An estimated 507,000 people have fled Myanmar as refugees to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, according to the International Organization for Migration. Most of them are living in informal settlements with little or no access to food, clean water, sanitation, or healthcare.
Why World Vision is in Myanmar
Torrential rains swept through most of Myanmar in 2015, destroying homes, crops, and infrastructure. Over 1.6 million people were impacted and 117 died. We responded by distributing rice, soap, water purification products, mosquito nets, school supplies, and other essentials. The flooding was a huge setback for families already struggling to get by. The majority of Myanmar’s people live in rural areas and earn a living by farming. We are helping form farmers’ groups to increase income and establishing village savings and loan groups to help families cope with emergencies and expand their businesses. Poverty puts children at great risk of trafficking. Many drop out of school to work and help their families. They are easily lured by the promise of a job, only to be deceived into bondage. We are building community watch groups and children’s clubs to inform people about the risks of exploitation, traffickers’ ploys, and how to keep children from harm.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Myanmar ❯
Progress in Myanmar
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- We formed child protection groups this year to teach kids about their rights and protection and to encourage their participation in community development activities.
- To promote child protection and well-being, we equipped child protection committees to handle cases of child abuse and child rights violations.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- We provided health and nutrition trainings for community healthcare workers and mothers, such as the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and preparing nutritious meals for toddlers using local ingredients.
- To improve access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities and lower the incidence of waterborne illnesses, we constructed new water facilities and sanitary latrines.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- We worked with community partners to implement nightly study sessions that help students develop good study habits and provide extra help for students who are struggling in school.
- To improve the quality of schools for local students and improve children's health, we constructed new latrines and increased access to clean water.
Love of God and Neighbors
Children and families are growing spiritually, local churches are strengthened to demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways, and people are living at peace with their neighbors.
- Following Christ’s example, we worked alongside children and families to change lives, promote peace and understanding, and demonstrate God’s unconditional love.
Prayer Requests from Myanmar
World Vision's staff in Myanmar are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
Small family businesses that fund children’s education and health.
Mothers to learn to provide nutritious meals for their children.
News from Myanmar
Voices
Lured into marriage: A survivor’s story of being trafficked
Pyone is a survivor of human trafficking. After four years trapped in another country, today she is reunited with her family, working to support her daughter, and this past spring told her story so other young women might avoid her horrible experience. Read her story.
From the Field
Worst natural disasters of 2015
Floods, drought, heat waves, earthquakes and monsoons top of the list for the worst natural disasters of 2015. Learn more about how World Vision responded.
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