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In the summer of 1988 student-led demonstrations erupted across Burma in protest against the one-party system. Within days, Aung San Suu Kyi became the focus of Burmese people's hopes, speaking out for human rights and multi-party elections. But the demonstrations were harshly put down with large numbers of people killed. Martial law was imposed and the universities closed.
Thousands of Burmese students fled across the border to Thailand. In response to their plight, well-wishers set about raising money to send them basic provisions. One was the businessman and philanthropist Alan Hall, Prospect Burma's first chairman, who gave the charity its name and its focus on education. In the early days we raised funds for books and classes in refugee schools, and awarded an annual scholarship to an exiled student to go to university.
In 1991 Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize, and since then she has donated part of the income from that and other prize money to us. Her support, together with generous donations from other people and organisations, has meant that we have been able to expand our work with students dramatically.
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 Prospect Burma gives young Burmese people access to education: one of the United Nation's fundamental human rights.
Since 1988, Burmese universities have been repeatedly closed and education there remains in crisis. A whole generation has been deprived of education and training in vital skills; the effect on Burma's future is incalculable.
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Since our foundation in 1989:
- We have supported the education of over 1,500 Burmese students.
- We have enabled them to qualify as nurses, public health workers, teachers, journalists, engineers and human rights specialists and lawyers, among other professions.
- They have gone on to work for non-government health and education organisations inside Burma and with refugees on the borders, as well as for campaigning organisations for human rights, freedom of speech and democracy in Burma.
- Others have gone on to higher research and teaching positions, or are adding professional experience to their qualifications until they are able to return to Burma.
- We support free English language teaching and computer training at Prospect Burma's English Language Training School in New Delhi for Burmese refugees , as well as some English language courses inside Burma to enable more students to gain admission to higher education courses abroad.
- We fund vocational courses, and teacher training programmes, including for teacher-monks who are able to go back to Burma and teach in their villages.
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Patron: Viscount Slim, OBE, DL
Son of Field Marshal Slim (sometime GOC Allied Land Forces SE Asia and author of the classic account of the Burma campaign, 'Defeat into Victory'). Lord Slim has long-term family and career links with India and Burma. Educated in India, he served in the Indian Army, 6 Gurkha Rifles 1945-48. Retired 1972 having served as GSOI (Special Forces) HQ UK Land Forces since 1970. President of Burma Star 1971 onwards. Visited Burma 2003 and had discussions with Aung San Suu Kyi.
Vice-Patron: Martin Morland, CMG
Former Chairman of Prospect Burma, British Ambassador to Burma 1986-1990 and to the UN in Geneva 1990-93. Leader of the official delegation to the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, 1993.
Chairman: Robert Gordon CMG OBE
British Ambassador to Burma 1995-1999. Head of South East Asia Department, FCO 1999-2003.
Ambassador to Vietnam 2003-2007. Retired from FCO 2008. President Britain Burma Society.
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 In 1991, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent campaign for democracy in Burma. In tribute to her fearlessness and in keeping with our mission to educate young Burmese who will contribute to and become guardians of Burma's democratic development, Prospect Burma adopted the chin-thei for its symbolic attributes of courage and guardianship.
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If people are educated they can check the government abuse of power, if people remain uneducated the government can rule and oppress as it wishes.
So many people are now visiting Burma and return home touched by the experience. We recently had a generous donation and message to say "Our family enjoyed a cycling tour of Burma last autumn, and as a result of what[…] 
