Saily, through its Saily for Nonprofit program, has partnered with Prospect Burma to provide Myanmar’s displaced students with mobile data so that they can continue to pursue higher education amid Myanmar’s civil war.
Table of Contents
Prospect Burma is a United Kingdom-based charity that provides “scholarships for international higher education and pre-university support to Myanmar students who are unable to access education in their own country due to conflict, political instability, and the collapse of state institutions.”
Since its foundation in 1989, Prospect Burma has supported more than 1,700 Myanmar scholars to study in 19 countries globally, working together with partner universities to open up access that otherwise would have been out of reach for Myanmar students.
“This work has become even more critical since the military coup in 2021,” explains Prospect Burma’s chief executive officer, Dr. Joanna Barnard. “With the destruction of Myanmar’s national education infrastructure, it is estimated that over 75% of young people aged 18 to 24 — more than 5 million individuals — are now out of education or training.”
“Our role is to provide educational opportunities to support Myanmar’s young generation. Prospect Burma scholars are selected based on their potential, not simply their grade point average (GPA). We look for evidence of clear and well-thought-out plans for how they will use their education to benefit their communities and country,” she adds.
Prospect Burma’s work is centered on the belief that access to education is a fundamental right. In 2023, the charity launched “Education Without Borders”, Myanmar’s first ever online scholarship program. The program is designed to support students inside of Myanmar and on the borders who are “affected by conflict, displacement, and the threat of conscription,” and who otherwise would not be able to travel to access international higher education.
Education Without Borders is creating a new paradigm for the delivery of education amid conflict. The program enables students to study for accredited bachelor’s, master’s, diplomas, and certificate courses at their own pace, with high-quality tuition delivered by Prospect Burma’s 10 chosen international university partners across Asia, Europe, including the UK, and North America. A total of 86 students have been enrolled to date, with 23 successful graduates — and counting.
Dr. Barnard highlights that, because Education Without Borders is a fully online program, students must have “internet access to attend live lectures, participate in online webinars, conduct research, complete and submit assignments, communicate with their universities, and sit their exams.”
While the charity covers tuition fees, provides mentorship opportunities, and supports students’ mental health, without stable internet access, the students’ scholarships and studies are at risk. Saily’s eSIM data plans reduce Prospect Burma’s cost of providing every student with an internet allowance, allowing the charity’s funds to stretch further.
“We also know that some students have to relocate from place to place for various reasons, including for their personal safety,” says Dr. Barnard. “Knowing that they have a dependable internet connection through Saily gives us additional reassurance and peace of mind. It means we can stay connected with them even when their circumstances or location change.”
Dr. Barnard points out that the flexibility and ease of access to the internet “have been particularly beneficial,” since students can simply enter a Saily eSIM mobile data plan code on compatible smartphones and connect to the internet. Additionally, when Prospect Burma team members travel between different countries to visit students, they “don’t have to purchase expensive local SIM cards,” and can simply activate an eSIM to stay connected, Dr. Barnard adds.
Since Prospect Burma partnered with Saily, the “biggest change has been increased interaction and communication between students and the Prospect Burma support team,” Dr. Barnard notes.
Prospect Burma’s partnership with Saily has already had a meaningful impact on students within the program. “The internet provided by Saily is a valuable additional source of support that makes a real difference to those students who are eligible to access Saily’s eSIM services,” explains Dr. Barnard. A reliable internet connection ensures that the students can focus on their education, since they no longer have to be anxious about whether they’ll have a connection or not to attend online classes.
Dr. Barnard recalls one case when one of their students had to urgently relocate from Myanmar to Thailand. “Saily became his main source of internet access, allowing him to seek support, navigate his new surroundings, stay connected with others, and continue his studies.”
Despite the immense challenges they face, “Prospect Burma’s online scholarship students are incredibly hardworking and resilient,” Dr. Barnard highlights. “For Saily to enter into a partnership with us means more than simply providing students with connectivity. It also gives them confidence and reassurance that they are supported and that there are people who believe in them and their potential.”
One of the students, Nan Soe Sandar Aung, currently enrolled at Parami University with a scholarship from Prospect Burma, says that eSIM data provided by Saily helps her submit her coursework on time and study regularly without having to worry about her internet costs. She points out that connectivity is important to her because all of the classes are online, and stable “internet is one of the keys that help me to get regular quality education access.”
Nay Lin Aung, another student from the Prospect Burma program, says that before he had access to the internet through Saily’s eSIM plans, he was “dealing with weak or inconsistent internet when studying outside my usual location.” Having a more consistent internet connection made it easier to access his study materials, with mobile data through Saily becoming a “reliable backup connection, which helps me study with fewer interruptions.”
“Reliable internet is important for my education because most of my classes, readings, and assignments are online. It helps me study consistently, meet deadlines, and stay connected without unnecessary interruptions,” Nay Lin Aung adds.
Dr. Barnard says that the program will welcome an additional 50 students over the next two years, with ambitious plans to expand the number of university partners and courses on offer. “Education Without Borders application numbers have risen 100% year-on-year, and we are seeing increasing interest in online learning more broadly. The number of students applying from refugee camps and along Myanmar’s border areas is also growing,” Dr. Barnard adds.
“As more students turn to online education as a pathway to higher education and meaningful future careers, reliable connectivity will continue to be an essential part of ensuring they can access their studies, stay connected with their universities and support networks, and pursue their long-term goals,” she concludes.
Meanwhile, Saily continues to support charities, nonprofits, and humanitarian efforts with mobile connectivity. To receive eSIM plans, apply using the form found on the Saily for Nonprofit page. Once approved, you’ll receive discount codes for a Saily eSIM plan for your destination. Use the eSIM plans to connect with your fellow volunteers or provide connectivity for those who need it for their education or livelihoods.
Always connected, always on course
Connect instantly with a Saily eSIM and enjoy effortless internet access.
Related articles
