My project to create positive change in my environment. How can I foster sustainable development in my community?
(Original)

Nan Dar Aye
(Age 23, Myanmar)

Every human had to come to human society lonely. When they leave from it, they must to go alone. But the living activities as a human are not only one. There is a saying: "Man cannot live alone, and must live with society."

I am a teacher teaching in a school of small village, quite far from Yangon, former capital of Myanmar. I was assigned to handle Grade II. Our country is composed of seven States and seven Divisions. Chin State is the one among of them. The capital of Chin State is Har Khar. The village, namely, Sar Lin is a small one within Chin State surrounded by mountains. So beautiful! The population density isn't too high. Although natural scenes are pleasant, roads and communications are not good. After take a plane from Yangon to Harkar, we have to drive to reach to Sar Lin from Har Khar about 5 hours. It is found that villagers are mostly farmers cultivating on the mountainsides with the system of stepladder that is difficult to make plantation! Even though the villagers are poor, their minds are so pure like a snow. However they are tired, I saw they are always happy.

Being a teacher is not so simple and it needs hobby and patient. I love teaching and love children that they are our new generation. No one will deny that one of them will be figure head of our country in near future. It is required to train them to be competent in principle since they were young. If you ask me, "why I did choose like far place?" I have only one answer that is I want to teach the children like that village and raise their knowledge up to keep abreast with globalization. I was raised as single child and shortly after I received my degree from university, I applied this job at Education Department, and was sent to this place. Before I go to this place, I planned a project for myself to do the best in there so called as First Step of Community Development Project (FSCDP). Whatever we do, doing with project will be completely successful that I strongly believe.  In the project, there are three sections; to give the great education, to care their health and to distribute the knowledge. The objective of FSCDP is: Every child must have well-educated and patriotic. My motto is "Do the best as much as I can".

That school has three teachers; one is head-master, two teachers as me and another one. When the first day of school opens, we face with the some issues, which are no student, though the students figure is shown over 40. When we find out why they are absent, and was found the result as parent don't allow going to school and letting them help in their work. They think a child does not need to go to school. We hold a meeting to sort out this problem. At last, we reached to the village headman and requested him to order; every student to attend the school. Fortunately, we overcome this initial problem.

The next days, our school is flooded with numerous students. We have to teach them: lectures, histories, and general knowledge, personal hygiene etc... I always tell them all the human being need to take responsibility whatever they do. This is a duty of citizen that everyone to maintain a country's standard. Also, we all must aware that it's our duty to participate in implementing the developmental project of our country. By doing so, our country will become the developed country in near future.

In school holidays, we all, teachers and villagers, work together of cleaning the school environment, and other community affairs to foster sustainable development. Cleaning garbage will help out every villager to be healthier. Additionally, we tried to open a school library in the center of village. The ceremony of school library opening was a land mark. The knowledge of students can improve only by reading books and it makes me feel happy. Moreover, we explain the villagers what is the bad results of using drug, drinking alcohol and gambling. I am a member of Myanmar Women Affair Federation. I try to educate the young girls from village to know the danger of Human Trafficking and explain them how to avoid.  

I really happy in my job, smiles of villagers make me feel warm. I want that helmet to be a model village among the neighboring villages. I am sure I will continue as FSCDP and will create next step projects. In conclusion, I'm also trying my best, I want to inform to everybody, "Whatever we can do for further sustainable development in our community, let's do as one's substantial contribution towards some communal undertaking. Kindly think forever how we can foster sustainable development in our community.