About Us

Introduction with the founders

U Tha Uke (Hta Oke)

Graduated from ‘Rangoon Art and Sciences University (RASU)’ majoring in Botany and gained his B. Sc degree in 1981, gained a Diploma in Physiotherapy from the ‘Institute of Para-medical Sciences, Rangoon’ in 1985. He worked for seven years as a physiotherapist under the Ministry of Health from 1987 to 1994 at Pakokku and Falam Civil Hospital. He also worked for the ‘Spastic Children Association of Peneng, Malaysia’ as a Physiotherapist from July 1995 to June 1996 and during that time he volunteered at the ‘Eden Handicapped Service Centre, Penang’ twice a week, from that experience the sprit to serve disabled children in his country was conceived. He moved to Singapore in July 1996 and work as a Physiotherapist at ‘St. Luke’s Hospital for the Elderly’ until August 1998. During his stay in Singapore he became a member of ‘Singapore Physiotherapy Association' (SPA) in 1997. Frustrated at the inherent lack of disabled centres for the physically and intellectually disabled in Myanmar, he returned to Yangon to set up his own centre, and has remained since. Setting up the centre in April 2000, his hard work paid off and after running the centre for more than four years he won a ‘British Schevening Scholarship’ in 2004. He studied a one year post graduate course, ‘Disability Studies’ at the ‘University of Leeds' in the United Kingdom and gained his Masters degree in December 2005.

Daw Lilian Gyi

She is the co-founder of Eden Handicapped Service Centre. She graduated from ‘Rangoon Art and Sciences University (RASU)’ in 1961 majoring in Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology and earning her B.A degree. She worked for four years as a High school teacher after earning her teaching certificate and the gaining a scholarship for a ‘Special Education’ course and studied in Germany for four years. She gained her Masters degree in 'Special Education' from Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany in 1970 and after returning to Burma she established the ‘School for Disabled Children’ through the ‘Social Welfare Department’ in 1971 with 9 disabled children. She worked as a principal at that school until she retired in September, 2000. While serving under the Ministry of Social Welfare she attended many training courses on disability not only in the local community but also aboard, such as ‘Group training course for administrator in charge of disabled person’ in Tokyo, 1981, ‘Group training course in CBR for the Intellectually Handicap’ in Bangkok, 2000. She willingly and actively contributes her experiences of the disability field in Myanmar since the early days of the centre from the beginning as a Chairman, Consultant and Director.

The organization chart (Structure of the organization)

Organization Structure of "Eden Centre for Disabled Children"(ECDC)

Types of disability of all Eden clients

Financial report (Expenditure report)

Income in 2007 of Eden Centre for Disabled Children

Expenditure for 2007 of Eden Centre for Disabled Children

The problems

The biggest problems we faced during this period are: a). Lack of related profession, skill worker b). Lack of financial c). Lack of resources d). Lack of information e). Lack of legislation

Others

Association for Aids and Relief (Japan) [http://www.aarjapan.gr.jp/] is our only and main supporter through the ‘foster parent program’ since August 2001. AAR started by fostering ten children and now this has increased to fifty.