Street Vendors donate bamboo school building

Bamboo building at the compound of Shwe Nadi altruistic monastery in Kyaukpadaung Township, Mandalay Region.

MANDALAY- A ceremony to open a bamboo building built by architects from abroad was held in the compound of Shwe Nadi altruistic monastery in Kyaukpadaung Township, Mandalay Region, on January 4.

Street vendors from Kyaukpadaung raised funds to donate the bamboo building to the monastery. The building cost about K25 million, says Aung Hein, in-charge of Natural Environmental Monitoring from Mt Popa Lovers’ Association.

“This bamboo building was donated by street vendors after savings from their incomes of K100 daily. A US group also participated in the donation. The bamboo architect is from New Zealand, but bamboo experts from Indonesia constructed it. They also conducted training s concerning bamboo buildings for the locals.

“A team led by Shwe Nadi Presiding Sayadaw made the interior furniture,” said Aung Hein, adding that the structure should last a long time.”

The construction period lasted about two years due to the financial crisis. Another two bamboo buildings had been designed, but are yet to be built as finance cannot be found, said Aung Hein.

“The big bamboo building will include a small office, a learning room for the students and three halls,” said Aung Hein.