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Gitameit volunteers have been deeply involved in helping with cyclone relief efforts. Among other things, Gitameit thought of sending volunteers to some of the collection centers with paper and crayons, so children there could draw some of their Nargis experiences – the idea being that children in the United States would then send drawings and messages back to them.

The Burmese children’s drawings bear silently eloquent witness to the devastating experiences that they and their families went through during the cyclone and its immediate aftermath. Two American volunteers with school-age children have since collected drawings and messages from a number of elementary school children at two different schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Burmese translations are being made of the messages the American children wrote with their drawings – messages that express caring, concern, and hope for the future. A selection of these drawings and messages will be posted here once they have been translated and scanned in.

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Gitameit has created an official form for groups within Myanmar to formally request funds and/or supplies from Gitameit and Foundation for the People of Burma.

Click here to download this form (.doc format).

Here follows a list of the items and questions on the form:

• Group Name _____________
• Number of people in group _____________
• Where will you go?
• Have you visited this site before?
• If so, what did you provide?
• Have you visited other sites before?
• If so, what did you provide?
• Have you done an assessment of this site’s needs?
• Food _____________
• Water _____________
• Shelter _____________
• Medical _____________
• Other _____________
• Expected Number of Beneficiaries _____________
• Amount of money requested _____________
• To purchase what supplies (item, amount) _____________
• Supplies requested (item, amount) _____________
• Will medical personnel go along?
• What is your plan for distribution (contacts, networks, etc.)?
• How are you making sure the aid gets to victims?
• Contact Information (name, phone, address, email) _____________

** Don’t forget to fill out a needs assessment form and site report form for each site and return it to Gitameit after your trip. Please bring receipts back if possible.

In January, Gitameit students and faculty travelled to Myitkyina in Kachin State at the Northernmost end of Myanmar.

They rehearsed in the trains and buses on the way up. They toured the area holding music workshops and performances, and participated in the Kachin Manou Festival.

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String students from the Thamine Karen Baptist Church community prepare for coachings with the Apple Hill Chamber Players. A project introducing young adults to playing chamber music.

A 5 day vocal workshop with Htun Htun and Gitapella for young adults and music teachers from the Mon Baptist Church community. Gitapella also performed a concert for the community at the Insein Mon Baptist Church.

Gitameit Voices and string duo performed for Yangon International School elementary and high school students. See photo below left.

Gitameit students spent 10 days in Mawlamyaing, Mon State, giving voice, piano and violin lessons to students from Mawlamyaing and Pa’an. The trip included a concert performance by Gitameit Voices in the Mawlamyaing Mon Baptist Church. See photos below and above right.

Enfants du Monde sponsored a theatrical production by Gitameit students with original music by Ko Kyaw Kyaw and Ko Kyaw Swe Tun and participation by two professional comedians. The production was written for performances at orphanages in Yangon and Bago.