tEnpower

tEnPower (established 2018) is a sustainability-focused OCIP in Tembusu College that aims to empower youths at Youth Development Centre (YDC), Shwegyin, Myanmar to gain access to better opportunities through improved English literacy. YDC is a boarding school that is home to around 200 underprivileged youths ranging from ages 3 to 18 –– providing them with accommodation, education and vocational training to prepare them for society.

Our work encompasses long-term, regular engagement in the form of weekly English classes over online video platforms, supported by self-developed curriculum. In addition, a highlight for many of us is the annual Winter trip to YDC, where we finally get to meet our students in person. During the trip, we evaluate the effectiveness of our lessons with our students and conduct educational activities planned with input from the YDC leadership.

The Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) is a large evergreen tree in the family Gentianaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia. Its trunk is dark brown, with deeply fissured bark, looking somewhat like a bittergourd. It grows in an irregular shape from 10 to 25m high. Its leaves are light green and oval in shape. Its yellowish flowers have a distinct fragrance and the fruits of the tree are bitter tasting red berries, which are eaten by birds and fruit bats.