… even in situations where I am not active as a speaker, a consultant or trainer. I like working at the weekend and I do like Mondays too. To see these moments with pleasure and not as work - that’s the way to soften the border lines between the two. That’s what LIFE means to me.

… I often enjoy spending time with my international friends, many of whom are colleagues from the Speaker world. A large, global family – open minded, warmhearted and cheerful.

… our own hands: For me it means watching myself, being proud of myself, spending time with family and friends, having fun doing yoga, jogging, playing golf, hiking, biking, doing winter sports and, last but not least, relaxing for hours on the flower-covered lawn at our Alpine cabin.

… an ornithologist got lost by me. That’s the reason why Australia with it’s budgies was one of my most favourate travel destination. The parrots in Costa Rica will meet me soon.

… are given the chance to go to school and create themselves a self-confident life in the future.

In 2002 a speaker colleague from the Netherlands and his wife, born in Burma and a UN project manager, founded a trust to build a school in one of the poorest areas in the city of Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) – (www.mandalaychildcare.nl).

A caring project, diligently handled – for me it was immediately clear: I want to be part of it too!

After the opening up of Burma in 2013 I had the opportunity to visit the school for the very first time. What a fascinating and breathtaking time I spent surrounded by cheerful laughter, eager learners, and playful question & answer games. Neither the children nor we could get enough of the others’ stories.

I still get goosebumps when I remember the songs of greeting the children surprised us with. What a wonderful gift! And after that we opened up our 18 kilos of gifts: toys, stuffed animals, drawing pads and crayons, balloons and hair slides. It was great how light our suitcases were afterwards.

Nowadays there are over 360 pupils, aged from 5 to 17, eagerly learning. They guard their reading and exercise books like a treasure and are taught by monks and secular teachers. It was great to see that every single child knows what job they want to have in the future: they all have their dream jobs.

The most important milestones of the past years:

2006: Construction of toilets and bathrooms, including instructions about health and hygienic topics

2007: Opening of the first school building (beforehand they were taught in temples)

2009: The first group of students gets the chance for a continuing high school education

2010-2012: Expansion of the classrooms

2013-2014: Construction of the new library

Acquisition of modern learning materials, including DVD and video material, and internet-devices

Since 2014: Intensification of medical research, construction of new classrooms and meeting areas, maintenance and repair.

Unbelievable but true:

The education of one child costs just € 150 a year. A real gift named “future”!

Donation account details:

“Schulprojekt Mandalay River Sunset Childcare Organization“
Salzburger Sparkasse
IBAN: AT26 2040 4000 4008 4063
BIC: SBGSAT2S

We are truly looking forward to receiving every single Euro.

In the name of the children let me say: THANK YOU!

… and his intention to create an unforgettable experience for his customers were very impressive. Beyond the tourist masses, we began our own exploration of Bagan history and learned to see this area through the eyes of a Burmese.

Naing Naing had self-taught himself English, and knows the language better than most other Burmese I have met. Every single day he demonstrated the possibilities resulting from friendliness, appreciation and real interest.

A visit with his family and their heartwarming hospitality transformed the encounter with Naing Naing into a wonderful friendship. Thanks to modern technology, we can stay in touch!

In one quiet moment, Naing Naing told us about his dream to one day own his own horse cart and have his own business. That would give him the possibility to support his parents, brothers and sisters (his monthly income at that time was € 20) and, one day, have his own family.
He has been saving every cent he can for this dream, having decided not to spend more than 50 euro-cents a day.

Knowing these circumstances it was clear that this plan would never work as a horse-cart and the necessary license cost between € 2,200 and € 2,500.

The idea: “It should be no problem to find 250 people within my network who would donate €10 towards this project”   No sooner said than done: I opened an account for donations and, after my return, told my friends and colleagues the whole story.   The result: It didn’t take 250 people. After one month and with donations from 98 friends, colleagues and clients from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, we had the money!

>Download photo-book: "A Horse-cart for Naing Naing"

In Winter 2013/2014 I traveled to Burma once more to buy a horse, a horse cart and the license for and with Naing Naing.

It was a unique experience which enriched my life. Since then, Naing Naing continuously reinforced my faith in him. He used his entrepreneurial capability, his vision and goals, to improve his business step by step.

All my friends and colleagues who have traveled to Bagan since then, have visited Naing Naing and were totally enthusiastic about his behavior, his best care and attention.

It’s so easy to help!

If you travel to Bagan – just call Naing Naing. His phone-number: +95 940 2773512

Please give him my best wishes and enjoy the magic of Bagan!