Myanmar (previously known as Burma) is located in South East Asia. A coup in 1962 resulted in Myanmar being governed by a military dictatorship for many years that resulted in Myanmar becoming one of the world’s most impoverished countries. The economic situation began to improve when the military relinquished control in 2012, yet a second coup in 2021 plunged the country into violence and despair.

In 2004, DMI opened the Immanuel School for the Deaf, which is one of only three schools for the deaf in Myanmar.  In 2015 the school changed its name to the Muir School for the Deaf which, in addition to honoring Neville Muir, the founder of DMI, also means “happy place” in Burmese. The school currently has about 40 students, most coming from the remote villages in the surrounding Chin Hills and staying in the school’s dormitory during school terms. The students learn animal husbandry skills at the school’s piggery, which also provides a source of income for the school.

The school syllabus and exams are set by the local government hearing school, and our children are achieving very good results even compared to the hearing children. They are so happy to go to a school and have deaf friends. These students live a very simple life and their Christmas celebration is usually a fishing trip. The school has a board of local people who contribute to decision making for the school.

During the pandemic and civil unrest, many students have not been able to come to the school, yet our teachers brave uncertainty and danger to go from house to house to teach our students in small groups. They also work to maintain the facilities at the school.