Archives: Fundraising call, Mayzin Aung's nursing education!

This is a note requesting you to help me help a bright young lady who has beaten the odds in war torn Burma and is passionately pursuing education as a nurse. I first met May zin Aung in 2009, when I was working at the APEBC on the Thai-Burma border. She was a keen student, working through grade 10. She was living at the boarding house, having fled the war in Burma, hoping to make a better life for herself. She told me then that her sole ambition in life was to become a doctor. Since then, she has overcome incredible obstacles (such as having no money, support, family, etc) and made it into the Mae Sot school of nursing. She did this while studying day and night, with only a few pencils, some donated books, and sheer determination. May Zin Aung has no other worldly posessions, she sleeps on the wooden floor like the other children and wears clothes purchased with donated money.

Since the elections in Burma, funding has dramatically decreased, to the point where the boarding house that she grew up in can no longer sustain itself and the children living there. It will be closing after this year (that is a whole other can of worms, and we'll have to figure out how to house the children sometime in the near future). I have committed myself to helping Mayzin Aung achieve her dream of becoming a nurse and then doctor. She has gone as far as she can on her own, and done more than most children in the world could, with almost literally nothing. Now it's time for me to tighten my belt, and call on the help of anyone who will listen. We have to get this girl through school. Period. With all of the challenges that I am facing to put myself through nursing school, they are nothing compared to what she has had to overcome. And I will do whatever I can to help her. So here's the deal: if you can spare ANY money at all, please post here. Even if it's $5.

The last time I raised money for the kids in Nepal to get solar lights, we raised $1,000CAD at Christmas time! This isn't something that is going to change the world, but it will change the life of a young Burmese girl who has lost everything to war, except her lifelong dream of building herself a career out of helping people. I have never met a more deserving young woman. If you can send any money, I will do what I did last time and send you a paypal link. This would mean the world to me, and would literally mean the difference between happiness and despair for one young refugee. Think of the struggles you have had to overcome to get what you wanted in life, and now imagine surviving war, losing your family, sleeping on the floor, studying day and night, getting into the school of your choice, and then not being able to make enough money to pay tuition, buy a computer, books, or supplies... and facing these hurdles alone. Please help me help her. It is so easy for us to change her life for the better, and I know she will change the lives of so many others in the future. Help us with this most worthy of causes; supporting determination and drive in a beautiful young mind. This is something the world needs more of, so let's lend a hand when we're able to. Please, if you know of anyone or any groups willing and able to help us in this quest, repost this and spread the word. So little does so much so rarely in life!

Our goal: $1000 CAD

Donations so far:

Me: $100

Mike D: $100

Deborah W: $100

Michael D: $100

Donna H: $80

Jean T: $50

Jo M: $50

Manveet D: $50

Rob L: $50

Mark S: $50

Cindy W: $50

Andrew C: $50

Marisa F: $40

Colleen S: $25

Ashley H: $25

Kristin B: $25

Anisa: $20

Jen K $20

Winne L: $10

Running total: $1,005!