Education Foundation

Alan Tin-Win
Science & Math Teacher

"I have over 40+ years of teaching experience. I taught chemistry at university in Burma & the UK and taught high school science in Burma, UK, Thailand, Sudan, and Peru.

I have Chemistry Honours & M.Phil (Chemistry) degrees from the University of Rangoon & a M.Ed (Science Education) degree from King’s College, University of London, together with a teaching certification from Burma, the UK & Thailand.

After retiring to Chiang Mai in 2016, I heard about BEAM Education Foundation and volunteered to teach students Science in 2016-2017. For this 2017-2018 academic year, I am teaching Science in the GED and ALPPLA (Advanced Learning Preparation for Prior Learning Assessment) programs.

The students are motivated and hardworking, and I love interacting with them."

David Freidberg
Volunteer Social Studies Teacher (GED Program)

David started volunteering with BEAM since 2016 as a social studies teacher in BEAM GED program. David has been teaching at MCU Buddhist University in Thailand for more than 20 years and joined BEAM in 2016, as a volunteer instructor of Social Studies. Here what he says:

“I have never been happier teaching than in my classes at BEAM. The students’ level of commitment to changing their communities and the world, their hunger for knowledge, and their diligence, are an inspiration to me. It is a great privilege to be with these fine young men and women.”

Charles Turner
Volunteer Social Studies Teacher

Charles has been volunteering with BEAM since 2014.

David A. Lucero
Volunteer Math Teacher (GED Program)

David L. started volunteering with BEAM since 2018 as a Math teacher in GED program.

Rebekka Flam
Language Arts Teacher and Program Associate of Higher Education

Rebekka started volunteering at BEAM as a VIA Global Community Fellow in July 2017. She is working as both a teacher, Higher Education Program Associate, and scholarship committee member. Rebekka shares her excitement to work at BEAM:

“Last year, I discovered BEAM while volunteering at their leadership conference sponsored by The JUMP! Foundation. As a volunteer, I helped facilitate a few activities, but mainly I listened to the inspiring stories and ideas of the students. Despite the trauma from growing up in refugee camps, witnessing sorrow, and moving to a new place, the youth participants had large goals and a clear vision for change. I was and still am so incredibly impressed with the students, teachers, and employees at BEAM. Less than a year later, I’m now here working as a VIA Global Community Fellow. I’m so excited to learn, teach, and make connections throughout Chiang Mai. While engaging with my co-workers and students, I hope to learn more about Burmese and Thai culture and ultimately create a positive impact in my new community.”

Shelby Busha
BEAM Intern LIU Global

Hello! My name is Shelby Busha. I am from Utah, USA. I have been in Chiang Mai for a little over a month now. I am here through an undergraduate program with LIU Global working toward a degree in Global Studies. I started interning at Beam Education Foundation about a week after I arrived. It has been an amazing experience so far! I have had the opportunity to start teaching a course on basic conversational English with students who are eager to learn. In my short time, I have learned so much about the organization and all the great things that they do. All of the staff at Beam strives and works incredibly hard for their students. They want them to have the opportunity to receive an education, which truly shows in the effort each and every one of them puts in every day. The work ethic at Beam is outstanding, which shows through their many achievements over the years. They are currently working on a fundraiser to raise money for the student’s GED courses, which I have been able to be apart of. Although, my time at Beam has been short, I am extremely grateful for my opportunity to be apart of this organization and I am excited for the upcoming months of my internship.

Hannah Cann
Volunteer Writing Teacher, Academic Program Associate

BEAM has an ongoing relationship with the Stanford University connected Volunteers in Asia (VIA) and is working with Princeton in Asia on a proposed Senior Fellow Program. Native English Speakers qualified to teach English, Math, Science and Social Science are critical for second year BEAM students preparing for GED and University entrance exams. Locals in Chiang Mai and family members of EBTM (formally BMEP) donors are increasingly joining BEAM as volunteers.

For additional information, please visit www.beamed.org OR contact directly to Volunteers in Asia (VIA) also has been providing volunteer teachers for BEAM – Nick Egert in 2011, Hannah Cann in 2012, Alyssa Paylor in 2013, and Elizabeth Neiman in 2014.

Elizabeth Neiman
Volunteer Writing Teacher, Academic Program Associate

Elizabeth has been volunteering at BEAM since July. She shares her experience at BEAM: After working for four years as a social worker with refugee youth in Chicago, I was excited for the opportunity to leave the States to work with migrant students in Thailand. At BEAM, I work with students in a variety of roles, as instructor, as advisor, editing essays, personal statements, scholarship applicants, and more. I couldn’t imagine a more welcoming, diverse, passionate, or inspirational group of students and coworkers than right here at BEAM.

Hsin-Jung Wei (Melody)
Volunteer Writing Teacher, Academic Program Associate

Melody H. Wei starts volunteering at BEAM for the coming year. She is volunteering as both a teacher, academic program associate and scholarship committee member since 17 August 2015. Melody shares her excitement to work at BEAM: “I first heard about BEAM when I was studying at Chiang Mai University during a semester abroad in Thailand. I knew as soon as I graduated that this was the place I wanted to be. BEAM is truly an impressive organization that places a lot of value in fostering community and creating a safe place for students to learn. I am so excited and humbled by this opportunity to work with such a motivated and passionate group of students and coworkers”

Iris Bercovitz
Language Arts Writing Teacher and Program Associate of Higher Education

Iris worked with us as the Language Arts Writing Teacher and Program Associate of Higher Education for 1 year as well as provided to the students while teaching, helping with Foundation activities, coordinating the scholarship fund, and supporting and mentoring students as they applied to university. We are grateful for her hard work and dedication to BEAM.

Iris shared her experience at BEAM: “I have had an incredibly rewarding and inspiring experience working at BEAM Education Foundation. I was continually impressed with my students’ motivation and determination to go to university despite many obstacles that they have had to overcome. It was also a joy to work with the BEAM staff and be a part of the wonderful BEAM community. I will miss the laughter and hard work that we did together. I’m so grateful for the experience to work at BEAM, and I know that I will always have a second family with the BEAM community!”

Jordan Pratt
Volunteer Science Teacher

Jordan volunteered as a GED science teacher with BEAM for over 4 years. We thank you for all that you have done while volunteering with us: all the help you provided in teaching, helping with foundation activities, and supporting and mentoring students. We all wish you best of luck with your continued studies in D.C. Jordan shared his experience at BEAM: "It was an honor to be part of the BEAM family and in the great work they are doing to help so many people. My colleagues were some of the hardest working and dedicated people I know, and my students were full of ambition, perseverance, and hope for the future. The experiences I had there are invaluable and will be with me for the rest of my life. I will enjoy watching BEAM continue to grow and improve the lives of the underprivileged and also to watch my students go on to accomplish great things."

Mansur Alam
Volunteer Science Teacher

Mansur started volunteering at BEAM as a Substitute Science Teacher in early July 2017. He assisted BEAM until the 2nd week of August 2017. He came to Chiang Mai to volunteer with Cultural Canvas Thailand through the EIL Explore Program last summer. Mansur shares his experience in Thailand: “It is a dream of mine to work with ethnic minorities and refugees because I myself am a refugee from Burma. I’ve spent my early childhood living in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. And I came to Ireland in 2009, never having attended school and with no English I have faced many difficulties and challenges every day with the language and school work. So I know what the situation is like for the people living in such camps because I can relate. This is why I have chosen to volunteer here in Chiang Mai where I heard about the Burmese refugee students who left the country and now want to go to university in Thailand.”

Mansur will also be working with Art Relief International (ARI), where he will be helping with many different projects such as visiting foster homes, hosting art workshops at children schools, and partnering with other organizations.

Pat Corey, Volunteer
GED Program Math Teacher

Pat has been volunteering as a Math teacher at BEAM for over 3 years. Pat shared her experience at BEAM :

"I always had at the back of my mind the idea of "giving back something" after years of living comfortably in Australia. After a visit to Mae Sot and a drive north past the refugee camps I felt the urge to work with Burmese migrant students in some way. When I saw in an advertisement that the newly established school, BEAM, was looking for a Math teacher I felt this was what I was meant to do. I was very happy to accept the offer of a volunteer position. I started teaching in 2011 and have been teaching here ever since. I enjoy my current students and feel very happy when past students tell me how they are doing at university. The supportive atmosphere and my great colleagues (past and present) really add to my experience here as well!"