More than 68.5 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced. Why did they flee, where are they going, and what can be done to address the plight of refugees, especially children?
Why World Vision is in Myanmar
Myanmar’s economy has been declining in recent years, and 2018 was a difficult year for businesses. The conflicts between the ethnic armed organizations and Myanmar's military continued to intensify across many states, which meant people had to leave their homes and their stable lives. As highlighted in the international media, the worst of these displacements was in Rakhine State, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of the Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh. Sectarian conflict is ongoing, but there is still significant religious freedom for Christians. Floods and other natural disasters also force many people to leave their homes. Working together with our donors, many vulnerable children and families were supported. Programs focused on education, livelihoods, child protection, and health so kids can grow up healthy and equipped for brighter futures. In partnership with others around the world, we launched a campaign to end violence against children. Families were empowered to learn about and use financial services so they could start or strengthen small businesses to provide for their needs. Along with our sponsorship programs, staff focused on emergency assistance to people affected by natural and manmade crises. We brought food and other relief to people who had to leave their homes because of violence. And we continued to work with communities to help them become more resilient to shocks or disasters.
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.
- Boys and girls in Myanmar were trained on children's rights, protection, and participation. The training's focused on preventing abuse and avoiding dangerous situations. To reinforce the training and encourage support for child protection at home, parents and caregivers were also trained in children's rights and child protection.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- With your support, more children in Myanmar are enjoying safe, clean drinking water. We installed new sand filter tanks to prevent waterborne diseases, and renovated water supply reservoirs so that children can access water all year, even during the dry season.
- Health centers in Myanmar were improved by providing furniture and new latrines. To extend services beyond health centers, we trained village health volunteers to recognize, prevent, and care for common health problems at the village level.
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.
- To improve school performance in Myanmar, students had the opportunity to participate in study rounds, where they receive assistance from volunteer teachers on their homework after school.
- Through a collaboration with the ministry of education, early childhood care and development centers were built and equipped. Teachers were also trained to get their early childhood teaching certificates, and families were provided financial assistance so their children could attend pre-school.
Prayer Requests from Myanmar
World Vision's staff in Myanmar are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
The children and youth who are victims of abuse and exploitation.
The children and families in Kachin and Rakhine states who are displaced because of violence; that they would have access to food, education, healthcare, and more.
News from Myanmar
From the Field
Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 700,000 people from Myanmar have fled to Bangladesh because of extreme violence in northern Rakhine state. Most identify as Rohingya, a Muslim minority ethnic group. Impoverished and living in camps, they depend on aid for survival.
From the Field
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the deadliest disasters in modern history, was caused by a massive undersea earthquake. Nearly 230,000 people died, and millions more lost everything. World Vision raised more than $350 million and mounted the largest disaster response in its history, providing relief and rehabilitation in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, and Myanmar over 10 years.
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