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A guide
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Background information
for teachers
Myanmar is a beautiful country with impressive palaces
and temples, white sandy beaches, and a myriad of
waterways. Beautiful gold-covered pagodas, where
Buddhists worship, are a common sight. It is one of the
poorest countries in the world, but is rich in natural
resources, including timber, coal and natural gas, as
well as jade and precious stones. With just over 51 million
inhabitants (2014), Myanmar’s population is about the
same as that of England and Wales.
Previously known as Burma,
Myanmar’s official name is the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The name of the country is a source
of disagreement, and some people
still call it Burma. The Burmese are
only one of many ethnic groups in
the country (there are eight main
groups and 135 sub-groups).
History
Britain colonised Myanmar in the
19th century, renaming it Burma. The country gained
independence in 1948. In 1962 the military overthrew the
government and set up a dictatorship. They renamed the
country Myanmar, though the main opposition party still
call it Burma. The dictatorship ended after elections in 2010,
with a new parliament and government starting in 2011.
Aung San Su Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner who spoke out
against the dictatorship and was under house arrest for
11 years, is now chairperson of the country’s main
opposition party and a member of parliament. Myanmar
has one of the longest still-running civil wars, where ethnic
armed groups are fighting the military and government over
political rights and control of natural resources.
Extreme weather and Cyclone Nargis
Myanmar’s summers are hot, humid and prone to cyclones,
while the winters are much drier and there are sometimes
droughts. Cyclone Nargis, on 2 May 2008, was the most
powerful cyclone ever to hit Myanmar and affected 2.4
million people. Winds were 140mph: at 70mph it is possible
to lean 45 degrees into the wind without falling; winds of
130mph lift people off the ground. A
wave surge of 3.7 metres, carried into
land by the cyclone, destroyed villages. In
one village where CAFOD partners work, half of
the villagers died.
Disaster response
After initial reluctance, the government of Myanmar
admitted the scale of the disaster and allowed aid agencies
into the country to bring supplies and help its people.
This increased contact with the wider world also led to
international attention around human rights and democracy
in Myanmar, and enabled reformers to push for change. The
next general elections are due in 2015.
Long-term development
When a disaster hits, CAFOD works through local experts
– our partners – to ensure that people have the food,
shelter, medicine and water they need to survive. CAFOD
projects also work for the long term, giving people the skills,
resources and opportunities to cope with disasters and
provide for themselves, rather than be dependent on aid.
By working together with communities in Myanmar, people
can find better ways to cope if a disaster happens again. Our
partners also train communities in emergency drills, so they
know what to do when a disaster strikes.
Curriculum links: This guide includes many cross-curricular
learning opportunities for KS1 and KS2.
RE: Curriculum Directory: Links to many of the statements
from Revelation and Life in Christ. For more detail, see our
CAFOD links to RECD document at cafod.org.uk/primaryRE
Geography: Geographical skills; Locational knowledge;
Place knowledge; Human and physical geography, including
weather and climate
English: En1 Speaking and Listening: Speaking; Listening;
Group discussion and interaction; Drama En2 Reading:
Reading for information; Non-fiction and non-literary texts.
En3 Writing: Composition.
PSHE and Citizenship: Preparing to play an active role
as citizens, developing good relationships and respecting
differences between people. There are also links to the EcoSchools programme, particularly the Global Citizenship topic.
Zin Thu Thu’s story
Classroom activities
Eight-year-old Zin Thu Thu lives in a small jungle village in
Myanmar. She lives with her mum and dad, and has five
brothers and sisters.
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sing the PowerPoint and film online, share and discuss
the story of Zin Thu Thu and her community.
Zin Thu Thu loves to play with her friends. She says: “I like
to skip. After school we play and we make things from
bamboo like rings and bands.”
When Zin Thu Thu was very young there was a very strong
cyclone. Sadly, it killed some people and destroyed many
trees and homes in the village.
After the cyclone, CAFOD worked together with Zin Thu
Thu’s family to rebuild their lives, helping them to find
land to farm. CAFOD also supported Zin Thu Thu’s
community to learn ways to keep safe in an emergency.
The community have set up a rice bank, so they can store
food for future disasters.
With CAFOD’s support, Zin Thu Thu now learns about
disasters at school. She says: “We talk about what disasters
can happen and how to prepare for them. We need an
emergency bag where we can keep noodles and soap and
things to help us through the storm.”
These lessons are important because they will help to keep
Zin Thu Thu and her friends safe if there is another disaster.
GO ONLINE FOR:
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owerPoint of Zin Thu Thu’s story
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ilm of Zin Thu Thu’s community
Cyclones are caused by warm seas. Scientists say that
global warming is expected to result in more frequent
and more intense cyclones. Although no one incident
can be directly attributed to climate change, scientists
say that climate change is expected to make events,
like cyclones, more intense and so could increase
the frequency of disasters. So, an important part of
CAFOD’s work is supporting communities like Zin Thu
Thu’s to prepare for and reduce the risks from disasters.
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alk with the children about how they think the people
in Zin Thu Thu’s community feel about cyclones and
extreme weather. Ask the children to spot all the
different ways the community is responding to extreme
weather like cyclones.
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alk about why Zin Thu Thu’s school lessons on
emergencies are so important. Ask the class to make
posters to show what the children need to remember
to keep in their emergency bags. Use the list on the
information sheet for children as a guide.
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iscuss with the children how climate change is
expected to result in more extreme weather and how
important it is to get involved in tackling climate change,
wherever we live. Together, we can make a bigger
difference. As a class, brainstorm what you can cut out
to help tackle climate change. For example, cut out trips
in the car and walk or cycle instead. The money you save
could support CAFOD’s work with communities affected
by changes in climate.
n E
xplain to the children that one of the key principles of
Catholic Social Teaching is stewardship. The earth and
all life on it is God’s creation – it is a gift from God. If
we do not make wise choices and care for God’s world,
people suffer. Our faith calls us to be good stewards of
creation and take action on climate change. Write a
poem about stewardship or act out ways to be a good
steward of creation.
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sk the children to do some research about Myanmar
and/or the life of Aung San Su Kyi. Produce a fact file
or autobiography.
cafod.org.uk/primary
Myanmar information sheet for children
Key facts
Population: 51,419,420 (2014)
India
Main Languages: Burmese, the other ethnic groups have
their own languages
Main religion: Buddhism
China
Bangladesh
Land size: As big as Germany and Italy combined
MYANMAR
Exports: Teak, pulses and beans, prawns, fish,
rice, opiates, oil and gas
Laos
Nay Pyi Taw
Capital: Nay Pyi Taw
Thailand
Largest city: Yangon (Rangoon)
Average life expectancy: Male 64 years, female 68 years
Yangon
Did you know...?
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any women and children in Myanmar cover their faces with
a paste called thanaka (pronounced ta-nak-kah). People put
thanaka on in the morning, and it is like wearing make-up. It is a
very important part of culture in Myanmar. Thanaka also protects
people from the sun, and is meant to make the skin softer. It is
made from tree bark and water, and looks a bit like clay.
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any people travel by motorbike in Myanmar. But motorbikes are not allowed
in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city! They have been banned since 2003.
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here are often storms or cyclones in Myanmar. They can be dangerous and
cause lots of damage. So CAFOD has worked with families like Zin Thu Thu’s to
help them keep safe if there is an emergency. Zin Thu Thu and her friends have
learnt to keep emergency bags in case there is a cyclone. In the bags there are:
> Dried noodles – these will keep
longer than fresh noodles
> A
torch – in case they have to
move around at night
> A blanket – it may be cold in
a storm
> An
ID card – everyone in
Myanmar must carry one
> Water – drinking water may be
polluted after a storm
> Candles
and a pencil case –
for lessons after the storm
> M
edicine – if children are sick,
they can help themselves
Learn to speak Burmese
There are many languages spoken in Myanmar, but Burmese is the main language.
My name is...
kya-naw-na-me
Bag...
eint
Banana...
nga-pyaw-thee
How are you?
nay-kaung-lar?
Torch...
let-mee
Coconut...
ohnn-thee
Rain...
moe
Medicine...
sayy
Snake...
mway
Wind...
lae
Water...
yay
Monkey...
myaut
Tree...
thit-pin
Blanket...
saung
Storm...
lae-pyin
Candles...
pha-yaung-dine
Cyclone...
mone-dine
Dried noodles... khaut-swe-kyauk
Myanmar activity sheet
1. Label the map eg capital city, surrounding countries, ocean.
2. List some key facts about Myanmar eg population, languages.
3. Colour the flag and find out its meaning.
4. Design a poster about Myanmar. Include information and images to
tell others about this country.
1. Label the map
2. Key facts
3. About the flag
CAF2985
Illustration: Per José Karlén
Printed on paper from well-managed forests