Before a huge crowd of young people in Portugal Pope Francis said, “Dear young friends, today we too need something of this burst of light, so that it can fill us with hope as we face the many failures of each day and the darkness that assails us in life, and respond to them with the light of the resurrection of Jesus. For he is the light that never sets, the light that shines even in the dead of night.” Pope Francis spoke about the moment Jesus took three of His disciples to the mountain where He “transfigured.” Through this brilliant burst of light Jesus draped the disciples for the dark night of the Passion.
Two years ago, we never thought of opening up a student center. What started out as a desire to provide an alternative learning program for the youth in the diocese, last year we celebrated our first-year anniversary. On August 15, 2022, the feast of the Assumption of Mary and nine days after the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus, we opened the Student Learning Resources Center at the St. Patrick’s Church compound in Shatapru, Myitkyina, Kachin State, Myanmar (formerly Burma). The parish priest allowed us to use an abandoned house which we modified into classrooms, computer room, an office, a library and a counseling room.
Through your generous contribution, we provided basic English and Computer classes. The main program of the center is the nine-month long Positive Youth Development Program (PYDP) which is grounded on the Positive Youth Development framework that actively acknowledges and promotes the assets and strengths that young people possess. We do not focus on factors that may create negative outcomes but focus on building protective factors that help young persons to succeed in life. These positive assets for young people exist within themselves, in their culture and community. Once they complete the nine-month program, the student will then continue with the internship program where they are given the opportunity to work with our partner organizations for two months.
“Let us be strong and flexible together. Be smart, be stable, and try to learn something new each day. The more you learn the more you will improve in both the present and in the future.”
The vision of the center is to produce “Resilient and work-ready young adults to actively participate in the life of their local communities and nation by being transformational leaders, contributing to social and economic development, promoting peace and harmony, and serving those in need.” From 25 students in the first semester, only seven students of the Positive Youth Development Program (Batch1) are now in our internship program. Last year we had a maximum of 40-45 students attending our different programs. This year for the foundational English and Computer classes we have a total of eighteen students and the more advanced PYDP class has 15 students.
Prior to the anniversary, we spoke to our intern students. Zsofi Khaung Nywel (23 years old) believes that SLRC is special for the youth in Kachin State because it gives them chance to learn necessary information and skills to help them find good jobs. She joined the center to build herself a good network. She believes that education is the key to success and only education can fulfill all of her ambitions. She reminds the youth, “Let us be strong and flexible together. Be smart, be stable, and try to learn something new each day. The more you learn the more you will improve in both the present and in the future.” She wants to tell the world that the young people in Myanmar are starving for quality education.