August 1988 – A struggle for democracy
The 8th August 1988 becomes a date in infamy. The 8888 student uprising, as it comes to be known, is a mobilisation of people around…
Read moreSeptember 1988 – Protests continue
The armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, violently shut down the pro-democracy protests, re-assuming military control. All universities are closed, many students and teachers arrested,…
Read moreMarch 1989 – Well wishers act
A group of sympathetic British supporters gather to respond to the continuing emergency. Their first actions are to raise vital funds to help students in…
Read moreDecember 1989 – Prospect Burma is born
As a direct response to unfolding events in Myanmar, the group of British supporters officially launch Prospect Burma, with the aim of supporting education and…
Read moreJune 1990 – Education projects for crisis areas
The knock-on effects of 8888 are far-reaching. The Tatmadaw ignores the result of the May 1990 election result, which was overwhelmingly won by the National…
Read moreJune 1994 – First PB scholarship made
In 1994 Prospect Burma awarded its first higher education scholarship to Pwint Htun. With support from PB she undertook a BSc in Electrical Engineering from…
Read moreJune 1995 – Worldwide scholarships programme launched
Our scholarships programme (which later comes to be known as our Learning to Leadership programme) is launched, providing scholarships to exiled students from Myanmar to…
Read moreNovember 1997 – The government changes names, but the impasse continues
The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council changes its name to State Peace and Development Council. Myanmar also joins ASEAN, the Association of Southeast…
Read moreJanuary 1998 – New Delhi English school established
In 1998 we establish English classes for people from Myanmar living in India at the New Delhi school. English language is a vital requirement for…
Read moreJune 2000 – Our scholarships programme expands
From 2000-2005 our scholarship programme expands, and we are able to offer support to over 100 students annually. We are additionally able to support teacher training…
Read moreAugust 2007 – Saffron revolution
Peaceful demonstrations return to the country, as the removal of fuel subsidies by the government result in the Saffron Revolution. Spearheaded once again by students,…
Read moreMay 2008 – Cyclone Nargis creates devastation
The worst recorded natural disaster in Myanmar’s history, Cyclone Nargis, devastates the country. Over 130,000 people are killed or lost in the destruction. Community-based groups…
Read moreMarch 2011 – A change in the system of government
After over two decades in office, the military government of the State Peace and Development Council steps down. The new President Thein Sein was prime…
Read moreSeptember 2012 – Peace and conflict in the ethnic borderlands
Civil war has been raging in Myanmar for decades. After President Thein Sein assumes office, a new peace process is initiated, with ceasefires in the…
Read more2013-14 – Exiles permitted to return
Educational reforms are discussed, with many exiled students permitted to return to the country. Foreign aid organisations are allowed increased access to the country. Many…
Read moreMarch 2016 – The National League for Democracy wins office
After a quarter century in democratic opposition, the National League for Democracy (NLD) assumes government office after winning a landslide victory in the November 2015…
Read moreJune 2016 – Prospect Burma opens an office in Yangon
The summer of 2016 is an exciting time for Prospect Burma, as we open our first office in Yangon. This is an enormous milestone for…
Read moreAugust 2017 – violence in Rakhine State
Reports of horrific scenes of violence and destruction emerge from Rahkine State on the west coast of Myanmar. This begins the day after the former…
Read moreOctober 2018 – Difficulties on the road to change
Efforts continue towards democratic change, but progress is slow. International sanctions are proposed again due to the Rakhine State crisis, while the government’s “Panglong-21” process…
Read more2019 – Prospect Burma looks ahead
Prospect Burma celebrates 30 years. Over the years we have supported around 1,400 people through our Learning to Leadership programme, and many hundreds of others…
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