The Thing is Not the Thing
GCA Myanmar
Chit Po Po Aung (left) and her mother (right)
We would like to introduce you to Chit Po Po Aung. GCA’s Myanmar team met her family during a community children’s activity we hosted. She and her five siblings live with their mother. Their father passed away several years ago. Her mom works at a golf course to provide for her family, and the oldest son also contributes by working as a motorcycle mechanic. They have a safe home to live in and food to eat.
The missing piece was school.
We’ll get to that part soon… Read on to learn about this family…
For years before his death, Chit Po Po Aung’s father had bouts of heavy drinking during which he would become physically abusive toward the children. Their mother, in an effort to protect her children, had become harsh and strict, thinking that if they were perfectly behaved, they might be spared the abuse from their father. This led to a fractured relationship between mother and children. Their relationship had deteriorated to a breaking point and Chit Po Po Aung asked us for help.
GCA Myanmar told Chit Po Po Aung that we would like to visit her home to begin building a relationship with her family. At first, her mother was not very welcoming or open to our efforts. When asked about the plan for her children’s education, she explained that she’d had difficulty obtaining a school transfer certificate which made it uncertain whether or not Chit Po Po Aung and her siblings would be able to return to school. This is a common issue in Myanmar as the political instability makes moving common for families and often interrupts education.
Have you ever heard the saying, “the thing is not the thing”?
In this case, it means that while her children’s desire for education was the reason for GCA’s visit, our team knew that really, the strengthening of the relationship between mother and child was our ultimate goal.
When we asked if we could visit again, Chit Po Po Aung’s mom was very reluctant, unsure if she could trust us. She did finally agree to having us come again, and during that second visit, we were able to explain to her the work and the mission of GCA Myanmar. We knew this was going to be a relationship that would be built over time- we could not rush the process. After many visits, she came to understand our intent and to trust us, at last she warmed up!
Now, when we visit, she is welcoming and engages us in discussion about how to interact more positively with her children and has come to understand and believe in the importance of their education. She also has begun to adjust her discipline techniques and relies on communication with her children rather than physical punishment. Her relationship with Chit Po Po Aung has blossomed, as you can see on their faces.
Oh, did we mention… all of the school-age children in Chit Po Po Aung’s family are now back in school!
It is because of your partnership that GCA can continue to operate in Myanmar- a place we are needed now more than ever.