His Eminence, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo SDB, Archbishop of Yangon, is Myanmar’s first cardinal and a recognised pastoral leader who has spent his life accompanying communities through decades of hardship, conflict, and social change.
Born in Monhla Village in 1948, he joined the Salesians of Don Bosco as a young man and was ordained a priest in 1976. From the beginning of his ministry, he served in remote and vulnerable communities where education, pastoral care, and human dignity were often under threat.
Appointed Archbishop of Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar, in 2003 and appointed cardinal in 2015, Cardinal Bo is considered a respected voice for peace, reconciliation, and human rights in Myanmar and beyond. His leadership has consistently focused on strengthening the Church’s presence among the people most in need and those affected by displacement, poverty, and political instability. Inspired by the Salesian charism, he sees the education of young people as essential to rebuilding society, believing that schools provide not only knowledge, but stability, dignity, and hope.
Under his guidance, the Archdiocese of Yangon has prioritised education as a cornerstone of its pastoral mission.
“Without the education of the children, Myanmar will not have a future at all,” Cardinal Bo explained, emphasising that education must nurture young people intellectually, morally, and spiritually so they can help shape a more just society.
Through his partnership with Catholic Mission, Cardinal Bo continues to support initiatives that expand access to quality education across Myanmar. Projects such as Shwe Hintha Private School and Pyinya Sanyae Institute of Education (PSIE) reflect his conviction that long-term commitment to communities can transform lives and create lasting change.
One of the initiatives that reflects Cardinal Bo’s vision for education in Myanmar is the Pyinya Sanyae Institute of Education (PSIE) in Yangon.
First supported by Catholic Mission in 2018, the institute was established to strengthen education in Myanmar by preparing teachers to serve in rural and disadvantaged communities. With the endorsement of Cardinal Bo, the program equips educators with child-centred teaching approaches before they return to their villages to support the learning of vulnerable children.
At its inception, the project responded to long-standing challenges in Myanmar’s education system. However, today its goals are even more urgent.
Since the global pandemic and escalating internal conflicts, Myanmar has faced an increase in internal violence, economic hardship, and widespread displacement. Nearly 3.6 million people are now internally displaced, and millions of children have had their schooling disrupted as communities flee violence and schools close across the country. In many remote areas, schools now rely on volunteer teachers with little formal training.
In this fragile context, the work of PSIE has become essential. The institute continues to train young people from rural areas and regions affected by conflict to become qualified teachers who can return to serve their own communities. Through diploma level training and short courses that equip volunteer educators with practical teaching skills, PSIE helps sustain learning where education systems have fractured.
Despite power outages, travel restrictions, and ongoing insecurity, the program has continued to grow. A total of 87 students have enrolled in recent years, with graduates now teaching in 13 locations across Myanmar including villages, temporary schools, and communities supporting internally displaced families.
In a country facing immense challenges, every teacher trained through PSIE becomes a bridge of hope for the children they serve. For Cardinal Bo, education remains one of the most powerful ways to restore dignity and hope. He shared, "The whole Myanmar Church made education a priority. Without the education of the children, Myanmar will not have a future at all. With your generous support we can see the benefits for children from different places, diverse cultures, beliefs and religions.”
