In February Nico Schoenmakers, the new secretary of the Care for Children foundation, paid a working visit to the orphanages in Minethouk. That was the first official visit since the new board took office on January 1, 2020. Nico was already on site in 2013, when he visited a number of places around Lake Inle with friends.
Meeting Tet Tun, the staff and the children was friendly and heartwarming. The orphanages are in excellent condition, the staff members are very involved with the children and the household on site is in good order.
Nico had brought Nann Myint with him for this occasion. She is the manager of the English & Life Skill Program at PDO High School in Mandalay. This school is supported by the World Child Care Foundation, of which Nico has been the secretary since 2009. The PDO High School offers many opportunities for (vocational) training. It will be possible for the young people in Minethouk to study in Mandalay in the future. Nann Myint was able to explain what her program entailed and could interpret now and then, if the English of the staff was insufficient.
During the working visit, the well-being of the children, the study, the maintenance of the buildings, the salaries and the financial administration were also discussed. What everyone involved did not know at the time is that it would be the last working visit for the time being due to the corona crisis and the military coup.
Currently, contact takes place via app, telephone and video call. Not so nice, but practical!
