A story published at Bamboo Delight Magazine
Minn Myoh Minn Oo
Please read H2H Charity Projects and BDSYC Impact Report.
Hand to Hand Charity Myanmar is a charitable, civil society organization based in Nyaung Shwe Township, Shan State. It was founded by Daw Yee Yee Min (a) Ma Pue Sue in 2013 and it would be the 10th Anniversary of the organization in 2023 this year. As a first mission, she built a library and opened a summer school in her house so that children and adults from her neighborhood community could rent books and take English classes with local and international volunteers every summer.
Sue, Volunteers and Kids at the start of her charity
Two hands can be seen in the Hand to Hand Charity Logo, and the upper hand is the hand of a giver and the lower one is that of a receiver. As a symbol of love and affection between the giver and receiver, there is a heart shape in the middle of the two hands which means that it is true happiness.
Logo of Hand to Hand Charity
Concerning this logo, Sue said “ in July 2005, when I was about to send my eldest daughter, ‘Shu Ma Nyee’, to the kindergarten, she asked me for a writing book to use in her class. I had no money to buy the book at that time. I had no idea whom to ask for as the school was about to start soon. I was initially depressed by the thought of my daughter being unable to attend school because I couldn't get her a book. But then I decided I would send her to school whether or not she had a book. On the way when I was taking her to the school, I saw a foreign lady giving out a dozen of writing books to the children on the road in front of Nandawun Hotel. When I saw that I stopped my bicycle and that lady saw us and gave a book to my daughter. The two of us were so delighted.”
“As for me, I felt so thankful to her. At that time, I didn’t need anything but that book. Then we continued our way to my daughter’s school in complete happiness that we even sang along on the rest of the way to school which was in Shwe Ni Kone Quarter. I was so depressed that I couldn’t say a word before getting the book. On my way back from school, I realized that in life, someone’s slight act can be a huge help for others. So I decided that one day I must be someone, like that foreign lady, who can fulfill the needs of others even if it is a small one.”
In 2013, I planned to start a charity with my own income. When I thought about the name for the charity, I remembered that the event happened in 2005 and how it got me to start my own charity, also recollecting the gratitude of that foreign lady who gave a book. Therefore, with a mindset to help people in need, like I was in 2005, I decided to provide support for the education of children in my communities.
I always think about the help I got when I was in need and that feeling always leaves me with joy. Therefore, someday, I want to be the giving and sharing hand to others. In remembrance of the event of receiving with my hand and in creation of a giving hand, I named the charity ‘Hand to Hand’ which represents the giving hand, upper one, and the receiving, lower one, hand and the heart between them represents a voluntary love. It is more meaningful to give and receive with love. That’s why I named it ‘Hand to Hand Charity’.
Sue and Her Kids
Currently, under Hand to Hand Charity Myanmar, Bamboo Delight Library, Bamboo Delight Summer School, Eco-Warriors, Bamboo Delight Magazine and Bamboo Delight Continuous Education Projects are in operation.
“Now I am really proud that the Hand to Hand Charity will celebrate the 10th Anniversary, together with Bamboo Delight Summer school and Bamboo Delight Library on March 3 2023. I promise to keep trying for the continuance of the Hand to Hand Charity.”