As planned, we have made our second trip to Dedaye on 21st of June 2008. At first, we were thinking of visit Kyonda, which is located near the mouth of “Ale River” but couldn’t go there due to the time frame and gloomy weather. This time, we visited 5 places and had received a chance to distribute donated items to 8 different villages.
We left Yangon with 2 cars, our very friendly Lite Ace and a dump truck, at about 5 am in the morning.
Our group consists of 23 persons i.e. 11 colleagues and 7 family members, 2 drivers, 3 helpers and 1 Buddhist monk who wished to go to Kune Chan Kone.
One of our friends allowed us to use his Dump Truck for free in order for us to load 2 Power Tillers, engines, 110 Rice bags, 32 bags of assorted clothes, Rubber slippers, blankets, 3 bags of medicines, candles, Chick Pea Bags, salt packets, 9 bags of Exercise books, 1 bag of Text books and stationeries.
We loaded the truck at Yadana Bawdi Buddhist monastery, Lower Mingalardon Road where our friend had received permission to park his 8 dump trucks. Thanks Matt for spending there overnight for the safety of the donated items. We had to leave Sally’s father’s 7 horse powered Kubota Engine as there is no more space in the truck. It will be the first item to be donated in our next trip.
Kaykhine’s cousin in Dedaye advised us that if we would like to go down to Kyonda, we must arrive Dedaye at 7 am in order to cover 4 hours boat trip from Dedaye to Kyonda. But we couldn’t make it for some reasons, a little rain and a little delays.
We stopped at Kune Chan Kone at 8 am and left a Buddhist monk with some Rice bags and clothes to donate for some villages nearby Kune Chan Kone. A monk undertook to distribute stuff to required places.
We reached Dedaye around 9 am. Kaykhine’s cousin feed us “noodle with milk soup” as a quick breakfast.
The taste was excellent and we had 2 bowls each very quickly. We purchased diesel 104 gallons to be donated with the tillers in Dedaye. Once 2 boats were loaded, our trip to Than Phat village tract had began.
We handed 2 tillers and diesel 104 gallons to the village’s heads and the monk, who arranged school for the children in his compound. As they wished to show us they can operate the tillers, we had to wait until they finished fixing the accessories. It was really an exciting moment when we heard the engine start and see their smiling faces. Those tillers will be kept in monastery and allowed farmers to utilize it by paying fees per day for maintenance purpose as well as for the school. It is indeed a very good arrangement.
We donated money to the monk for manual tube well. We found the cost of tube well is very reasonable so we plan to donate tube wells in other villages in the future. They were very happy and very active to start this project. We also donated exercise books, text books and stationeries for the school. They couldn’t rebuild their school for the moment but the place which was given by the monk is ready for this school season. The building was well covered with sheets.
We visited another 3 villages which consist of 6 small villages. In the photos, their beaming faces can be seen easily. Some old ladies opened the plastic bags and wore the blouses right away. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a chance to catch their photos as our camera men were busy with lifting rice bags. Pa Pa’s little teddy, Pooh bear and Lampi, the elephant are best presents for the kids over there.
The people recalled their peaceful life before Nargis. We understand their situation but are unable to think how they could manage their lives right now. We sympathize their difficulties but we also noted they have strength, hopes and dreams. We believe they can stand up again on their own feet very quickly. We plan to support them as much as we can and will arrange another trip to delta area again. We haven’t decided where/when to go, but we will try to send foods, blankets, books and stationery and other necessities to the places which were affected by the Cyclone.
We arrived back Yangon at about 1100 pm. We were all tired but the cars passing by us could hear the songs from our car. Singing songs is the best medicine to fight “sleepy mode”. It is true. We all are very happy as our second trip was successful. We have to steal some of our private times and arrange to visit there again.
We would like to thank our officers, our colleagues and their families for their continuous invaluable support to our group. We couldn’t make our trips without their helps.
We would also like to thank Essendon Rotary Club, Australia for their generosity and kind-heartedness upon the Myanmar cyclone survivors. We are very grateful for that we were able to donate essential items to the villagers on behalf of the club.
We are also like to thank Amanda Jewell, Sue Nelson, Chris & Trevor Wilson, Ma Mon Maw Maw Win (Muyar’s friend), Uncle Kyaw (Kyaw Min), U Roland Khin Maung Win, Daw Yee Yee Sein (Aunty Nyo’s friend), Ko Myo Min Oo, (Min Thant’s friend), Ma Kyi May Nyunt (Matt’s sis-in-law), U Thein Aung (Min Thant’ friend), Ko Htin Lin Kyaw (Mya’s friend), Aunty Thawder, Aunty Daw Win Myint (Matt’s mom-in-law), Daw Khin May Aye (Matt’s friend) and Ma Thiri and her colleagues for their great contribution in this trip.
There is no words that can represent our thanks to Ko Tun Lin (Ko Paw), Min Thant’s friend for allowing us to use his dumper for free of charge. It saved our fund and helped us to purchase some other required items.
There are some people left who we would like to share our happiness with. They are
1. Friends from Gyoe Phyu Condominium, No. 29 Gyoe Phyu Street, Yangon
2. Myanmar CP Livestock Limited, Mayangone Township
3. U Than Htay and family
4. U Htin Zaw and friends
5. Teachers from Basic Education High School (1) Mayangone
6. Daw Thin Thin Yee and family, Dedaye
We really thank them for their very thoughtful support.
The villages we visited and items donated are:-
Than Phat Village Tract (2400 Acres-Paddy Growing), 450 families, 350 students
- 2 Power Tillers
- Diesel 104 Gallons
- Stationery
- Exercise Books
- Text Books
- Chick Pea Bags
- Candles
- Tube Well (200 ft)
- Rice Bags
Thayagone Village and Kyon Kyat Kyun Village 101 families, 150 students
- Rice Bags
- Clothes
- Blankets
- Exercise Books
Kyon Kyet Village 23 families, 15 students
- Rice Bags
- Clothes
- Rubber Slippers
Kayin Ni Su Village and Ma Ga Nan Village 116 families, 90 students
- Rice Bags
- Chick Pea Bags
- Salt Packets
- Candles
- Rubber Slippers
Zee Phyu Gone Village 548 families, 600 students
- Rice Bags
- Clothes
- Exercise Books
Kyonda Village 2200 families (2000 of them need urgent assistances)
- Rice Bags
- Clothes
- Chick Pea Bags
* As we were unable to visit the village, we transport Rice Bags and other items with Kaykhine’s cousin.
She will organize to deliver the goods to Kyonda.
And 230 Dozens of Exercise Books to Myo Ma Primary School, Dedaye.
Here are the list of our great supporters -
▫ Our officers
▫ Diggers’ Dancers
▫ Ms Amanda Jewell
▫ Ms Susan Nelson
▫ Mr & Mrs Trevor Wilson
▫ Daw Saw Myint Thin @ Sally
▫ U Henry Aung Tun
▫ Daw Thin Thin Mar
▫ Ma Thin Pyie Oo @ Linda
▫ Ma Pa Pa Khine
▫ Ma Mon Maw Maw Win (Muyar’s friend)
▫ U Khin Maung Win @ Roland
▫ Daw Yee Yee Sein (Teacher, BEHS (1) Mayangone)
▫ Daw Mya Thuzar
▫ U Kyaw Min
▫ Ko Soe Myat Maw
▫ Ko Htin Lin Kyaw (Mya’s friend)
▫ Ko Htun Lin (Min Thant’s friend)
▫ U Tint Aung
▫ Ko Myat Minn Htun
▫ Ma Kyi May Nyunt
▫ Daw Myat Thet Thet Aye
▫ U Thein Aung (AAA – Pyi)(Min Thant’s friend)
▫ Ko Myo Min Oo (Min Thant’s friend)
▫ U Khin Maung Thwin
▫ Daw Myat Thet Thet Aye
▫ Daw Saw Myint Thin @ Sally
▫ Ko Min Thant & Mya
▫ Myanmar CP Group
▫ Ma Thiri and the “Art Only” Group
▫ Daw Khin May Aye (Matt’s neighbour)
▫ Daw Win Myint (May Kyel’s mother)
▫ Daw Thawdar
▫ U Tun Lin @ Ko Paw (Min Thant’s friend)
▫ Donation from Yadana Bawdi Monestry, Lower Mingalardon Road
▫ Other Doners
and they donated –
▫ US$ 3,310 ($ 2,000 from Essendon Rotary Club, Australia)
▫ MMK 1,330,000
▫ Ladies Blouses, Ladies Undies, Longgyis, Mens Shirts and other assorted clothes
▫ PP Balms
▫ Shampoos & Toiletries
▫ Exercise Books
▫ Candles
▫ Medicine Bags and
▫ 110 Rice Bags (30 from U Tun Lin @ Ko Paw and 80 from Ma Thiri – Art Only Gallery).
We had purchased 2 Power tillers and accessories, Diesel 104 Gallons, Engine and Gear Oils, Blankets, Text books, Stationery, Rubber slippers, etc.
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