ECDC staff retreat trip was successfully made from 3^rd December to 6^th December, 2020 at Ngapali beach. Total 41 staffs join the trip and another 8 family members and our ex-staff were also join with us. There are 5 couples and 5 persons with disabilities staffs among us. During the trip we celebrate January born staff birthday at Hotel and honored 3 staffs who has significant performance during the year. Daw Lay Lay Naing, Inclusive Education field worker was offered prize for hard working with compassion, Ko Htay Aung, program coordinator was offered prize for doing selflessly and Naw Zar Ni Saung, Rehabilitation Manager was offered prize for good leader. Another three staffs were also offered prize for their signifinact contribution for children with disabilities during the year.

On 20^th December, 2019 we have organized Christmas worship and celebration at Eden Centre successfully. Children with disabilities, parents, volunteers, Eden staffs and invited guests join the event. The event starts at 9:30 am and finish at 12:00 noon. Total 452 participants enjoy to receive Christmas present and also Coconut noodle and pizza. This year we invite Pastor Sang Pi from Halleluiah Church, to deliver Christmas message to the audience. He come as a team including his worship team from the Church and other singers such as David Lai, Ju Kya and they sing a song together with the children. Pastor Sang pi encourage to love each other in his message.

This year Eden Christmas was really blessed by giving Christmas gifts to all children by Pastor Bread Chow and also from Eden Centre as well. We are really appreciating for all the hard work of Eden family, especially admin staffs who invite our special guests for the event. Merry Christ mas to you all.

Singing Christmas together with students.            Sang pi, David Lai, Ju Kya and worship team 

A group Photo with audience.                 Pastor Sang Pi singing and sharing Christmas message

2019 National Special Olympic sport competition was held at Hantharwaddy stadium, Bago from 7^th December, 2019 to 8^th December, 2019. There are the competition of five types of sport from around the country. All together 220 participants join this sport competition and 36 children from ECDC join this event.

ECDC children only jon two types of sport, namely meter 200 running and Bocee. 6 children from Eden got first prize, 3 students got second prize and 7 students got third prize in 200 meter running. In Bocee 2 students got first prize, one student got second prize and 2 students got third prize.

Meter 200 running competition.               ECDC sport team with staffs and parents

This year celebration of “International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)” was successfully conducted on 3^rd December, 2019 at Kandawgyi Pubic Park. This is the 15^th Celebration of IDPD by special schools from Yangon since official IDPD celebration was start to organized by Department f Social Welfare at Naypyitaw last 15 years ago. Eden is always organized a preparation meeting with various special schools from Yangon. This year seven schools are involved. The celebration starts at 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. In morning session an opening speech was given by Daw Cho Cho lwin, Officer, Northern Yangon District, Department of Social Welfare and welcoming speech was given by Daw Ni Ni Win, principal of Start Fish Special school. During children performance from every schools’ special guests, vocalists, were also sing a song and dance together with children. Encouragement was delivered by famous singer Po Khua. There are more than 447 people participated this event.

The theme of this year ODPD is “Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda“, which is set by United Nations.  

U Tha Uke, Managing Director, Eden Centre for Disabled Children (ECDC) was invited to present “Myanmar: Challenges faced by Implementing Inclusive Education”. There are more than 45 participants from various countries from Southeast Asia regions. The conference was conducted at Anantara Siam Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

U Henry Van Thio, Vice President-2 and Chairman of National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities give opening remark in this conference. U Tha Uke, Chairman of MSEA, was introducing brief history of MSEA during 2^nd National Conference on Education for children with Intellectual Disabilities which is organized by ‘Myanmar Special Education Association (MSEA)’ on 17^th October, 2019 at MICC-2, Naypyitaw. More than 400 participants from four ministries such as Ministry Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (MSWRR), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health and Sport (MOHS) and Ministry of Labor and Immigration (MOLI). ECDC is one of the founding organization of MSEA in 2013.

Ministry of Education (MOE) has assign ECDC to deliver financial support from the government to total (339) students with disabilities, (232) from eleven townships from Yangon Region, (24) from Kalay Myo from Sagaing Region and (53) from Hakha, (30) from Thantlang Township from Chin State. The stipend is 5,000 MMKs per month per primary student, 8,000 MMK per month per middle student and 10,000 MMK per month per student for 10 months in academic year.

This is one of a huge progress of Ministry of Education regards to the policy implementation toward the right s to education for children with disabilities. Under new “National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) 2016-20121” of current education transformation there are few policies to be implemented to access to education by children with disabilities but some policies are could not start yet such as pre and in-service teacher training, creating barrier free environment renovation, etc.

The political will for inclusive education is now significant but still far away to make it reality in daily practice.  

New two stories building of ECDC, Hakha was officially opened on May, 2019 at Hakha ECDC new premises. During the building opening ceremony H.E Pau Lun Min Thang, Social Minister, Chin State Government give opening remark. U Sunny Thang Cung, Chief of law, U Vui Kaw, Minister of Planning Finance, Chin State, Government and U Thawng Kian, who constructs the building and community leaders, members of Hakha Self Help Group of persons with disabilities and children with disabilities attended the ceremony.

In the down stair Day Care will start soon and in up stair project staff will use as their office. It is a plan to start vocational training centre and necessaries facilities for disability training will furnish. Early Childhood Intervention services will provide in this place in future through collaboration with Department of Social Welfare (DSW), General Administrative Department (GAD) and other stakeholders. We are ready to face challenges to promote inclusion of disability in Chin society in coming days. We need support from the community members throughout the process.

H.E Pau Lun Min Thang, Social Minister, Chin State government giving opening speech during

Eden Centre for Disabled Children, Hakha new office building opening ceremony on 11^th May, 2019.

H.E Pau Lun Min Thang, Social Minister and H.E Vui Kaw, Minister, Finance and Economic, Chin State government were cutting ribbon during Eden Centre for Disabled Children, Hakha new office building opening ceremony on 11^th May, 2019.

On 23^rd December, 2019 (Monday) Myanmar Idol Benjamin Sum visit Eden Centre and sing Christmas song for children with disabilities from Eden Day Care centre. He gives Christmas present to all students and also encourage them. His team also donate lunch for all students, parents and staff for the day and donate three lakhs for Eden charity work as well.

We are very honor for his present with us and children with disabilities are very happy and experience special care and love. ECDC would like to thank for his care, concern and donation. We wish a successful carrier in coming days. May GOD bless him.

Starting from 2018 ECDC has a chance to visit Silver Lining Foundation (SLF), Nanning, China and start learning “Conductive Education (CE)”. Our new partner, “Silver Lining Foundation (SLF), China” introduce this new technique and also help us to start CE program in ECDC. IN 2018-19 academic year two class rooms were started with 12 children with cerebral palsy. IN this 2019-20 academic year there are 20 children in ECDC at two class rooms. During this short period CE staffs have attended few days training at Nanning for two times and Experts from both China and Hongkong visit ECDC more than four times to build capacity of service providers in under CE program.

We hope that this new technique can be expended to other centres through sharing this new approach in coming days and will benefit more children with cerebral palsy in Myanmar.   

Eden Centre for Disabled Children has published its annual report for 2014/2015.

The report highlights the organisation’s achievements for the year in child Development and family Support,
inclusive community development and in disability sector development.

The report can be viewed and downloaded from the below link.

ECDC Annual Report 2014_2015_Eng V_FINAL

The new one-year project, “Make the rights of PWDs real through self-advocacy of PWDs” funded by French Embassy was make project orientation at one of project site, Kalay Myo, Sagaing Region on 8^th August, 2019 and at Dawei from Thaninthary Region the orientation was conducted on 15^th September, 2019. This project will implement at two places, Kalay from Sagaing Region and Dawei from Thaninthary Region. The goal of the project is ‘PWDs in the target townships have access to their human rights in democratic society through active participation’ through the following expected outcome – members of parliament and decisions makers at the regional level have political wills to take actions for By law and Law of the Rights of PWDs and disability related policies adopted by Government.

As ECDC is always focus for the affairs of persons with disabilities strengthening legislation and policies, promoting rules of law and empowering persons with disabilities so that they can raise their own voice and promote inclusion in every society around the country.

ECDC would like to welcome our new two physiotherapists. They join Eden Centre in July, 2019. I would like to introduce newly joined Eden family.

1. Ester Cung Tin Men

She was graduated from University of Medical Technology, Yangon in 2014-15 academic year majoring in Physiotherapy. She earned B. Med. Tech. (Physiotherapy). She is joining Eden Centre Conductive Education team and now there are two qualified physiotherapists in CE team..

2. Thet Myat Mon

She was graduated from University of Medical Technology, Yangon in 2010 and earned B. Med. Tech. (Physiotherapy). She has won scholarship and is also graduated from Guangxi Medical University, China and earn M.Sc. (Rehabilitation Medicine and Physiotherapy) in June 2018. She is joining Eden Centre rehabilitation team and now there are four qualified physiotherapists in rehabilitation team.

A medical mission team from ‘Chunghua Christian Hospital, Taiwan’ visit ECDC on 19^th August, 2019 to 20^th August, 2019, two days. The medical mission team was led by Dr. Kao, Hsiao-Ling, CEO, Overseas Medical Mission Centre and team including four specialists, 8 professions. They provide free medical care service to all children from Eden Centre, some parents and Eden staffs, altogether more than (300) clients in two days. They provide not only health service but also vitamins and medicines. 20 disabled children from ‘Intellectual Disability Development Centre (IDDC)’, Hlaingtharyar were also join this mission and received services.

In second day Dr. Liao, Su-Fen, Doctor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Ms. Alice @ Yu, Nien-Hsin, Occupational Therapist, conduct one day training to build capacity of physiotherapists and teachers not only from Eden Centre but also from therapists, teachers and child care service providers from other centre as well. Altogether 25 participants attend that training. ECDC provide tea breaks and lunch for all trainees and also provide training documents. 

We are very grateful to our resource persons and also having a chance to share our blessing with friends those who provide service to children through their respective service provision centres. 

Providing basic medical check up and services to Children with disabilities at Day Care centre.

Dr. SU Fen giving training on Rehabilitation at Eden

Occupational Therapist giving hand on training about how to make splint for the client

As the contract made between “Eden Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan” and “Eden Centre for Disabled Children (ECDC)” for capacity building training of ECDC therapist four physiotherapists from ECDC has a chance to attend one-month intensive trainings at Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Chuanghua Christian Hospital, Taiwan in 2019.

In the first trip from 4 March 2019 to 29 March 2019 Zar Ni Saung, Rehabilitation Manager and Aye Thidar Hlaing, Physiotherapist were attended one-month training at Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Chuanghua Christian Hospital successfully. Zar Ni Saung has learnt ‘Sensory Intergration’ and Aye Thidar Hlaing has learnt ‘Splint making’ during their training. In a second trip Eh Zar Htoo, Assistant Rehabilitation Manager and Yu Ya Naing, Physiotherapist were attended one-month training from 4 June to 29 June, 2019 at Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Chunghua Christian Hospital successfully again. During this training both therapists has a chance to learn general physiotherapy intervention especially pediatric physiotherapy.

ECDC is very thankful for all partners those who support to build our skill, competency and profession in many ways. We have now confidence that we can give more quality services to our dear children with disabilities through various programs run by ECDC not only at the day care but also at community through various projects.     

Yu Ya Naing and Eh Zar Htoo with certificate

Aye Thida Hlaing and Naw Zar Ni Saung with their certificate

Dr. Nina, CEO, Oversea Medical Mission, CCH; Ms. Wu, Director, Eden Social Welfare Foundation, Ms. Zar Ni Sang, Rehabilitation Manager, ECDC, Dr. Su Fen, Rehabilitation Medicine, Ms. Aye Thidar Hlaing, PT, ECDC and Ms. Claire, Program Manager, Eden Social Welfare Foundation.

Managing Director was chosen My-EQIP program, Ministry of Education to participate as a study tour member to Australia and also attend “Professional Learning through Participation in the Leadership for Inclusive Development Research for Development Impact (RDI) Conference 2019” at Melbourne, from 9^th June to 16^th June, 2019 together with senior officers from Ministry of Education (MOE), DFAT staffs and My-EQIP team leader.

ECDC value its collaboration and participation to improve the rights to education of children with disabilities and promote social inclusion especially in education section. This network and collaboration with government departments will strengthen the development of disability sector program, which is one of the four main programs of ECDC

U Tha Uke, Disability Specialist, My-EQIP; U Ko Lay Win, DG, DBE; U Aye Myint, DG, TVET; U Thein Win, DG, DHE; U Zaw Win, DG, DAE and Daw Aye Aye Mon Oo, Director, DERPT at Melbourne International Airport on 16^th June, 2019.

Taking a tram during City tour at Melbourne, Australia.

Tha Uke, Managing Director of Eden Centre for Disabled Children (ECDC) was invited to participate in Multi-Country Expert Group meeting (M-CEG) on “Reviewing Intellectual and Developmental

Disability Programmes in South Asia” on 25-26 June 2019 at Katmandu, Nepal. This two days M-CEG meeting was attended delegates from five South Asia countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Delegate from Afghanistan cannot join this meeting.

The meeting is a key input to a Review of Evidence on Intellectual and Developmental Disability

Programmes in South Asia for UK Aid’s South Asia Research Hub. The purpose of the review is to build

a better understanding of the gaps in evidence that hamper a suitable and effective response from

being mounted in the region, specifically, the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar,

Nepal and Pakistan. The final report will give to DFID and share with related member government as well for further policy development.

Dr. Suneeta Singh, Country Expert, AMALTAS, India; Mr. Ram Krishna Thapa, Karuna Foundation – Nepal; Dr. Shevta Kalyanwala, India (AMALTAS); Mr. Iqbal Munawawar, Country Expert, India (AMALTAS); Mr. Shafiq ur Rehman, Milestone, Pakistan; Mr. Deepak Raj Sapkota, Karuna Foundation, Nepal; Mr. Shafiqur Rehman, Bangladesh and Mr. Tha Uke, Eden Centre for Disabled Children, Myanmar.

Group discussion

Background:

Italy-Myanmar Friendship Association was invited Eden Staffs to have study tour to Parma, Italy from 17^th May, 2019 to 2^nd June, 2019. In early 2018 the Eden Centre contacted Senator Albertina Soliani, Chairman of the Association for Friendship Italy Burma “Giuseppe Malpeli” and requesting to have an exchange of experiences and training in the field of disability during her visit to our centre. The Association has made contact with the institutions and bodies concerned: the Municipality of Parma, Ausl, the University, CUCI, the Provincial School Office, the CEPDI and the associations concerned for the fruitful exchange program.

Four members from ECDC, namely, Tha Uke, Managing Director, Ngun Di, Program Coordinator, Tha Hlei Sung, Project Manager from Hakha and Joshus, Assistant Director of Disability Development Initiative (DDI) Kalay had made study tour to Parma, Italy.

Before Eden Centre was invited the association has already invited other groups such as Dr. Wah Wah Mynt Zu, founder of the Centre for Palliative Care at the General Hospital of Yangon, and of Chief Nurse Daw Nilar and Phyu Phyu Thin, founder of the NLD Centre against AIDS in Yangon, etc.

The uniqueness of the trip:

This trip is really significant and meaningful for Eden Centre in many ways. Some of these are:

• As Eden Centre is the only organization who implement ‘Inclusive Education (IE)’ project in Myanmar for more than ten years during this trip Eden Centre has a chance to learn how IE was implemented successfully in Italy. Eden Centre has renewed its understanding about inclusive education and inclusion concept again and has energized again to push more strongly with clear and simple concept about inclusive education in Myanmar.
• During the trip the team members had a chance to learn inclusive education and disability at University of Parma with professor Dimitris Argiropoulos, chair of Special Pedagogy, University of Parma and get certificate from Parma University, Italy.
• We have made our study period very effectively as the schedule was designed for the best use of study tour. The team had a chance to visit from infant care, primary school, university, various disability related service centres and also give us a chance to meet very important persons from Parma such as Bishop of Parma, City and province municipal authorities, leaders of disabled people and also various interesting places such as Milano, Roma and Vincent.
• As Myanmar delegates we have a chance to greet H.E Yee Naung, Ambassador to Italy from Myanmar at his office and have lunch together at the Myanmar Embassy.
• We are very fortunate that we have a chance to visit the right place and learn the reality of disability inclusion practice and mainstreaming in every sectors, the success of inclusive education and it means so much for us who has tirelessly trying to break all types of barriers in Myanmar. We are fully charged and energized again for coming days to face upcoming challenges along the journey of making inclusive education reality in the country.

  Excursion trip to Vince, Italy.

  

  Professor Dr. Dimitris Argiropoulos, chair of Special Pedagogy, University of Parma, Italy and Ms. —— giving a souvenir from Myanmar and annual report of Eden Centre by Tha Uke.

   

  Andrea, Ngun Di, Senator Soliani Albertina and Tha Uke at Eden Centre, Yangon, Myanmar.

• Words of thanks:

  We are very excited to share our experiences back in our own community. The trip will definitely strengthen the friendship of Myanmar and Italy in coming days. We are very thankful for the hospitality, care and love of all friends from Italy, Italy Myanmar Friendship Association members. 

Disability Sector

Managing Director of ECDC was selected as a representative from Volunteer group to become a member of “National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPWD) since it was formed in December 2017. He is also assigned as a member of Education Sub-Committee in 2018.

Education Sector

Managing Director of ECDC is working part time as disability specialist in “Myanmar Education Quality Improvement Program – My-EQIP”.

by Eden Centre | Sep 17, 2011 | Current News | 0 comments

Eden Centre has implemented “Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)” project in Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon suburb areas from April 2007 to March 2011, four years project. As we have well experienced in CBR program we are now started new four CBR projects in Yangon Division and Sagaing Division since April and July 2011.

by Eden Centre | Mar 17, 2015 | Current News | 0 comments

On 17th September 2011 the third ‘Disability Studies Certificate Course’ was successfully finished.
The duration of the course is 20 weeks, 60 hours.
There are 11 trainees from disability related organizations.
This course was conducted once a year since 2009.

Japan Church World Service (JCSW), Social Welfare Organization from Japan invite one of our senior staff, Ngun Di, Program Coordinator, to have exchange program in Agape Centre at Japan from 29^th July to 16^th August, for three weeks. It is a great chance for our staff to learn how children and persons with disabilities are supporting necessary services and caring them systematically in Japan at different (9) places. It is really eye-opening experiences.  

ECDC hopes that we can do more to serve children and persons with disabilities in Myanmar according to our own situation and cultural contextualize it. Thank you so much to Mr. —-, Chairman of JCSW and all staffs from Agape Centre, Japan.

Arrive safe to Agape Centre, Japan. Friends who fetch our staff at airport.

Tha Uke is a physiotherapist and the founder and director of the Eden Centre for Disabled Children. From a village in Chin, the poorest and most sparsely populated of Burma’s ethnic states, he is a tireless fighter for the rights of children with disabilities.I was born about 35 miles from Hakha, the capital of Chin State. I am the second of 11 children. My father was a community medical officer, and we used to move around.After I’d finished school, I came to Yangon to study botany. It was the happiest time of my life. I would spend the holidays at United Christian Fellowship camps, which introduced me to the idea of providing social services to help my country.When I graduated I returned to Chin to teach in my village. I built a house in the traditional way, and we planted and harvested our food. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.A turning point came when my father saw an advertisement for the newly opened University of Paramedical Science. I had to walk the 35 miles to Hakha to sit the entrance exam (something I wouldn’t be able to do now). I didn’t pass the first time so I took it again the following year.  Only four people were chosen and luckily I was one of them. I started my training at Yangon General Hospital. At that time all the subjects were taught in English and it was hard. But as there were only four of us we had a lot of support. I only had a few shirts to wear, but I never felt discriminated against.As a new physiotherapist my first posting was in Pakokku, a commercial town not far from the Chin hills. I had a great time as I was given free rein to carry out my work. I loved my job, realising I had discovered what my heart was into.Soon it was time for marriage. Back at school my father had made me promise that I would allow him to choose my life partner. As the eldest son this is taken seriously by Chin parents. Fortunately my parents’ choice and mine coincided. I got married, had two children and started thinking about my future.