I was very happy for the change that came. I enjoy working with the children very much. They are very smart!
16 years old
I spend most of my working days under the blue sky of the eco farm. It is nice to take your time to understand all the different types of plants we have here. Besides that, I teach several subjects to the older grades. Since the 3 months, I’ve been working here, I also really enjoyed to work on the computers. It is nice to have varied fields to work in.
18 years old
I’m the teacher for grade 1 in all subjects except for mathematics. I’ve been enjoying to teach now for 7 months here. It’s really nice to have the foreign volunteers around to learn from them. Also waking up with the view of the mountains is energizing me every day.
19 years old
I’m teaching grade 2 , 3 and 6 in science, English, geography and the Myanmar subjects. Since 7 months, I’m happy to call the Mudita school my home. It’s nice to walk around the school and seeing all the little self-built bamboo cottages placed on the hillside. It’s amazing to see what we are able to create as a community.
18 years old
I’m teaching 3rd to 5th grade in English, geography and the history of Myanmar. I’ve been giving lessons to the children now for almost 7 months and mostly learned to love the laughter of the children when I felt stressed out. I also enjoy the company of the volunteers a lot! They are making my day much more relaxed and even more fun!
20 years old
l’m an English and Art teacher at the school. I’ve been working here now for over 1 year.Mudita foundation gives me the opportunity to explore my knowledge.
29 years old
I Was teaching English, art and the eco class for the 7th grade. I also helped at the clinic and managed the volunteers. I’ve been a part of the project from the very beginning in 2016. I value the most unique characteristics of this project by sharing knowledge and joy in a peaceful community. It’s really nice to be with all kinds of nations and age groups. That is what makes me happy about this place for about 4 years now.
28 years old
My name is Moe. I been teacher about 8 years. Since i finished my high school start worked as a teachers in Sagaing Aung Myae oo monastic education school. I was in the class teacher, teaching by Mathematics, science, English for different grade. I was also attended the teacher training, learning by myself to become good for myanmar education on the other hand improve for our new generation. When i’m working in Sagaing school, i met the founder of Mudita Foundation Bhante Mokkhita. By that time he and me started organize new education system in one of Monastic school in Naungshwe. In the school ( called Htet Eain Gu school organize by Mudita foundation ) i got more responsibility not being in the class. I’m happy and enjoy with my responsibility taking care Finances, organization part, translator, Teacher training ( training for our new teachers). Last year i went for an internship to germany for 3 months. This year as well I’m going internship again for 3 months. All organized by mudita foundation.
19 years old
I’ve been working here for almost 2 years now. I teach the children in the handling of computers, electric installations and civil education. The children make me happy with their smile. I often play with them during my breaks. They are really kind and cute.
25 years old
I’m a teacher for English and eco farming at the school. Managing the volunteers is also one of my tasks. I’ve been working here now for 4 months and love being with the kids. They are really grateful and funny.
23 years old
Since 2017, I’ve been working in the kindergarten, teaching bamboo handicrafts and organizing the sports classes. Mudita Foundation is like my home, it’s very comfortable to stay here. It feels like a big family with all the volunteers, teachers and especially with the lovely kids. This Year I plan to go to Germany to do an internship and in the school year 2020/21 I will start working in the Mudita primary school. We also planned to open a Waldorf Kindergarten training center which I will lead.