There are many children in Myanmar who do not have the opportunity to receive an education due to poverty and conflict. Founded in 2010, Dream Train protects children from poor families, children who have lost their parents, or children who have been abused, and provides them with a safe life and education at a facility in Yangon.

Ms.Nasuda, who has been working with Dream Train since 2014, says, "As we overcame challenges step by step, before I knew it, 10 years had passed."

Myanmar achieved democratization in 2011 and was called the "last frontier of Asia," but since the coup that broke out in February 2021, the situation has become unstable and the social situation remains severe. Even in such an environment, Ms.Nasuda feels a great mission in the activities he continues to carry out here. That is Dream Train.

"Nowadays, we are not surprised when and where conflicts occur. Even so, we do not lose hope, and we discuss and encourage each other with local staff, thinking that there may be something we can do as a Japanese NGO."

Currently, 129 people between the ages of 9 and 23 live in Dream Train. One area they particularly focus on is education.

"Dream Train is not a school institution. The children commute from the facility to local public and private schools. When they come home from school, they can learn a variety of subjects, such as English, Japanese, and computers, from staff and volunteer teachers here. In addition to studying, there are also sports and hobby clubs, such as swimming, yoga, singing, guitar, and drums, just like club activities."

After graduating from high school, the children go on to university or find employment, but either way, they can stay at Dream Train until they are able to become independent.

"The other day, a child who graduated from Dream Train and got a job at a Japanese restaurant in Yangon came to visit us. He said that at first the work was tough and he wanted to quit after about two weeks. But he told us that if he quit at this point, he wouldn't be a good example to his younger siblings at the facility. He told us that as a senior who had lived in the same facility, he wanted to show them that he was someone who didn't complain and would see things through once he made a decision, so he didn't quit.

I was so happy. I couldn't believe that such a mischievous child would change so much when he entered society. If given the opportunity, children can grow up in good ways. People like him who have had such experiences give hope to the children who remain in the facility."

For this interview, we had the opportunity to speak to two residents of the facility. The two who answered our questions were Yapar (20 years old) and Mige (19 years old), who took university entrance exams this spring.

There was no school nearby in the village where Yapar was born and raised, so he couldn't go to school. However, his family understood his desire to study, and at the age of six, he and his sister enrolled in Dream Train.

"When I first came to Dream Train, I was still young and often cried because I was lonely, but the staff were very kind to me. Gradually, I made friends. We started to live together, encouraging each other," he says with a bashful look on his face.

At Dream Train, he studied English, Japanese, and computers with great enthusiasm.

"Above all, I was happy to be able to study. The harder I try, the more support I get from everyone. I'm planning to go to university. I want to study economics and become a company manager in the future," he says of his dreams.

Mige also enrolled in Dream Train because she wanted to study, due to her family's financial situation and the fact that she only had the opportunity to study up to the fourth grade in the village where she grew up.

"I'm learning English and Japanese here. I took the university entrance exam the other day."

Before taking the university entrance exam, she spent three hours in the library after dinner, and after the library closed at 10 p.m., she studied hard in her room until midnight. When asked about her dream for the future, she answered immediately, "I want to work as an interpreter or translator."

"At Dream Train, I can do things that were unthinkable in the village where I was born and raised. I'm happy that I can work toward my dream."

The staff and teachers, including Ms.Nasuda, supported Yapar and Mige's studies. They continue to support the children so that they can live in peace, think about their future, and achieve their goals.

Panasonic's solar lanterns continue to support the Dream Train.

Power outages have become commonplace in Yangon, Myanmar. Since 2018, Panasonic has been continuing a project to donate solar lanterns to areas without electricity. The number of solar lanterns donated has exceeded 100,000.
Some of them have been delivered to Dream Train, and now each examinee is given one. Even at night, Yapar and Mige studied by the light of their solar lanterns.

"The electricity situation has worsened since the 2021 coup. In April, when Yangon is at its hottest, the areas around the Dream Train only had electricity for one to two hours during the day. The Dream Train is equipped with generators and solar panels, but the current state of the electrical infrastructure means that the electricity generation cannot keep up," says Ms.Nasuda.
The lack of light is also a serious problem that is causing a deterioration in public safety. This also increases the risk of children becoming involved in crime.

"When we go outside the facility after sunset, the surrounding area is pitch black. For us, having light means ensuring our safety. Solar lanterns are a daily necessity."

In February of this year, members of TEAM TOSS, a Japanese group working to promote rugby in Asia, visited Dream Train.

"After practice, we all had a barbecue, but then the power went out. The kids held up solar lanterns, and the coach and kids grilled the meat under their light. Thanks to that, it was well-cooked and delicious," says Ms.Nasuda with a smile.

In the midst of the difficult situation, Ms.Nasuda emphasizes the importance of children having hope.

"We have set up goal-setting classes to help each child find their dream for the future. We tell them, 'If you work hard towards your dream, we will support you wherever you go.'"

Finally, we asked Dream Train why they support children.

"We tell the children, 'We are not supporting you because we feel sorry for you. It is because you are all full of hope. "Because you are the 'future' and 'hope' of Myanmar."

Education is essential to have dreams and hopes. We aim to further improve the quality of education. We want the families who entrust their children to us to be truly glad that they sent them to Dream Train. And even more so, to the point where they want to entrust their own children to Dream Train. Only then will we be able to fulfill our responsibility."

The children we spoke to during our interview were smiling throughout the interview, which made it hard to believe they were in such a difficult situation. This is where we felt the power of Ms.Nasuda and the Dream Train to "stand by each other."

While Ms.Nasuda gives dreams to children, she continues to make irreplaceable efforts to realize her own dream.

We will continue our solar lantern donation project.

The Dream Train runs carrying the dreams of children. We hope that the solar lanterns will help light the path for children, even in the dark.