From the break of day until well past sunset, Burmese teacher Saya Toe is hard at work, juggling his teaching duties with a deep dedication to improving water security for his people.
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For seven years, Saya Toe and his wife Maw Maw have been volunteering for Living Water Myanmar, building water tanks throughout the dry zone of the country – many funded by Inverell locals.
Up at 5.30am every morning, Saya Toe teaches from 6-8am before making the trek to various villages for Living Water. He regularly inspects and supervises the building of water tanks, guttering and toilet facilities throughout Myanmar.
“Some villages are very, very far, so it takes many hours to go there and to return home. Generally I arrive home in the afternoon... My evening classes begin at 4pm until 9 o’clock or sometimes 10 o’clock,” he said.
“It’s exhausting.”
With around 25 inches of annual rainfall in the country, and much of the water contaminated with lime or too salty; Saya Toe said the 5000 gallon tanks were making a difference.
This month, the couple are finally in Inverell, meeting many supporters of the charity alongside local founder Rosemary Breen – a ‘bonus’ for many years of hard work.
“My job is to get the money for it and Saya Toe’s job is to do everything else. Organise the builders, organise the people for the guttering, train the people in the villages or the schools how to look after the tanks, and so on,” Rosemary explained.
It was Maw Maw who first inspired the charity, approaching Rosemary after hearing that she’d funded the replacement of water tank following a cyclone in the south.
Also a teacher, Maw Maw was desperate to improve local education, but disheartened by the many hours her young students had to walk to collect water.
“They cannot concentrate on their education because the children also have to carry water. Before school and after school,” she said.
She explained the high need in her region, and asked if Rosemary could build another tank.
“I thought I would do about 10. We’re up to 216,” Rosemary said.
“I thought you would do only one!” Maw Maw responded. Each tank can hold enough water to support a school for up to three months.
Two local benefactors are Sally Kelso and Tony Sonter. The couple’s names are engraved on one tank after Sally’s business Flaex generously donated funds, while Tony was a key organiser for the Inverell Club auction, which sold several items for Living Water.
Sally said she was humbled to know what the Burmese people went through to have clean water.
She said she chose to support Living Water because “I know every cent goes right to the cause. Every cent is used so perfectly to the people who need it”.
“I’ve been able to do it because of people like Sally and Tony,” Rosemary said.
To donate to Living Water, visit the Global Development Group website.
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