On March 28, 2025, an earthquake destroyed the buildings comprising Shawpin Village High School in Myanmar. Temporary classrooms and a permanent water purification system are needed for 16 teachers and 650 students to conduct classes.

A resident monk at Sitagu Monastery in Austin, Texas, Ashin Kumara, is trying to raise $2,900 for the construction of two temporary classroom buildings and the needed water purification system, some bare essentials to keep the school functioning. He is from Shawpin and grew up going to this school, so it is close to his heart.

We ask for your support for this project.

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What happened?

The earthquake destroyed the school’s ten buildings in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar, the epicenter of this 7.5 Richter scale earthquake. The history of the way the school was built is that each of these 10 buildings were donated by different individuals and families in the community to support the village and the education of its students. To rebuild the school is not an easy feat due to organizing how it will be rebuilt and who will be involved, and yet, classes for the 2026 academic year, starting this month, are being disrupted.

So, what now?

The school urgently needs these two requested temporary learning spaces and a water purification system to help these 16 teachers and 650 students teach, learn, and grow.

A new water purification system costs about $800, and one temporary classroom costs about $1,050, so our goal is $2,900 with the second classroom.

Any additional funds we receive beyond our goal will be directed to the construction of more needed temporary classrooms, which last a few years and are necessary to keep the school up and running, and a dining hall and staff common room.

For this urgent need, any amount of warm and kind donation will be gratefully received. Thank you for reading and considering.

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"As the new school year begins across Myanmar, communities in earthquake-affected areas are fighting to keep learning alive. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake – the worst in a century - that struck on 28 March left behind a trail of devastation — destroying more than 2,500 learning facilities and displacing thousands of families." (source: UNICEF 2025)