PROSPECT BURMA Keeping the Flame of Education Alive

The English Language and Computer Training School

Delhi, India

There are over 10,000

Burmese refugees living in

Delhi. The majority of them

are Chins who have escaped

to India by walking across

the border from Burma,

a hazardous journey that

sometimes takes weeks,

into Mizoram, from where

many make their way down

to Delhi.

They live in an area called

Vikaspuri and Janakpuri –

about an hour West of the

centre. It’s an area where

the sanitation is poor and

illegal factories thrive

on employing cheap

Burmese labour.

Learning English is

absolutely key to survival

because without it the

Burmese have no means

of communication.

Most educational

establishments are English

language medium and,

without either English

or Hindi, refugees cannot

communicate with the Indian

population, and live

in total isolation.

PROSPECT BURMA

IN

DELHI

They have left behind

their traditional farming

lives and hill villages,

replacing them with

a huge and strange

metropolis.

They live in cramped

conditions, with

sometimes up to 10 in a

room and 20 sharing a

toilet. They scavenge for

food from the vegetable

Market. They are looked

down on by the locals,

and when they do get

jobs, they are paid less

than the locals.

The older refugees

continue to carry on with

traditional Chin customs

such as weaving fabric

for an upcoming

wedding.

They are brave and

inspiring people and

worthy of your support.

“In August 2006, the soldiers in Tedim summoned our villagers to level the ground in residential

areas, as forced labour. There were prisoners labouring with us, and with tears

they asked me for something to eat. I asked the soldiers’ permission and they said that

I had to bring food for them as well as the prisoners. I brought some eatable things and gave them

to both of them.

Six days later, the soldiers came into the church during Sunday service and arrested me. They took

me to the Village Council President’s home, I was severely beaten and kicked until I was

unconscious. By the grace of God, I was rescued and fled to India. I could not get a job because I

could not speak English or Hindi.”

The English Language Training

school in Delhi, which is

supported by Prospect Burma,

has been providing free English

language tuition for Burmese

refugees since the mid 1990s.

In 2008, we introduced

computer training as well as

English, and in 2011 we

increased the student intake

from 60 to 90 students a year.

Three levels of English are

taught in the school: basic,

pre-intermediate and

intermediate.

The students are given 30

rupees a day, ostensibly to

cover their rickshaw fare to

school. But we know that nine

times out of ten, it is what they

exist on. Some of the students

progress through school and are

encouraged to apply to us for

scholarships to Indian

universities. Out of hundreds

of applications for scholarships

from Burmese students living

in India, we fund about

40 students a year.

“Most Burmese refugees face difficulties and trouble in daily life.

For example, to encounter with Delhi extreme weather we need warm clothes and blankets in

winter and fans or water coolers in summer. Refugees stay in a small room and it is difficult to

sleep, eat and stay together. It is really bad for health. There is no fresh air, enough light or

sun shine in such a small room.

In summer, they even do not have safe and clean water for drinking and cooking. Language

barrier is another great problem for refugees in New Delhi. Many of them do not know either

Hindi local language or English. Due to wrong education system in Burma, even university

students cannot speak English well. In Burma, medium of instruction is only Burmese.

That is the main reason of having low level of English language in Burma.

Thus, we are not fit to do further study or odd jobs in India without improving

our language and subject skill.”

The school is open to all Burmese students,

regardless of their ethnicity, and the majority

of students are aged between 16 and 24. They

are required to take an entrance test in order

to place them in the appropriate class.

In addition to the School Principal, there are

two English Language teachers, two Computer

teachers and administrative staff. We have been

very lucky to have expatriate volunteers

teaching English Language conversation.

The school has a small lending library, and

students are encouraged to borrow tapes and

books from the library.

The syllabus runs for a year, divided into three

terms, and students can progress through the

school from basic English lessons to

intermediate classes, and from basic computer

courses to advanced computer classes.

Tests are held at the end of each year,

culminating in a prize giving ceremony,

and the staff and students go on a school

excursion once a year to major Indian

attractions such as the Taj Mahal.

Prospect Burma staff pay a monitoring visit to

the school annually and we are in the process of

setting up a school council based in Delhi.

The staff and students are delighted to

welcome visitors to the school.

“I feel that I am among a few lucky people.

I got admission at the ELT School and have

a chance to learn English. I also get 30 rupees per

day on school days. I walk to school to save this

money and spend it on food. My strong desire

of learning English stops me from being

discouraged.”

“In Delhi, I live in a room 15’ by 12’ with 7

acquaintances. Just surviving is a great challenge

here. The language barrier is a big problem.

Whenever we apply for any job we are

disqualified due to deficiency in language and

computer skill . I heard about the

Prospect Burma school and was so excited that it

gave me courage.

Prospect Burma’s School is a shelter, refuge and

source for all Burmese refugees where we can put

our hope and vision. It is the only place where

Burmese refugees are treated with humanity.

Therefore we can boldly say that we are no longer

a forgotten people but people with a bright hope

for the future. I thank Prospect Burma from the

core of my heart for providing us with free

education and I am indebted to the donors.”

It costs us £22,000 per annum to fund the school

and we are indebted to those trusts

and individuals who have enabled us to

support the school.

If you would like to contribute or to visit

the school please contact us or see

How to Help on our website.

PROSPECT BURMA Keeping the Flame of Education Alive

UK Registered charity no 802615

PROSPECT BURMA PORTERS’ LODGE

RIVERMEAD COURT

RANELAGH GARDENS

LONDON SW6 3SF

TEL: +44 (0) 20 7371 0887

WWW.PROSPECT BURMA.ORG