Volunteering at Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda

May 5, 2012 was Kasone Full Moon Day, also known as "Buddha's Day". That day is known as Buddha's Day because Lord Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment, and died on that full moon day.

Myanmar celebrates this day with a festival where pilgrims pour water on the Bodhi Tree (Bo Tree) in pagoda compounds, known as "Kasone Water Pouring Festival on Bodhi Tree". It is to keep the tree alive during the hot summer season. 

This year, Myanmar Youths in Action volunteered at the Kasone Festival at Shwe Phone Phwint Pagoda, in order to help pilgrims with their water pouring by arranging the pots with fragrant water and thapyay leaves. Many members of Myanmar Youths in Action , and volunteers participated in this event.

Kasone Festival at Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda

Arranging Water Pots for Pilgrims

Pouring Water on the Bo Tree

Members of Myanmar Youths in Action

Thank you volunteers!!

Trash Bins Donation at Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda

As you all know, most of the people in Myanmar does not have the practice of throwing trash into trash bins. They would throw them out of the bus window, on the streets, into rivers and streams, and into sewage ducts. Some of the reasons for throwing trash that way is because there are no trash bins in convenient locations, and because of the lack of knowledge in proper waste-handling.

One of Myanmar Youths in Action projects for 2012 includes providing trash bins for religious centres and primary schools in Yangon. Through this project, we aim to change the behaviour of the people, which will contribute to good practice and a cleaner environment. We also plan to have an education session regarding the environment at primary schools, which will integrate our previous project called "Small Educations" together with trash bin donations.

This April, we have started our first activity of the project at Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda in Pazundaung Township. We donated trash bins with three different colours for three different trash - plastic, cans and bottles, and general trash.

Sticking the Captions onto the Trash Bins

Pagoda Trustees of Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda
Having a Look at the Trash Bins

Sets of 3 Trash Bins were placed at the pagoda

Doing Demonstrations of Throwing Trash into Proper Bins

We plan to provide trash bins to pagodas around Yangon. You can contribute to our efforts by donating trash bins! Or you can donate 6500 Ks. for each trash bin, or 19500 Ks. for each set (3 bins).

Please contact info@myia.asia for more information.