I've written a number of posts describing the support which the 'RTM Social Contribution' makes to education in Myanmar. You can find all these posts here. A number of these posts describe visits to schools to distribute stationery to students but, in general, these schools are in the Mandalay and Bagan area, accessible as the 'Road to Mandalay' ship carries out its regular cruise schedule on the Ayeyarwady River.
Each year, the 'Road to Mandalay' makes two or three extended cruises further upstream as far as Bhamo, accompanied by two 'Fast Boats' which act as ferries taking Guests ashore for various trips. Some of these trips include visits to schools with donations of stationery. In addition, a number of schools along the river receive donations of stationery, although the 'Road to Mandalay' does not stop. In these cases, the 'Fast Boats' load the stationery and, preceding the 'Road to Mandalay' up river, drop off the donated materials at each of the schools in turn. This means that, by the time the 'Road to Mandalay' comes abeam each school, the students are waiting on the river bank, waving exercise books which they have received and indicating their thanks by waving and cheering. I have been on Bhamo Cruises in 2010 and 2012 and can confirm that the excitement as the 'Road to Mandalay' passes, sounding her siren, is quite affecting.
Stationery Distribution in 2010
My first Bhamo Cruise was in 2010. All my reports on that trip can be found here. On 26th August 2010, after visiting the 'Pottery Village', we sailed past a number of schools which had earlier received stationery donations and there's a brief description in the post Nwe Nyein Pottery Village.
Students waving as the 'Road to Mandalay' passes in 2010.
There are a number of pictures of the schools we passed in the set Cruising North on the Irrawaddy.
Stationery Distribution in 2012
I repeated the Bhamo Cruise in 2012 and all my reports are here. The itinerary was similar to that on my first Bhamo Cruise and, on Thursday 13th September 2012, we visited the 'Pottery Village' and then sailed past eight schools where the 'Fast Boats' had earlier delivered stationery. The post Visit to a Pottery Village and Stationery Distribution to 8 Schools describes the day.
Children waving their new, blue exercise books in 2012.
All my pictures as we cruised north are in the set Schoolchildren and others along the Ayeyarwaddy.
In order, as we sailed north, these are the schools we passed:-
| Place | Nbr of Students | River Bank |
| Ma Au | 154 | West |
| Pya | 58 | East |
| Nyaung Pin Thar | 95 | East |
| Yone Pin | 270 | West |
| Kote Tet | 355 | West |
| Ka Bwet | 327 | West |
| Kyaw Lay Well | 60 | East |
| Pon Ner | 108 | East |
The following reports on the Bhamo Cruises are based on information from Doctor Hla Tun.
Stationery Distribution on First Bhamo Cruise in 2013
On the 15th August 2013, the 'Road to Mandalay' sailed north through the Third Defile of the Irrawaddy River, passing eight riverbank schools where the 'Fast Boats' had earlier delivered stationery to about 1300 students. As the 'Road to Mandalay' passed each school, students, assembled on the riverbank, waved in thanks.
There are about 300 students at Ka Bwet school which also includes a secondary school.
There are about 340 students at Kote Tet school which includes a secondary school.
There are around 125 children in Pon Ner Village.
Stationery Distribution on Second Bhamo Cruise in 2013
On the 28th August 2013, the 'Road to Mandalay' sailed north on the second Bhamo Cruise. Once again, stationery, exercise books, pencils, rulers and ballpens were distributed to the eight riverbank schools.
Stationery Distribution on Third Bhamo Cruise in 2013
During the third Bhamo Cruise in 2013, on September 12th stationery was again distributed to more than 1300 students of the eight schools along the Third Defile of the Ayeyarwady River.
Pictures showing these riverbank schools are included in the set Schoolchildren and others along the Ayeyarwaddy.
[Second Bhamo Cruise in 2013 added 16-Sep-2013, Third Bhamo Cruise in 2013 added 25-Sep-2013]
