History of S4SK, H4SS and PALM:

The work that led to the formation of S4SK started in 2007 with two chance encounters between John McConnell, a British Quaker who was teaching in Rangoon, and poor people begging in the street.  For more details please click here.

John arranged the first of several non-formal education classes, and awarded our first scholarships to two orphans in 2007.  One, Sangpi, now works as a professional musician with a national TV channel and plays in the Myanmar Symphony Orchestra.  To learn more about Sangpi’s story click here.

Scholarships for Street Kids (S4SK) was registered as a UK charity in 2009 (Reg. No: 1131559).  Our aims, as outlined in our governing document are as follows:

1. To help children from very poor backgrounds, in developing countries, to acquire better education than would otherwise be possible for them.
2. To provide a variety of interventions (ranging from literacy classes and family support through to scholarships for courses in higher education) suited to the situation of recipients.
3. With successive interventions, each building on the other, to improve the life-prospects of those young people.
4. To engage in research to chart out possible career paths for severely disadvantaged children.

By 2013 there was a strong team of workers and supporters in Myanmar, and we formed a local organisation, Scholarships for Street Kids—Myanmar (S4SK-M). 

We registered as a local NGO in 2016 when, in line with Burmese culture which tends to emphasise aspirations rather than problems, the name of the organisation was changed to Hope for Shining Stars (H4SS).  Then, in 2023, with a view to further expanding our work, the H4SS Governing Board decided to establish the Phoenix Academy for Learning and Motivation (PALM), a local non-profit education provider.  Together, we work to provide educational opportunities for very poor and destitute children in Myanmar.

The PALM directors, advisors and senior staff include Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims and we provide the same opportunities to children of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.  Approximately 50% of our students are girls.  PALM currently provides education to around 320 out-of-school children and young people.