Office of International Visitors

Office of International Visitors Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs U.S. Department of State INTERNATI NAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Mr. SAN Kyaw Volunteer Teacher, Islamic Center, Mandalay

This visitor is invited to the United States under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. His program is arranged by Meridian International Center.

Primary Program Contacts: Dr. Malcolm Peck and Ms. Jessica Heller, 1624 Crescent Place, NW, Washington, DC 20009; Phone - (202) 939-5581 or (202) 939-5578; Fax - (202) 667-8980; Email – [email protected] or [email protected]

Department of State Program Officer: Office of International Visitors; James Hathaway; Telephone - (202) 453-8594; E-mail – [email protected]

Accompanied by: Ms. Sunda Khin Kingsley, U.S. Interpreter

July 22 - August 12, 2006

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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Name: Mr. SAN Kyaw

Present Position: Volunteer Teacher, Islamic Center, Mandalay

Previous Positions: Senior Assistant Teacher, No. (13), S.H.S. Mandalay, 1986 - 2004

Education/Training: B.Econ., (Statistics), Institute of Economics, 1976 - 1981 B.Ed., Institute of Education, 1983 -1984 Diploma in English, Institute of Foreign Language, Yangon, 1993 - 1994 Refresher Course, Ministry of Education, 1986 Publications: The Secret of An’al Haqq, translated from English to Burmese, 2003

Address: Room 8, MICT Park 3rd Floor of Yadanabon Market Mandalay, Burma Telephone: 95-2-89424

Personal Data: Born November 30, 1959 in Ngazun, Burma

Special Considerations: Hallal diet

Languages: Burmese and English (good)

U.S. Travel: No previous U.S. travel

Program objectives:

Mr. Kyaw San is an important member of the most active Muslim non-governmental organization (NGO) in Burma, who also teaches English to disadvantaged persons. His program will explore four related areas of interest and concern during his visit to the United States.

• NGOs and civic activism: Through observation and discussion, Mr. San will learn about civic channels and various strategies that are used to raise the public’s awareness of the need to volunteer to support programs that advance important social goals. This will include meetings with youth organizations and, perhaps, a roundtable discussion about volunteer programs such as mentoring for disadvantaged city youth.

• Teaching of English as a second language: The program will include visits to schools where English is taught as a second language (ESL) and seek to enable the visitor to participate in workshops or seminars where he will learn about teaching methodologies and other professional development opportunities.

• Religious diversity in the United States: The visitor will explore religious diversity and efforts to promote interfaith understanding in discussions with leaders and members of faith communities, Muslim and other. He will also examine how organizations with different religious affiliations undertake projects that are designed to accomplish important common objectives. The picture of religious diversity will be completed with visits to churches, synagogues, and religious youth organizations.

• Religion in the wider community: Mr. San will engage in observation and discussion of freedom of worship and other forms of religious expression, including the activities of charitable, religiously affiliated organizations that organize volunteers to support educational programs as well as health care and other social initiatives.