Myanmar school benefits from Bt1.7 m Ford grant

The US$50,000 (Bt1.7 million) grant was used to build the new facility that will provide the school with six classrooms.
A new road and toilet were also constructed to help meet the needs of the students and local community.
Lo Kha Middle School was in need of a new classroom to replace the previous one that had been destroyed by floods, leaving students in the village without a place to study.
“Ford is proud to continue our contributions to the Myanmar community through this grant to Lo Kha Lo Middle School,” said David Westerman, managing director, Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company. “We are pleased to be able to continue making contributions to children’s education, and these classrooms will help provide an environment that supports their ongoing studies.”
The six classrooms can serve the needs of 536 students and seven teachers, and will help the school provide quality education to its students and play an integral role in the daily lives of the people residing in the area.
“The Ford Community Grants Programmei s part of our continued investment in the social and economic development of Myanmar and we are confident that this new building will benefit children in this area for many years to come,” said U Khin Tun, chairman, Capital Automotive Ltd.
The community grant to build the school facility is part of the Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants programme.
This is the third year the Grants have been awarded in Myanmar. Last year, Ford funded the construction of a new school building at No 18 Middle School, U Mya Ngazin village, in Yangon’s Kyi Min Daing Township.
Founded in 1983, the grants programme was created to empower individuals and non-profit groups to conduct projects which help improve the well-being of their communities and provide solutions contributing to a sustainable planet.
Since launching, Ford has awarded more than $5 million in grants to hundreds of environmental and community projects in more than 60 countries around the world.
In Asia Pacific, Ford has played a pivotal role in advancing environmental initiatives for more than a decade across multiple markets, from protecting wildlife and preventing forest fires, to funding cultural heritage projects and replenishing resources in rural communities.
The grants are part of Ford’s ongoing commitment to Myanmar, which also includes Driving Skills for Life, a year-round driver training programme.