News

2013

January

Local dignitaries joined Tanyss and Gem and more than 70 slum mothers in celebrating the opening of Amarok Society’s latest school, the Santevia Women’s School in Khulna, Bangladesh. The school is sponsored by Santevia, a water purification and alkalization company based in Delta, BC (see www.santevia.com). AS thanks Yvonne and David Anderson, CEO and President of Santevia, respectively, for their generous support. Such is the local enthusiasm for our new school, we’ll be unable to enrol all applicants for it (alas).


A lovely ceremony marked the renaming of AS Nurerchala Women’s School as the Suzanne Women’s School in honour of our dear departed Suzanne Borst, late wife of AS Board member John Borst and a good friend to Amarok Society. The school in Nurerchala slum has, in one location or another, been operating for seven years, making it AS’ longest-running school (by a few weeks). A daughter of one of SWS’ mothers, and an MOI student herself, gave a charming performance in song and dance.

2012

Autumn

It has been announced that Amarok Society co-founders and co-Directors, Dr. Tanyss and Gem Munro, are to receive Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals in recognition of their work. The Munros were nominated by Senator Grant Mitchell of Alberta.


The Grants Committee of the Rotary Club of Quinte Sunrise has bestowed a generous grant to Amarok Society. This is another good example of the vision, compassion, and commitment to creating “Peace Through Service” that distinguish the best Rotary Clubs, one of which the Rotary Club of Quinte Sunrise is. And it’s also the club with the coolest souvenir Rotary pen.

At left, Amarok Society Chairperson Angela Macri receives the donation from Quinte Sunrise Rotarians Rob Fleming and Gord Leverton.








March
Mothers in all our schools celebrated International Women’s Day this month with discussions, marches, drama and games. They also shared their personal stories with one another of the changes that have occured to them in their families and neighbourhoods since joining Amarok Society. Many of them are delighted to be partnering with their husbands in small businesses, in monitoring daily expenses (not that there’s more than a penny of leeway), and are truly delighted in their ability to be able to help their neighbours in so many ways – from teaching their children to providing knowledge in child care and basic healthcare.

Visit our facebook page to see more pictures and stories.

February
Gem Munro and his son Alastair are on a speaking/book tour across western Canada. Below is a story produced by Curtis Anderson of Shaw TV Saskatoon:


January
We are pleased to unveil our new website, created through the splendid effort of Toronto volunteer James Dallas Smith, who dealt admirably with all our unreasonable requests. Any flaws to be found are the fault of our subsequent clumsy paws, not of James.

We are also happy to unveil our unique Mother’s Day Card for 2012. If you would like to honour any deserving, inspiring mother (not just your own) while supporting Amarok Society at the same time, please see our card under “Gifts” in the menu list above.

2011

FROM HANSARD
Amarok Society
Statement made in the Senate on 15 December 2011 by Senator Grant Mitchell of Alberta:
Hon. Grant Mitchell:
Honourable senators, Amarok Society is a Canadian charitable organization founded by Tanyss and G.E.M. Munro and their four children. This remarkable family that lives in Bangladesh found an innovative way to help educate children living in extreme poverty in the miserable slums of Dhaka.
Amarok Society opens schools for mothers in the shantytowns. Each mother, who never received an education herself, learns to become a neighbourhood teacher. She then teaches at least five children per day what she has learned. This is a very economical method of providing an education to such poor children.
I recently met Tanyss and G.E.M. Munro. Their dedication to the cause of providing autonomy for mothers and their children in Bangladesh profoundly touched me. Bangladesh is the poorest country in South Asia, a region that continues to be the poorest in the world. The country has over 150 million people in an area one-sixth the size of Alberta. Many of its people live in inconceivable poverty, danger and fear.
Amarok Society enables families and communities to live a more meaningful life, to be in better health and to reduce birth rates. Furthermore, education is the best prevention against the extremist forces in Bangladesh that are trying to radicalize the country.
I encourage Canadians to visit their website at www.amaroksociety.org to learn more about Amarok Society. Its innovative work has a huge impact on the lives of thousands of Bangladeshi children and their mothers.

From the Flats of Bangladesh to the Hill in Ottawa
Tanyss and Gem Munro have been graciously received by several Parliamentarians in Ottawa recently who are receptive to Amarok Society’s message and intentions. AS is especially appreciative of the efforts of Senators Jim Munson of Ontario and Grant Mitchell of Alberta on AS’ behalf (and grateful to their hardworking staff members, as well).

Gem, Senator Jim Munson, Tanyss and Senator Laurier Lapierre in Sen. Munson’s office. “Senator Jimmy” is a true humanitarian and tireless in his efforts for the world’s least-advantaged children.

Interview with Gem, Tanyss and Gabriel (who’s actually 22, not 25)

Our schools’ Anniversary Celebrations, as always, featured songs, recitations, dances and the awarding of prizes for academic and teaching achievements.

Our schools may be rough hovels, but our mothers’ accomplishments — and celebrations — sparkle within them.

Amarok Society Chairwoman Angela Macri is to be honoured (again).
It has been announced that Angela Macri, Chairwoman of Amarok Society’s Board of Governors, is to be the 2010 recipient of the Toronto District Catholic School Board Alumni Award in recognition of her humanitarian work. Notice of this award was awaiting her on her return from her first trip to Bangladesh to visit Amarok Society’s ‘Mothers of Intention’ Schools.

“I see this honour as an opportunity to spread the word about Amarok Society,” Angela said after receiving notification of the award. This award follows her being named recipient of the Order of Mary Ward.

With her father looking on, Grace speaks to the Rotary Club of Collingwood, ON.
Although Grace and Tanyss are now (Feb. 2010) working in Bangladesh, Gem and Alastair are continuing with their speaking/book tour in Canada.

Angela (centre rear), with Andre and Mary Anne, visits an AS mother-teacher and the children she teaches.

Amarok Society Chairwoman Angela Macri
has just returned from a visit to our operations and schools in Bangladesh. This is an excerpt from her report:

Many at home in Canada have asked if I got depressed at what I saw in this extremely poor, densely populated and under-developed country. Yes, the density of the population living on top of each other without clean water, surrounded by debris and breathing in thick pollution and dust, and, if able to get jobs, parents working for less than a pittance or resorting to begging or prostitution would have been completely overwhelming if not for the distinctive positive changes I witnessed in the families and communities of the mothers who have been going to Amarok Schools. Thank you to our supporters who have provided new skills to cope with a tough, tough environment.

Our visit was highly anticipated by the teacher-mothers and children who were always ready for us with brilliant smiles, homemade bouquets of flowers, artwork (drawing for the very first time because of Amarok!) and proud salutations of “Good Morning!! How are you?”

Despite the unparalleled hospitality, I was painfully aware, in particular in Dhaka, of the lack of accessibility to nutritious food, clean water, clean air and space in contrast to the ubiquitous toxic elements and debris from whence might come the next meal.

We had been prepped for the worst (and the best) of Bangladesh having read Gem’s ‘handbook’ of true stories, South Asian Adventures with the Active Poor, but most certainly traveled beyond our comfort zones here, which, thankfully, for us, has always been an enjoyable experience unto itself.

Beyond the reckless rickshaw rides through congested, erratic traffic and relentless noise as thick as the smog, beyond the blackouts and a newborn’s death, we witnessed progress and, with that, hope through our Mothers of Intention.