Dear Donors, Friends in the Dhamma & to Those who are interested in putting their “Compassion into Action:
First of all, I would like to pay my deepest gratitude and highest honor for your benevolent donations throughout 2008 to the victims of Cyclone Nargis, in the Irrawaddy Delta of Myanmar (Burma).
We, the Sitagu Missionary Association volunteers, have worked ardently as “Compassionate Workers” since May 9, 2008 up-to now, and will continue with our long term endeavors for Health, Education and Religion in the future. Within this period we’ve received donations of money and goods from all corners of our country as well as the rest of the World. Particularly, we’d like to mention our special thanks to the donors from Australia, Germany, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, U.K. and U.S.A.
We have received over 370 trucks/containers containing many different kinds of clothing, food, medicine and other vital necessities from many different religious and social associations, and from individuals in Myanmar and abroad that truly cared in rebuilding the lives of those afflicted.
We personally delivered these goods directly reaching over 1,500 villages and 2,264 monasteries; including donations of 245,800 zinc roofing sheets, over 2000 tons of rice, and many other goods and equipments. We re-paired and re-equipped twelve hospitals with new modern equipment.
We selected twenty-five monastic and government primary schools from ten townships to reconstruct since they were totally destroyed. We already have donors for these; the donors are from Myanmar associations, Mahayana Buddhist associations, Christian associations, musical associations, and other Non-Government organizations and individuals. Three primary schools construction have been completed, and twenty-two are currently under-construction. We will build more.
Other special arrangements include: a water-treatment system within the Bogalay Township where we’ve treated twenty-five lakes, constructing a water-purification system in Kadonkani to produce drinking water, donating fifty language labs and computers to five high schools, and are preparing and making sixty-six golden umbrellas for sixty-six pagodas in and around the Hai Gyi Island.
So, within the past eight months all of the donations totaled over 6.17 billion kyats, or USD $5.14 million. Noting, some of the donations from the primary schools have not been included.
Therefore, I humbly express my deepest appreciation and congratulations to all donors and well-wishers. I also must express my special thanks to all voluntary workers and the members of my Sitagu association.
May such Noble Spirit, Metta, Karuna and Khanti spread to every corner of the World!
May all human beings walk on a “Common Highway” working together for the welfare of others.
Venerable Dr. Ashin Nyanissara (D.Litt; PhD)
Sassanadhajadhammacariya,
Mahadhammakathikabahujanahitadhara
Aggamahasaddamajotikadhaja
Aggamahaganthavacakapandita
Aggamahapandita
Sitagu International Buddhist Missionary Center
Yangon, Myanmar
