After an enjoyable visit to Mandalay Railway Station in the morning (described here), we moved on to the serious business of the day, taking the much-improved Oriental Highway from Mandalay which climbs into the hills at Pyin Oo Lwin where Doctor Hla Tun was to make food donations at two orphanages. There are many posts in this blog regarding educational charitable work in Myanmar initiated by the 'Road to Mandalay Social Contribution'. You can find them all here or by selecting search label 'Education'.
In Pyin Oo Lwin, there is an orphanage for boys at Doe Pin and one for girls at Shwe Sin Minn. Both are supported on a regular basis by a Swiss charity, Enfants d'Ailleurs Foundation. The foundation remits funds to the Belmond Myanmar Foundation in London which releases them to Doctor Hla Tun who acts as a 'trusted intermediary' organising the actual food donations, normally two each year, to both orphanages. The Doctor arranges the formal handover, receiving the donation certificates issued by the orphanages on behalf of the donor organisation and providing photographs of the event.
My first visit to Doe Pin was in 2009 and I've been back from time to time ('Related posts' below lists posts describing these visits). The Abbott greeted us warmly, offering refreshments and Doctor Hla Tun checked the donated foodstuff laid out ready, checking the list of food and its cost recorded on a 'white board'.
Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019, with the foodstuffs donated by Enfants d'Ailleurs Foundation on the left and listed on the 'white board'.
The Abbott issued the donation certificate to the Doctor and a number of photographs of the handover were made.
Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019: Doctor Hla Tun receives the donation certificate issued by the orphanage, watched by a group of orphans.
The Abbott then made a short address and, after some general conversation, we said 'good bye' and returned to our car.
Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019: The Abbott makes a short address.
We drove through the town of Pyin Oo Lwin to Shwe Sin Minn orphanage founded by two sisters in 1999. My first visit was in 2011 when building work was in progress to expand the accommodation. I returned in 2013 to find another extension being constructed ('Related posts' below lists posts describing these visits). Arriving in 2019, I found another major new building under construction.
Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: New building under construction, given by a Taiwanese donor.
The food donated by Enfants d'Ailleurs Foundation was already laid out at the rear of the assembly hall, with the orphans sitting on the floor in the remaining space.
Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Orphans gathered in front of donated sacks of rice. The 'white board' in the background lists the donated foodstuff.
The Head Nun presented the donation certificate confirming the foodstuffs received to Doctor Hla Tun.
Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Doctor Hla Tun receives the donation certificate issued by the orphanage from the Head Nun.
The Head Nun then invited Doctor Hla Tun to make a short address to the assembled children.
Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Doctor Hla Tun made a short address to the assembled orphans, watched by the head nun.
Finally, all the orphans moved outside for a group photograph.
Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Orphans pose for a group photograph.
Having completed the formal donations at the two orphanages, we set off by car to return to Mandalay, stopping on the outskirts of Pyin Oo Lwin at a long line of roadside vendors. The area is well-known for strawberries, other fruit and various local wines. Doctor Hla Tun made some purchases to take back to his home in Yangon on the following day then we continued on the Oriental Highway to Mandalay, slowly making our way through the heavy traffic of the city to my hotel. Doctor Hla Tun had made his own arrangements for accommodation that night but insisted that the following morning we would travel to Mandalay Airport together where he would take a flight to Yangon and I would start my long journey home via Bangkok.
My friend Ko Hlaing and his young daughter Sandy had arranged to visit me at the Hilton Hotel in the evening. They didn't want a meal so we just went to my room for a chat and ordered soft drinks. Both speak good English making things easier for me and I really enjoyed spending a little time with them both since it had been around 18 months I'd seen them (that visit is described here).
Mandalay, 2019: Ko Hlaing and his daughter Sandy.
The visit concluded with Sandy and I going for a walk around the outdoor swimming pool. Although it was dark, the swimming pool area was well-lit, producing some dramatic lighting effects. There was time for one group picture in Reception before we finally said our 'good byes'.
Mandalay, 2019: Ko Hlaing, Sandy and Jan.
Related posts on this website
This is one of a series of posts describing my 14th visit to Myanmar. The post Return to Burma is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma 2019 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma 2019 reports.
You can find all the posts about education support here or by selecting search label 'Education'.
The following posts include references to Doe Pin or Shwe Sin Minn:-
Visit to an Orphanage, Myanmar (Doe Pin) 2009
Three Orphanages 2011
Three Orphanages Revisited 2012
Support for Orphanages in Myanmar 2013
Maymyo 2013
News from Burma - Educational Support 2014
Two Orphanages and a Monastery 2018
My pictures
My pictures showing this part of the trip are in the albums:-
Hilton Hotel, Mandalay.
Burma 2019.
Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019.
Shwe Sin Minn Orphanage 20-May-2019.
All my general pictures on this trip are in the collection of albums also called Burma 2019
[Link to 'Next report' added 5-Nov-2020]
