A burst of light

Fr Kurt Zion Pala (center) with Student Learning Resources Centre staff. - Photo: Fr Kurt Zion Pala SSC

Pope Francis, before a huge crowd of young people in Portugal, said, “Dear young friends, today we too need something of this burst of light, so that it can fill us with hope as we face the many failures of each day and the darkness that assails us in life, and respond to them with the light of the resurrection of Jesus. For he is the light that never sets, the light that shines even in the dead of night.” Pope Francis spoke about the moment Jesus took three of his disciples to the mountain where he “transfigured.” Jesus draped the disciples in this brilliant burst of light to prepare them for the dark night of the Passion.

A year ago, we had not thought of opening a student centre. What started as a desire to provide an alternative learning program for the youth in the diocese has led to us now celebrating the first anniversary of the Student Learning Resources Centre (SLRC). On 15 August 2022, on the feast of the Assumption of Mary and nine days after the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus, we opened the SLRC at St Patrick’s Church compound in Shatapru, Myitkyina, Kachin State. The parish priest had allowed us to use an abandoned house, which we then modified into classrooms, a computer room, an office, a library, and a counselling room.

Through your generous contributions, we provide basic English and Computer classes. The main program is the nine-month-long Positive Youth Development Program (PYDP), which is grounded on the Positive Youth Development framework that acknowledges and promotes the assets and strengths that young people already possess. We do not focus on factors that may create negative outcomes but instead on building protective factors that help young persons succeed in life. These positive assets for young people exist within themselves, in their culture and community. Once they complete the nine-month program, the students continue into the internship program, where they are given the opportunity to work with our partner organisations for two months.

The mission of the SLRC is “to be an inclusive, youth-led institution that provides integrated and holistic formation programs and activities for and with young adults.” Our vision is to produce “Resilient and work-ready young adults who actively participate in the life of their local communities and nation by being transformational leaders, contributing to social and economic development, promoting peace and harmony, and serving those in need.” From 25 students in the first semester, only 7 students of the PYDP (Batch1) are now in our internship program. Last year, we had a maximum of 40–45 students attending our different programs. This year, for the foundational English and Computer classes, we have a total of 18 students, and the more advanced PYDP class has 15 students.

Teacher Zau Seng Awng participating in a group activity with students. - Photo: Fr Kurt Zion Pala SSC

We spoke to our intern students about their experiences. Zsofi Khaung Nywel (a 23-year-old) believes that SLRC is special for the youth in Kachin State because it gives them the chance to acquire the knowledge and skills that will help them find good jobs. Zsofi joined the SLRC to build herself a good network. She believes that education is the key to success and only education can fulfill all her ambitions. She reminds the youth, “Let us be strong and flexible together. Be smart, be stable, and try to learn something new each day. The more you learn the more you will improve in both the present and in the future”. She wants to tell the world that the young people in Myanmar are starving for quality education.

Another student, Maria Lamawn Ja Seng Lung (a 25-year-old), is a volunteer at a local youth organisation. She believes that the SLRC is “good and full of opportunities” to help her upgrade her skills and life. Although a university graduate, she does not have enough certificates and qualifications; that is why she joined the SLRC. She hopes that after completing the program she will get a stable job. She wants to tell the young people, “… don’t give up, and one day we will get a great future and our dreams will come true.

Kareng Sut Chying Htoi Hkawng (a 22-year-old) joined the SLRC to get more opportunities and chances to continue his studies. He wants to be an English-language trainer and help children complete their studies. Education is extremely important for him because “it is not easy to survive unless we are educated”. In other words, to earn decent money in Myanmar, “we must be well-educated”.

He wants to say that even if young people in Myanmar are facing many difficulties and very few people are willing to help them, “we just have to try ourselves to build our future and survive”. But he also calls on the world to give the young people of Myanmar more opportunities to get a quality education.

Lastly, internally displaced youth Sut Mai Naw (an 18-year-old who resides at the Palana Internally Displaced Persons' (IDP) Camp mentioned that the “SLRC for me is my future. And I expect to learn more to increase my qualifications to be able to work. That is why I joined the SLRC. Education is life for me because it is quite important. I want to tell the young people of Myanmar to put education first in their priorities”.

Students at the Centre. - Photo: Fr Kurt Zion Pala SSC

The SLRC is also very youthful – most of our staff have not yet completed their university degree programs. It provides not only employment opportunities but also skills training for professional development.

For many young people in Myanmar, the world around them is dark – literally because we experience more than 12 hours of power blackouts a day and figuratively because the whole country is under a cloud of hopelessness, helplessness and restlessness. In many places, it is darkness, with many young people experiencing mental illness, and there has been an increase in suicide among them. Many young people are lost.

Pope Francis invites us all to be a “burst of light” to others. He explained that we do not radiate our own light, but “we radiate light – we shine – by welcoming Jesus into our hearts and learning to love as he does. To love like Jesus: that is what makes us shine, makes us do works of love. Friends, I am telling you the truth: whenever you do works of love, you become light. But the moment you stop loving others and become self-centred, you extinguish your light”.

Help us help more young people. Be a “burst of light” for our young people here in Myanmar.

Columban Fr Kurt Zion Pala lives and works in Myanmar.