Four years ago today Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan was assassinated by agents of the dictatorship in Burma. His killers have still not been brought to justice.
Padoh Mahn Sha’s legacy lives on however, through the work of the Phan Foundation.
The Foundation was set up in memory of both Padoh Mahn Sha and his wife, Nant Kyin Shwe, by their four children.
Since the Foundation was established, it has given grants to young people to enable them to receive an education. We have given the Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award every year, recognising and encouraging young people helping their communities. It comes with a grant that has been used to fund community projects, including an orphanage deep inside Karen State, and further education for students.
The Phan Foundation has also provided funding for emergency aid to Karen people who have fled attacks by the Burmese Army, and clothing for internally displaced people.
We have now started provided salaries for teachers through the Karen Education Department, and we support Kwekalu, a newspaper and website which provides news, education, and cultural information. We support the European Karen Network in its work in Europe raising awareness about human rights situation in Burma. We support Karen Student Network Group through it’s Student’s Friends magazine. We also help fund a community run orphanage in Doo Tha Tu District in Karen State in Burma.
All these grants make a real difference to people’s lives, but they are all small scale. With more money, we can help more people, and make more of a difference.
On the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, we ask that you make a donation to the Phan Foundation, helping to ensure that his legacy lives on, helping a new generation of people to fight poverty, provide education, promote human rights and protect Karen culture.
You can donate online at www.phanfoundation.org
Note to editor: The Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader award for 2011 will be announced at the Karen Worldwide Conference which will take place between 27th February-1st March 2012.
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Bwa Bwa Phan
Founder & Director
Phan Foundation
28 Charles Square
London
N1 6HT
United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 (0)7739872481
Email: bwabwa.phan@phanfoundation.org
Web: www.phanfoundation.org
