WHO WE ARE
Magi Foundation was founded in 2007 by the Ritchie Family to fund education in the Philippines. Since then Magi has assisted Filipino students in their pursuit of an education. Every year Magi identifies several post-secondary students who would benefit from a scholarship program in the Philippines.
In 2013 MAGI Foundation expanded its area of operations to include the Thai/Myanmar (Burma) Border Area. Magi identified that fianancial assistance was needed by several of the learning centres that provided education for children of Burmese migrant farm workers. Since then Magi has been providing funding to Min Thu Won Learning Centre and Parahita Htoo Learning Centre. Funds go to support the migrant students needs and the schools operational costs.
Our Founder
J.W. Ritchie
J.W. (Bill) Ritchie - Founding Director
Bill Ritchie a well known businessman from Nova Scotia Canada was inspired to do something that would make a difference. Throughout his lifetime Bill has worked with many talented hard working young people. Bills vision developed into a desire to help young people to achieve their dreams through education. Because of Bill’s son David’s connection to the Philippines a need was identified around the community of Batangas City. In 2007 Bill’s vision became a reality as The MAGI Philippine Foundation (MAGI Foundation) was formed and awarded Canadian Charitable Status by the Canadian Revenue Agency, Charities Directorate (CRA). Through Bill’s inspiration and generosity MAGI Foundation has made a difference in hundreds of students lives. In 2012 MAGI Foundation was granted authority by CRA to expand its area of operation to all of South-East Asia. Since then, in addition to support students in the Philippines MAGI Foundation has been aiding Myanmar’s (Burmese) migrant students along Thai/Burma border near Mae Sot Thailand.
Our Team.
OUR CHILDREN
Our Two Schools
The Parahita Htoo Learning Center was founded by Mr. Htain Lin and his wife Mrs. Nan Mu on November 23, 2011 with permission from the village administrator. It began by educating 187 students from KG to Grade 3 who were mainly ethnic children of migrant workers and refugees residing in the Thai-Burmese border area. These children were faced with the instability of the region and the lack of employment opportunities for their parents.
In 2012, the school became a member of the Myanmar Migrant Workers Education Committee (BMWEC) and was recognized by the Margrant Education Conditions Center (MECC) under the Ministry of Education of Thailand. The school's students were then allowed to take the Myanmar Government-recognized Primary Grade 4 Examination from the Hsa Thoo Lei Examination Center in Mae Sot Township, under the supervision of BMWEC and the Myanmar Government Department of Basic Education starting from the 2013-2014 academic year.
In 2015-2016, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Director of the Thai Government No. 2 Area, Department of Basic Education, MECC Department, Tak District, Thai Government Non-Formal Education Department, Phop Phra Township Education Director and the Parahita Htoo Learning Center School Principal, which allowed the school's students to study Thai Non-Formal Education (NFE).
The Parahita Htoo Learning Center offers three educational programs: the Myanmar Government Curriculum (Primary to Intermediate), Thai Non-Formal Education (Primary/Secondary/High School Grade 12), and International Vocational Education (Business Management) Online Courses UK, ABE. In the 2021-2022 academic year, the school taught the Myanmar curriculum up to G11 level, but due to the current political situation and internal instability in Myanmar, teaching the Burmese curriculum has been temporarily suspended and is only being taught up to the middle level. High school students who were enrolled in the Myanmar Curriculum need to take the international high school level program until stability is regained in Myanmar.
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Magi Foundation
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