SHAN YOUTH GROUP ENCOURAGES LITERACY IN TAUNGGYI

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000810


SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: SHAN YOUTH GROUP ENCOURAGES LITERACY IN TAUNGGYI

Classified By: Pol Officer Chelsia Wheeler for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).

Summary
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1. (C) Over the past two years, the Kan Baw Za (KBZ) Youth
Library and Reading Club has conducted two projects funded
through the Embassy small grants program: a mobile libraries
project on Inle Lake and a library and learning center in
Taunggyi, Shan State. Both projects promote literacy and
teach critical thinking and computer skills to prepare young
Burmese for future leadership roles in their communities.
End Summary.

Mobile Libraries on Inle Lake
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2. (C) With its first Embassy small grant, KBZ Youth Library
created eight mobile libraries on Inle Lake, six of which had
active membership and regular business hours at the time of
our recent monitoring visit. Every two months, KBZ Youth
Library members rotate the collections among the libraries,
giving each one 200 new volumes. These libraries receive
supplemental help from various organizations, including the
British Embassy and the Pa'O National Organization (PNO),an
ethnic organization that promotes the interests of the Pa'O
ethnic group.


3. (SBU) Ko Tun Aung, the project manager, told us the
greatest hurdle for the libraries is finding and retaining
qualified librarians who are willing to work several hours a
week on a volunteer basis. Since most materials are in
English, librarians must also have basic English skills. Due
to a lack of qualified personnel, two of the libraries are
closed at present. Ko Tun Aung said he plans to reopen them
as soon as he finds a qualified librarian from the local
community.

Learning Center in Taunggyi
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4. (C) With a separate small grant, KBZ is creating a youth
learning center in Taunggyi, Shan State. With large English
and Burmese collections (approximately 2,000 volumes in each
language),and a membership of approximately 2,000 people
from Taunggyi and surrounding villages, the center is now the
area's largest public library. Every Saturday morning, KBZ
members and community volunteers take turns hosting
discussions on issues relevant to youth. Recent topics have
included science and education.


5. (C) When finished, the Embassy-funded computer classroom
addition will boast eight computers with high-speed internet
connections. When POLOFF visited on August 21, she observed
library patrons using several computers that had already been
installed. KBZ members plan to hold basic computer and
internet classes in the room for a small fee. These fees,
combined with internet usage fees, will fund upkeep on the
computers and help pay for rent for the building. The
computers, and particularly the internet connectivity, will
provide a valuable resource for locals for whom phone and
internet access are unaffordable (purchase costs can exceed
USD 7,000 for both).
VAJDA