Around the Institute

The Aspen Idea Blog: Helping Transition in Myanmar, One Book at a Time

June 24, 2015  • Michael (Mickey) Bergman

This article originally appeared in The Huffington Post.

The Richardson Center for Global Engagement partnered with the Aspen Institute to host social entrepreneurs in Myanmar to help bring people-friendly businesses to Myanmar. Each delegation was asked to bring books in their spare luggage.

Below, read about the last delegation, comprising people who came from all over the world, which brought over 200 books that went to schools in Yangon, Rakhine, Kachin and Karen States.

Most things can be found in Myanmar now (and cheaply) but books are still costly for most Myanmar people or just not accessible. Mindy Walker, who works with the Richardson Center for Global Engagement in Myanmar, tries to get colorful books into children’s hands in Myanmar by having her guests max out their baggage limits when they come for business trips, political exchanges or as tourists.