Samsung’s Mobile Education Buses Encourage Myanmar’s Children to Follow Their Dreams

Every child deserves access to a quality education – one that provides a fun and collaborative environment for them to explore the limits of their creativity, expand their horizons, and grow as individuals.

Unfortunately, for more than four million children living in Myanmar, a responsibility to help their families make ends meet by working long hours – often at local teashops and restaurants – leaves them with no time to go to school with their peers.

In an effort to allow marginalized children in Myanmar to experience the benefits of an enriching education, Samsung partnered with myME (the Myanmar Mobile Education Project) on an initiative that effectively brings the classroom to them.

Samsung’s partner organization was founded in 2014 upon the belief that education is a critical step toward alleviating poverty and the abuses associated with child labor. Today, less than three years after a pilot run that included 60 kids in two teashops in Yangon, myME has expanded to serve more than 3,000 students from various teashops, roadside restaurants, monastic schools, and underprivileged communities across Myanmar.

The product of the partnership, the Samsung Mobile Education Bus program, has birthed a fleet of mobile classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art educational tools, including Samsung’s latest tablets and Smart TVs.

Qualified teachers travel in the customized buses from location to location teaching a curriculum that engages students with fun activities and covers standard subjects – such as Burmese, English and math – while also offering students an opportunity to learn skills that will ultimately help them seize their dreams and create a brighter future.

Steve Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, described what participating in the project means to the company.

“We’re pleased to see the children of Myanmar being able to pursue their dreams through the Samsung Mobile Education Bus program,” said Mr. Lee. “We will continue to strive to support marginalized communities in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar.”

On August 10 of this year, Samsung donated its third mobile education bus to the initiative at a ceremony held at Yangon’s Hledan Center. In attendance at the event was the Speaker of Yangon’s regional parliament, U Tin Maung Tun, who summed up what Samsung and myME’s contributions have brought to the children of his country.

“We are very happy to see that these working kids now have a chance to experience a fun, interactive education thanks to the efforts of myME and Samsung’s generous contribution,” said Mr. Tun.

On top of providing a space for students to enjoy interactive lessons on standard school subjects, Samsung’s newly donated bus also features a built-in kitchen that will make it possible for students to learn about food safety and whip up delicious snacks with their friends.

In addition to bolstering local education, this year, Samsung Myanmar organized a number of initiatives designed to cultivate youths’ talent and creativity. These include the Samsung Quiz Show, which targets local high school students, as well as the national Galaxy Star K-Pop singing competition, which offers aspiring young singers a chance to win a grand prize of 100 million Kyat (approximately $75,000).

By introducing initiatives that nurture youths’ creativity and personal development, Samsung hopes to make it easier for children in Myanmar to pursue and achieve their dreams.