Update : July 14, 2020

Needs Vary

• The needs of sayas vary.
  
• Senior sayas received Garawa money from the SPZPs and Acariya PZPs.
• Some sayas are taken care well by their family members.
• They do not have major financial problems.
  
• Several sayas (e.g. U Ba Than and U Thet Lwin) want to spend time with their former colleagues and students, and share their memories of the good old days.
• “Face time”, “chat time”, and “walks down memory lane” are on the the list of (most) sayas.

• Some sayas (especially from the supporting departments) do not get invited as often to the SPZPs.
• A few do not have family members.
• They generally need some financial assistance (e.g. medical check up, operation, long term care).
  
• “Steeve and Helen Kay Health Care Fund for RIT Sayas” and “U Khin Maung Tun’s Family Program for providing Vision Care” provided some financial assistance for the health care of eligible sayas and sayamas.
  The balance of the funds was provided to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF).
  
• SDYF was founded in 2013.
  It has provided assistance to eligible sayas and sayamas for annual medical check up, hospitalization, frequent visits to the medical clinics, and on a case-by-case basis for serious health problems.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, eligible sayas from the engineering departments and supporting departments were offered Garawa money of One Lakh each.
• Several shed tears of joy.
  
• SPZP-2020 has been postponed.
• There will be some plans to offer Garawa money (e.g. around Thadinkyut).

U Ba Than

• Saya would ask his nurse / aide to record the schedule of the mini-gatherings, mini-PZPs and SPZPs.
• He donated all the Garawa money that he received to charity (e.g. Little Sisters for the Poor, Jivitadana, Hnin Si Gone Bo Bwa Yeik tha, Schools for the deaf, dumb and blind).
• He would invite his former colleagues and students to his Birthday Soon Kyway on or around October 2.
• He would turn 89 on October 2, 2019.
• He has a sharp mind. He can recall names and events.
• WHO remembers saya saying “Kha Na” several times during his visits.

U Thet Lwin

• Saya U Thet Lwin taught Burmese at the Institute of Economics.
• For the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the University of Rangoon, he volunteered for the committee that was chaired by Saya Dr. Aung Gyi (then Professor of Civil Engineering).
  Some would say there was “Pathan Set” or “Ye Set”.
• Saya Dr. Aung Gyi succeeded Saya U Yone Moe as Rector of RIT.
  There was an opening for the Registrar at RIT.
  The Rector of the Institute of Economics informed Saya U Thet Lwin of the opening at RIT, and also recommended him for the position.
  The rest is history.
• Saya’s pen name is “Ngwe Hline”.
  Saya is an accomplished pianist and composer.
  He recorded several Dat Pyas (records) at BBS (Myanmar Ah Than) and received remuneration. He spent them to entertain his fellow musicians.
• His composition “Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo Kun Yeik Kho” has been rendered at the various SPZPs and RIT-related gatherings.
• After retirement, Saya missed his colleagues and students.
  When he was asked to give a short speech, he requested more time to share his memories about the good old days at RIT as Publisher of the Annual Magazines and as Patron of the Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin.
  He became upbeat when alums came over and chat with him, or invite him over to a coffee/tea shop.

Moral Support

• SDYF organizers and supporters fully understand that the aging sayas want moral and spiritual support.
• “Sayas’ Corner” and the more ambitious “Saya Geha” are important steps in the direction to avoid/minimize “loneliness” of (some if not all) sayas, and to provide physical and monetary assistance to the needy ones.
  
• Dr. Kyaw Min (SPHS65, retired Dy. DG, DMR) volunteered one day a month to drive around senior doctors (including sayas and sayamas) to their “Day Care” center (initiated by Dr. Daw Myint Myint Khin).