Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 740,000 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.
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.
- More children know about their rights and how to protect themselves. Through campaigns to end violence and abuse of children and trainings on child rights, children, parents, and community leaders learned how to identify and report cases of abuse or violence, and how to help other children who may be in danger.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- To help improve child nutrition, World Vision trained caregivers in good nutritional practices, including how to prepare healthy meals using local ingredients. Growth monitoring sessions also identified malnourished children so they could receive care and support to recover.
- More child have access to safe drinking water after World Vision constructed new water sources and installed pipelines. Clean water is also more accessible to students after water purifiers were installed in their schools. Students no longer miss classes to collect drinking water.
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.
- More children are accessing quality pre-school education. World Vision supported early child development centers that prepare young children for formal schooling by enhancing their social and motor skills. Some schools also provide free milk to encourage school attendance and ensure that children have the energy to participate while at school.
- To make education accessible to more children in need, World Vision provided schools with desks and chairs, and built or remodeled at least 5 primary schools.
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
Forced to flee: Top countries refugees are coming from
More than 70.8 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?
From the Field
What is a refugee? Facts, FAQs, and how to help
There are more refugees in the world than ever before, and their needs have never been greater, not only for the basic necessities of life, but for hope and opportunities to be self-sufficient. Find out more about the global refugee crisis.
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