Providing electricity in rural Myanmar

Chee and Jeru (pictured above) are best friends and neighbours from a small mountain village in eastern Myanmar. As two nine-year-old boys in Grade 5 they both spend their time attending their village school, fetching water and playing with their friends. Additionally, as the boys are both from farming families, they often join their parents to help harvest crops.

“Sometimes we pick corn and other fruits on the farm so our families can eat,” explains Chee.

Their village is located in Kayah State, a region with a history of conflict and large population displacement. As a result, infrastructure development and access to basic services, such as education and healthcare, remains very poor. Many families and children continue to live in extreme poverty.

Until recently, Chee and Jeru’s village did not have access to electricity. While they were able to study at school in natural daylight, once darkness fell they were unable to continue their studies at home or complete their homework.

Living without electricity can significantly impact the academic performance of school children, and affect their future opportunities.