The main focus throughout 2025 has been the brand new Waymaker Trust School which was launched in Chin State in April, to provide access to quality education for rural community children who are affected by the coup and armed conflict, and for those who are facing displacement or economic hardship. These children have been unable to attend school since 2020 due to COVID19 pandemic, with school closures continuing to now because of the ongoing civil war in Myanmar.
As soon as it opened, the school enrolled a total of 86 students, from Kindergarten to Grade 8 bringing them once again back to the classroom after 5 years.
Throughout this period, students demonstrated remarkable progress academically, socially, and spiritually. Over the course of the year, as the following quotes show, the school community has grown stronger.
Parent: “This school is not only the hope of our children, it is also hope for us, the parents. We gain a lot of new energy to work hard because we have seen so much hope in our children’s future. Before the school was established, both parents and our children’s life are in chaos and we felt no hope for the future at all. But now that this school has been set up for our children, everything has changed, and we cannot thank the donors and supporters enough for your support for making this changes possible. Your commitment is not just funding; it is the force which brings hope and a future for all of us. We look forward to sharing our children’s progress with you and continuing this journey together. Thank you again for standing up for our community” Vabie – Community Leader & Parent
Student: “We didn’t even know how to say ‘How are you?’ before. But now we can introduce ourselves in English with confidence” Henry – Grade 8 student
Teacher: “All of your financial support, and motivation have made a deep and lasting impact. The school has not only provided education but has truly changed lives. The children are now: learning with confidence, growing in character, and dreaming of brighter futures they never imagined before” Lydia – Head of the school
The photos below show the children relaxing at a supervised picnic beside the river. Our school has not only given them a chance to enjoy their childhood, it has also given them the chance of a much brighter future!
The establishment of this school represents more than just a place for education; for our people, it is a turning point that has fundamentally altered the trajectory of their lives.
For too long, the thought of our children achieving their full potential was overshadowed by immense uncertainty and a lack of access to quality education and resources.The absence of a dedicated learning environment meant that opportunities were scarce and the cycle of poverty and limited prospects seemed unbreakable.
Now, with this school standing proudly in our community, everything has changed. It has become a lighthouse, a symbol of possibility. It allows us, to look ahead with a new sense of purpose. When we see our children walking through these doors, we see more than just students; we see future doctors, teachers, leaders, innovators and many more.
All these reaffirm the Waymaker Trust’s vital role in supporting rural community education as a progress to future for all and contributing community and national development. Your support has provided stability, motivation, energy, and the capacity to move to a clear path forward where none existed before.
Thank you for stepping forward and investing in these children, and choosing to stand with us. It is a powerful affirmation of their value and that their futures matter, and for that selfless belief, we are eternally thankful.
The Waymaker Trust 