Hi, my name is Christina, thank you for taking the time to read this page. I have just returned from an awesome trip to Burma, where I taught English in a charity school in Bagan. I was deeply affected by the huge gap between the eagerness and the availability of resources for a school-full of such lovely children. I have come back determined to improve their quality of life, and especially their options as they grow up.

The complicated political situation in Myanmar means that there are still huge areas of extreme poverty in the country. Health and education are drastically underfunded, which is hampering Myanmar's growth compared to other neighbouring Asian nations.

Out of a population of 53M , only 50% of children attend secondary school. This may be in part due to the fact that a secondary education in Burma is not compulsory - because they do not have the resources to provide that.

The political and economic futures of Myanmar lie in the hands of the children of today, but without a modern education, this country has a very uncertain future

Inspired by a UK-based charity run by a family friend, I have been fund-raising for some years to contribute to the building and upkeep of a charity school built in the grounds of a Bagan monastery.

So- why donate? My recent trip was self-funded, including a suitcase-load of much-appreciated small gifts for the children (such as elastic bands and pens!), and a donation to the school. If you feel able to donate to this page, every single penny of your money will go to benefit the children directly. The Head Monk (who is also the Headmaster of the school) is passionate about changing the lives of these poorest of children, who come from the surrounding neighbourhood slums.

I am fortunate to have had a very privileged education, and my recent experience has opened my eyes to how lucky I am. In the future I hope that a foundation is set up to fund more qualified teachers, and school lunch provision for the children

As well as raising any amount of funds, I hope to visit the school again in the future, perhaps with a team of school friends, and to help in any way possible to give these children a better chance in life.

£1,000 pays for all the pens, pencils, and exercise books for all the school's children for one year.....

£1,000 funds a qualified teacher to teach at the school for 1 year.....