Crisis Fund for Myanmar Teachers

Please help the people of Myanmar (Burma) who are suffering at the hands of a brutal and murderous military dictatorship. We are raising money for teachers who are participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement against the recent military coup.



The Myanmar Military

Saturday March 27th 2021 was Armed Forces Day in Myanmar (Burma). The army marked this occasion by killing over 100 of its own civilians. Some were children. The youngest was 5 years of age. Most of these people were unarmed, peaceful protestors murdered for opposing the coup and demanding that the legitimate government, voted for by over 80% of the population, be restored to  power.




Since the military coup on February 1st, it is estimated that more than 700 people have been killed with many more injured.  The military has used battlefield weapons and airstrikes against its own people in many towns and cities across the country. Some police and military defectors attest to a “shoot to kill” policy. Some of the victims have been innocent bystanders, others have been shot in their homes. Many thousands of people have been beaten or subjected to arbitrary arrest. The army and police loot property and terrorise residential areas at night firing stun grenades and live rounds.     


Bomb damage to a school after an airstrike in Karen State,  Myanmar (April 2021)


Myanmar Teachers Support Group

We are the Myanmar Teachers Support Group: most of us are teachers, or former teachers, who have visited Myanmar many times to support the work of the NGO, Mobile Education Partnerships (MEP). MEP has worked for over 20 years to train teachers in disadvantaged communities affected by the ongoing civil war in the regions, working within Myanmar and in the refugee camps on the Thai/Myanmar border.

The Central Role of Teachers

Many teachers are part of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), the driving force behind peaceful resistance and mutual support among the people of Myanmar. Many are on strike with no income and many are participating in the ongoing protests.

Teachers participating in a peaceful protest against the coup

It is through our first hand experience of working alongside teachers in Myanmar that we know how central teachers are to their communities. People will look to them for support during these troubling times. Like us, these teachers believe that the education of children is key to ensuring peace, stability and a fair society. By supporting these teachers who are risking their lives to stand against this injustice and oppression, you will also be supporting their communities and the future of the children they teach.

We are in contact with a trusted Burmese teacher colleague who has many years experience leading teacher training projects and managing donated funds. She has agreed to receive and distribute any funds we raise.  Before the internet was cut by the military, we managed to talk with her and she spoke of the brutality of the military.

“They are terrorists. They arrested one of our teachers, she’s in jail. They’re killing people. They’re killing children! The situation is desperate… we feel hopeless.”


How funds will be used

We asked how we could help. She was  clear about what was needed: basic provisions like bags of rice, eggs, vegetables and other foodstuffs to help sustain striking teachers, students and their families who are all now struggling to make ends meet.


£50 buys enough rice for 15 families per week

£30 buys enough vegetables for 15 families per week

£20 buys a 36 kg rice sack

£10 buys 5 litres of cooking oil

£5 buys 50 eggs


Funds we raise here will be used for this purpose. Our colleague will collect receipts or photo evidence of purchases.

She also explained some CDM supporters were being evicted from their government accommodation - “they are like urban refugees” - some may therefore need support with shelter.

How fund use will be monitored

We have a safe method of transferring funds to our colleague in Myanmar which has been tried and tested over the last few weeks. If we exceed our target, or for some reason can’t achieve our aim, we will repurpose funds to a reputable CDM appeal (e.g. Burma Campaign UK). We will update this appeal periodically with further news and information.

Funds will initially go to teachers across the city where our colleague works, but we will look to extend this to other parts of the country in due course.  We will send regular amounts to maintain a steady influx of funds, and to enable us to monitor their use closely. 

Your donation will go directly to the teachers, students and their families. This will help them through their immediate difficulties and support them in their long-term struggle to re-establish democracy in Myanmar.

Thank you.



Myanmar Teachers Support Group

Bob Anderson, retired teacher and CEO of Mobile Education Partnerships (MEP)

Christopher Crick, retired teacher and trustee with MEP

Eileen Loughlin, retired teacher and NEU member

Katharine May, teacher, former MEP trustee, former lead MEP trainer at Mae La Refugee Camp

Steve Newman, retired teacher, former trustee and volunteer with MEP, Secretary of Wearside Amnesty International

Henry Wright, politics undergraduate, Durham University