Maryann Bylander's Page

When we began working at Chanleas Dai in 2005, we did so without background knowledge about the area, and without a plan that aimed at sustainable, community-driven programs. We made many mistakes, always intending to “do good” but lacking the understanding of what that really meant. What we quickly realized was that intending to do good does not always lead to positive end results, especially in international development where there are no standards, oversight, or regulations to ensure that bes… Continue

About a month ago Chreb, the junior high school science teacher approached me with a request. There was a lesson she really wanted to do from the ministry's textbook; about solar power and how heat from the sun can be conducted and transferred. The textbook had a basic experiment to have students create a solar cooker, learning about the power of the sun by cooking their own food using the sun's heat. This not only helps students understand solar power, but also is a tangible project which makes… Continue

On May 4th, Preah Lean’s new primary school officially opened its doors. PEPY celebrated the opening of its first new school building in Chanleas Dai since 2005 with a performance by Preah Lean’s Child Club, speeches from the District Governor and District Officer of Education, blessings from local Buddhist monks, and an official ribbon cutting ceremony with PEPY staff and international volunteers representing the UAE-based organization which provided funding for the school construction.

It’s m… Continue

Most of our projects at PEPY are about incremental change. In trying to change attitudes towards education, health behaviors, teacher training and community participation, most changes are slow, simply because they must be understood and realized through life experience, not simply “told”. I believe in slow change, not because of any developmental theory, but because I can see with my eyes how much more behavior and attitude shifts take hold when they come from experiences. Telling a teacher how… Continue

For the past several days, PEPY staff members have been busy visiting households in Chanleas Dai as part of a baseline survey we are doing in the commune. Additionally, we have been interviewing the eleven village chiefs in order to better understand the history of the commune, the challenges in the area, and how we can improve our programs.

Over and over again we are hearing the same stories: lack of water for agriculture, low literacy, and high rates of migration to Thailand due to the lack o… Continue