Cetana’s Scholarship Program for Study Abroad was the initial mission of Cetana. The foundation responded to educators in Burma who were eager to send their most academically gifted students aboard for further study in order to advance the social and economic conditions in the country. Cetana has supported 80 scholars in their quest to study abroad. When these Scholars return to Myanmar they work to advance the social and economic conditions in their country.
For any students who seek to study abroad Cetana offers preparatory courses through our new Career Advancement Academy. The Academy occupies new space at our Yangon flagship school. Courses are held in the afternoon and evening and on Saturday. To prepare students for study abroad, English Enrichment helps college-bound youth gain a mastery of English that will make them comfortable in classes abroad taught in English. A Writing Workshop helps students complete the often complex and confusing college application process and provides a foundation for classroom writing. The English Proficiency Center provided training to matriculation students as a preparation for the advanced English Enrichment and Writing Workshop classes.
Stories of Cetana Scholars illustrate the dedication of our scholars and the value of obtaining an education abroad:
Cherry Myo Lwin is a poster woman for Cetana Scholarship Program for Study Abroad. With financial support from Cetana, Cherry completed a Master of Engineering degree at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok in 2010. She returned to Burma and spearheaded a fund raising drive for construction of a primary school in a village in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta that was ravished by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The school expects to enroll its first students in late 2013. Cherry has received a PhD in Environment Engineering at Nagoya University in Japan. Clearly Cherry has a bright future that will involve creative projects that benefit Myanmar.
Yi Mon graduated from Kentucky’s Berea College in 2013 with a BA in Business and a 3.76 GPA. As a summer intern she worked with Myanmar refugees who settled in the US. Yi’s academic and service-related activities were recognized by the US Department of Labor which awarded her its prestigious Chin-Wing prize. Berea awarded her its Seabury Award for outstanding scholarship and community leadership. Yi is currently working in Burma with Millward Brown, part of the worldwide advertising and marketing colossus WPP.
Kway Oo is a Cetana Scholar who studied forestry in Thailand and is a specialist in sustainability of virgin forest land and commercial tree crops. Kway Oo is from Myanmar’s Chin State.
Aung Tun is the first scholar to take both an undergraduate and graduate degree with the program.
Aung Tun received his Bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University in Boston, and his Master’s degree in Public Administration from University of Massachusetts Boston. Aung Tun returned to in Myanmar in 2013 and is conducting research and training of government officials to aid in the transition of Myanmar into a vibrant democracy.