12Apr2026

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HEAD OFFICE:                          548 Market Street,
San Francisco, CA 94104         USA

PROJECT OFFICE:                  Pearl Condo, Bldg A, 15 Fl., Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd.,      Yangon, Myanmar

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Mary K Yap Foundation.

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December-2025-17
CORPORATE NEWS
December 28, 2025

Delivering Safe and Clean Water

The Foundation recognized the urgent need to provide sustainable water solutions that protect children’s health and well-being.

The Foundation’s Campaign #8 Clean Water H20Hope initiative was born from a simple but powerful purpose: to ensure that every orphanage in Myanmar has access to safe and clean drinking water. In a country where children don’t have similar privileges, the Foundation recognized the urgent need to provide sustainable water solutions that protect children’s health and well-being. H20Hope is not just about installing water systems—it is about empowering communities, protecting children, and giving supporters a way to make a meaningful, tangible impact on young lives.

On December 13, 2025, the Foundation proudly commissioned the first H20Hope system at the Home of Beacon, marking a historic milestone in our efforts. This achievement followed a careful selection process where two qualified bidders were invited to present their experience, project track record, and in-country support capabilities. After a thorough evaluation, the project was awarded to Conway Tech Myanmar, a company with eight years of operations in Myanmar and offices across Cambodia, Laos, and Singapore. Their expertise and reliability gave the Foundation confidence that the project would deliver lasting results for the children.

Team from Conway Tech Myanmar

A comprehensive survey and water quality assessment were conducted on-site to measure critical indicators, including pH levels, lead, and iron content of the well water. These measurements informed the Bill of Quantities and determined the complexity and specifications of the filtration system required. This careful, data-driven approach ensured that every aspect of the system meets the highest safety standards and provides clean water for years to come, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to quality and accountability to its donors.

Transporting 1000 ML Tank

Inspection of Water Tank

Unboxing Water Treatment

Installation of Filtration System

Video Recording Demonstration

Hands-on Training

The installation at Home of Beacon brought immediate benefits to 85 children, most of whom are orphans, providing them with safe, clean drinking water from a 1,000 ml tank system. The commissioning allows children to thrive in a healthier environment, while volunteers, orphanage ambassadors, and supporters witness the tangible results of their contributions. Every sip of water now represents the collective effort of donors and partners coming together to create lasting change in children’s lives.

Clean water is a basic right, yet too many children in Myanmar go without it. H20Hope is our commitment to ensuring that every orphanage can provide safe water for its children. This first commissioning is a testament to what can be achieved when donors, volunteers, and partners come together to make a real difference.”

      Dr. John Palmer

Chairman, Mary K. Yap Foundation

Reflecting on this milestone, Chairman Dr. John Palmer highlighted the human impact behind every contribution and reinforced the Foundation’s mission to create meaningful change.

Founder Dr. Myit Aung and Pastor Peter embracing the completion of a successful commencement with Peter K Yap

The success of the December 13th commissioning represents the first step in a nationwide campaign to bring clean drinking water to orphanages across Myanmar. Two years of careful planning, campaign efforts, and fundraising have made this launch possible. Moving forward, the Foundation aims to extend Clean Water H20Hope program to every orphanage in need, ensuring children across the country can enjoy one of the most essential human rights: safe, clean drinking water. With the support of caring donors of friends, family and committed partners, H20Hope intiative promises a brighter, healthier future for Myanmar’s orphan children.

Read More at Donate to Impact page #H20Hope+

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
December 21, 2025

#MelodyofJoy Experience

Melody of Joy uses music as a powerful tool to help children communicate their feelings

December 21, 2025 – Yangon, Myanmar – For more than 24 years, the Mary K. Yap Foundation has stood alongside orphaned children across Myanmar, committed to nurturing not only their basic needs but also their confidence, identity, and future potential. Among all the orphanages we serve, MyittarMon Orphanage holds a special place in our hearts as the community we have supported the longest consistently. Over the past eight years, we have proudly witnessed many girls from Myittar Mon through our #HSDiploma Program.  We continue to stay connected as they step forward with confidence into independent lives shaped by resilience and hope.

This Christmas season, we were honored to bring the #MelodyofJoy Social Impact Campaign to Myittar Mon under our Music for Charity Program, guided by the theme “Music Is My Voice.” Designed to build social confidence and emotional expression, Melody of Joy uses music as a powerful tool to help children communicate their feelings, discover their talents, and strengthen their sense of self-worth. Through singing, rhythm activities, and group participation, the girls were encouraged to express themselves freely in a safe and joyful space—many finding the confidence to be heard for the first time.

Singer Artist Aye Thazin filling Warmth and Joy Myittamone girls

The celebration itself was filled with warmth, laughter, and uplifting energy.  🎶Singer Aye Thazin Maung brought the room to life, inviting the girls to sing along and engage openly through music. The girls proudly showcased their talents through thoughtfully prepared dance performances, demonstrating not only creativity but also courage, teamwork, and self-belief. Their radiant smiles and confident expressions were a powerful reminder of how creativity can unlock inner strength and joy.

Staging for Festival Shirts and Reindeer Headbands

Explosive Movement Expression 

Grooving with the Seniors

Music is My Voice in Unity

Spreading Joy All Around the Hall

Celebrating X-Mas Cake with the Children

Behind the scenes, our dedicated volunteers played an essential role in creating a nurturing and encouraging environment, ensuring that every child felt supported, included, and celebrated. Their care and presence helped transform the event into more than a celebration—it became a meaningful moment of empowerment and connection. The message of “Music Is My Voice” resonated deeply throughout the day. Music became more than entertainment; it became a language of healing, confidence, and unity. Through Melody of Joy, the girls learned that their voices matter—that their emotions, dreams, and stories deserve to be heard and shared.

One participant from Myittar Mon shared her experience:

Before Melody of Joy, I was shy to sing or dance in front of others. When we sang together, I felt brave and happy. Music helped me feel confident and believe in myself.”

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Christophe Felix, who has been a French resident living and working in Myanmar for three decades, for joining the celebration, dancing alongside the children, and for his generous cash contribution in support of Myittar Mon Orphanage.

Photo L R Monsieur Christophe, Singer Artist Aye Thazin Maung, and Orphanage Ambassador,  Shelly Meme Lwin

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the friends and family of the Mary K. Yap Foundation for supporting our team in bringing joy to the children at Myittar Mon. Melody of Joy is one of our six social impact programs designed to foster connection, confidence, and self-expression through the power of music and sound. We especially thank those who attended this year’s launch—Mr. Peter Yap (Foundation’s Executive Director), Mr. Jay Edwin, and Shelly Meme Lwin (Orphanage Ambassadors), Singer Aye Thazin Maung, Monica Khaw Lam and Friends, and Moe & her family—for joining hands with us in this joyful celebration.

A special note of appreciation goes to #MyittarMonOrphanage and Lead Sister Roi Ji, who warmly welcomed us for another year, marking a remarkable eight years of partnership. Her continued support and encouragement inspire us to keep empowering the children, nurturing their confidence, and helping them find their voices through music. Together, we celebrate not just any program, but a journey of growth, joy, and lasting connection.

💛 Together, we bring joy. Together, we create smiles. Together, we build hope. 💛
 #MelodyOfJoy #MusicIsMyVoice #MusicForCharity #MaryKYapFoundation #ChristmasCelebration

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CORPORATE NEWS
December 7, 2025

Bamboo E-Learning Centers

Bamboo stands out as a cost-effective, abundantly available, eco-friendly, and fast-to-build material.”

December 7, 2025 – Bago, Myanmar – The visit to the bamboo treatment facility in Bago was an eye-opening experience that expanded our understanding of how traditional materials, when combined with proper treatment and technical knowledge, can meet modern infrastructure needs. Seeing firsthand how bamboo and wood are treated to withstand insect damage, moisture, and environmental stress revealed the real possibility of extending the lifespan and usability of these materials far beyond common assumptions. This approach transforms bamboo from a temporary solution into a reliable construction material suitable for long-term, multi-purpose structures—an important consideration for community-based learning facilities.

For the Mary K Yap Foundation, this visit directly supports our ongoing planning for the orphanages we serve across Myanmar. The Foundation envisions the development of computer-aided E-Learning Centers within orphanage compounds—safe, functional spaces that can accommodate 15 to 20 students at a time. These centers are designed not only for digital learning but also for flexible use, including tutoring, skills training, and community education. The durability achieved through bamboo treatment makes it feasible to build structures that can evolve with the needs of the children and the communities they serve.

Prototype designs and built by Housing NOW

This initiative is a key component of the Foundation’s 10-year vision to establish 50 E-Learning Centers throughout Myanmar. Achieving this scale requires solutions that are both financially and environmentally sustainable. Bamboo stands out as a cost-effective, abundantly available, eco-friendly, and fast-to-build material, making it suited for wide deployment in rural and semi-urban areas. By incorporating bamboo into our construction strategy, we can significantly reduce costs while maintaining quality, allowing donor contributions to reach more children and communities over time.

Bamboo Treatment Testing Center

Borax-Boric Acid Treatment Tank

Bamboo Heat-Treatment Kilns

Bamboo offers a rare combination of strength, sustainability, and accessibility. When properly treated, it allows us to build learning spaces that are resilient, affordable, and deeply connected to local environments—exactly what orphanage communities need for long-term digital education.”

Dr. Jean Luc Kouyoumji

World Bamboo Congress Ambassador, Board Member of Mary K Yap Foundation

In line with this vision, the Foundation plans to work closely with local bamboo contractors and skilled craftsmen, supporting local livelihoods while ensuring that construction knowledge and ownership remain within the communities themselves. This collaborative approach not only strengthens community capacity but also promotes long-term sustainability, self-reliance, and locally driven development outcomes.

Proposed Build of Quantities for Bamboo Housing Unit (1x Unit)

This work is fully aligned with the Mary K Yap Foundation’s #Road2Digital campaign, which aims to promote inclusive digital learning opportunities for children living in orphanages. By integrating sustainable materials with digital infrastructure, the Foundation advances multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals championed by the Board, including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Together, these efforts reflect a comprehensive approach—building not just structures, but resilient pathways to education, opportunity, and a more sustainable future for Myanmar’s most vulnerable children.

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CORPORATE NEWS
November 16, 2025

My Way to Sketch and Hope

The Mary K. Yap Foundation proudly kickoff its inaugural #SketchandHope program, part of our inspiring “Art Is My Voice” campaign for the underserved children.

On November 16, 2025, the Mary K. Yap Foundation proudly launched its first Sketch and Hope art program at the Galilee Foundation Church and Children’s Home for Orphan Youths in Shwe Pyi Thar, Myanmar—an inspiring milestone in our mission to empower orphaned children through education, creativity, and emotional development.

This inaugural program welcomed 38 children, who spent the day exploring drawing, painting, and imaginative expression under the guidance of distinguished instructors: Artist Than Thar, Artist Han Thar, and Artist May San.

Art is more than a creative activity—it is a powerful tool that helps orphaned and disadvantaged children build confidence, process emotions, and discover their inner strengths. Through color, shapes, and storytelling, children learn to communicate feelings they may not yet have the words to express. Creative exercises strengthen emotional resilience, improve focus, reduce stress, and encourage problem-solving and self-belief. During the program, many children proudly shared their artwork for the first time, demonstrating how an open, supportive environment can unlock courage, curiosity, and hope.

Children taking their first leap of faith in Sketch and Hope

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Pastor Saw Pyae Wa, Founder of the Children Development Center since 2015, for warmly welcoming our team. This marks our third community engagement with Pastor Saw, each one bringing renewed excitement and joy to the children under his care. Meme Lwin, our Orphanage Ambassador, expressed the significance of this return visit, sharing:

Every time we return, the children’s faces light up with recognition and comfort. It shows them that they are not forgotten—our presence reminds them that they are valued, supported, and deeply cherished.”

The Foundation is also deeply grateful to Mr. Christope Felix, a French philanthropist who has lived in Myanmar for more than three decades. His generosity and compassionate presence played a pivotal role in making this milestone possible. We also extend sincere thanks to our Intern Bethany Snyder from Pennsylvania, USA, who traveled to Myanmar with the heartfelt intention of encouraging and inspiring orphaned youth. Reflecting on her experience, Bethany shared,

“I’m getting the hang of this!”

Their smiles reminded me that creativity is a universal language—one that brings hope, healing, and connection no matter where we come from.”

Our appreciation further extends to our three dedicated artists, whose passion and guidance created a nurturing and memorable learning environment for every participant. Their commitment to using art as a bridge to confidence and imagination enriched the entire experience.

Artist Than Thar

Artist May San

Artist Han Thar

This initiative underscores the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—promoting Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals. The generous funding that powers the Sketch and Hope initiatives is made possible through the cherished support of our friends, family members, and business partners, whose compassion enables the Foundation to respond swiftly to essential needs and expand educational access for children in care.

Welcoming the First Batch of Children from Gailleo home for Orphan Youths

Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to establish a sustainable, ongoing Sketch and Hope learning program at the Galilee Foundation Church and Children’s Home for Orphan Youths, ensuring consistent access to meaningful art education for disadvantaged children. Together, we remain committed to nurturing creativity, unlocking potential, and building opportunities that can transform young lives for generations to come.

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CORPORATE NEWS
October 24, 2025

First Time Computer Learning

The Foundation proudly announces the first successful #Road2Digital alliance with Alpha Education Center

October 24, 2025 – San Francisco, CA, USA – The collaboration  was made possible through the introduction of Monsieur Christophe Félix, a long-time French philanthropist residing in Myanmar, and his partner Valérie, both of whom share our commitment to expanding access to education.

Founded by Ms. Kim Hnam, a Chin national and Dagon University graduate, Alpha Education Center has provided care and education to underprivileged children for over a decade. Located in Twantay Township, about 50 kilometers from Yangon, the center houses and supports 18 children alongside Ms. Kim’s family, fostering a nurturing environment that encourages both academic and personal growth.

Through the Foundation’s Campaign 3 #Road2Digital initiative, the Foundation—together with KMD Computer Learning Center, a leader in computer education with over 30 years of experience—conducted a three-day basic computer course for 10 students aged 12–17, with participation from a headmaster and Pastor Daniel Van Lal Suan from Joyful Orphanage. Meme Lwin, the Foundation’s Volunteering Program Manager, stayed on-site throughout the program to ensure that lessons delivered by KMD’s professional instructors were accessible and easily followed by all participants. 

First Day Computer Basic Lessons

Despite challenges such as heavy rains and intermittent power outages, the program successfully introduced essential digital skills, including MS Office, internet navigation, and email communication, inspiring confidence and curiosity in technology.

The Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Philip Charlesworth of the USAID-funded Agriculture and Food Systems Development Activity (ACDI/VOCA), our B2B partner Mandalay Productions Myanmar, and Ms. Meme Lwin for their generous donations of laptops and air conditioners, which made the computer sessions both possible and comfortable for the children. We also extend special thanks to Mr. Jay Edwin, one of our dedicated Country Orphanage Ambassadors, for his support in issuing the Certificates of Achievement to students who successfully completed the three-day training course. These collective contributions play a vital role in advancing the Foundation’s mission to empower orphanages with practical learning resources and greater digital access.

Commencement of First Day Computer Basic Lessons

One participating student reflected,

“Before this course, I was afraid of using a computer. Now, I feel confident, and it feels like my world is much bigger. I can see new opportunities for learning and for my future.”

This initiative underscores the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable access to quality education. The generous funding that powers the #Road2Digital initiatives is made possible through the cherished support of our friends, family members, and business partners, whose compassion enables the Foundation to respond swiftly to essential needs and expand access to education for children in care.

Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to establish a sustainable computer learning program at Alpha Education Center, ensuring continued access to digital education and empowering the next generation to share their knowledge within their local communities.

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