Transforming rural communities in Myanmar

Humanitarian Relief

We launched the ‘Myanmar Earthquake Response Project’ on 29^th March, aiming to deliver humanitarian relief activities to those affected by the devastating earthquake. Thanks to your rapid and generous response, we were able to respond quickly, working with a small group of implementing partners who can reach ‘hard-to-access’ areas, and serve people where there was and continues to be great need.

These partners are deeply rooted in their communities, have a strong understanding of the local context, and are well-connected within existing operational networks to facilitate emergency response efforts.

Since the project launched, we have been able to achieve the following:

• Food distribution to 6,900 people
• Supply of household essentials (hygiene items, buckets etc.) to 750 people
• 1,212 people received medical care
• Multi-purpose cash grants distributed to 541 people

In addition, we are supporting the construction of monsoon appropriate shelters, latrines, and sustainable water supplies.

We have continued to implement relief projects in Myanmar. We recently completed a project distributing household essential items through seven implementing partners, where we reached over 21,000 people with support.

We are currently implementing a further cash grant project, given the huge needs faced in the area. This is focused on using cash for nutritional support. Last month we reached over 9,000 people.

New Dawn relief project

 The New Dawn project was established to meet the urgent needs following the military coup of February 2021. Since July 2021 we have been working across 20 locations delivering food, shelter, health, hygiene and medical supplies and livelihood support. In recent months, due to funding limitations and a desire to transition to more long-term solutions, we have focused on sustainable food distribution through our six food banks and improving access to basic education.

In the last few weeks, we have been able to re-stock all our food banks and have conducted nutritional surveys to assess the impact of this project.

Health

Community Health and Emergency Response Project

We are now well into the second year of this two year project. We are so pleased to have re-launched the support of over 320 Community Health Workers (CHWs), and combine this with the support of nine fixed clinics and mobile health teams who travel to remote areas to provide much needed health care.

An integrated approach is vital, with CHWs providing education, first aid and basic treatment of common conditions. This can be life saving in remote villages.  

Trained clinicians such as doctors and nurses provide more advanced community care and refer to secondary care when needed.

The challenges of in-security and conflict continue, with our implementing partners facing regular serious logistical and operational problems simply to maintain good communciations and support of our CHWs.

Integrated Community Health Care Project

This new project will provide community-based health care and will support both CHWs and trained clinical staff to deliver a range of health activities including a focus on maternal, newborn and child health.

We look forward to bringing more details about this project as it develops over the next few months.

Home based clinic

This clinic is operated by the Health & Hope clinical team including our own trained medics and nurses. Medical care is provided to refugees who are unable to access health care in usual settings, given the vulnerability of their context.

Over the past nine months, the clinic provided 729 free consultations, conducted home visits for 18 severely ill patients, and delivered inpatient care to 13 individuals. Emergency referral support enabled 13 critical patients to receive life-saving secondary care.

Despite resource limitations, the team also treated patients for chronic conditions, malnutrition, and infectious diseases, while offering compassionate follow-up and culturally appropriate translation services.

Education

Freedom to Education programme
 

This programme provides scholarship opportunities to talented young people with a passion to serve their local communities. Recent highlights include:

-        Our 21 former Year 12 students are now at university having been awarded scholarships to continue their studies and attend tertiary education. Subjects range from nursing to business studies to engineering.

-        The 35 new students who commenced Year 11 courses last summer have now all passed their exams and have entered year 12. This is an extraordinary achievement, considering the lateness with which they started the year and all the additional challenges of adjusting to a new culture and languages.

Impact of USAID Funding Cut

Funding cuts from USAID meant that the education of our younger students was under threat. However, thanks to the incredible sacrificial generosity of donors, and working with our key partner, we have been able to raise sufficient funding to support the students through to the end of Year 12. This is a fantastic achievement, and we are thrilled to be able to support the students in this way.

Thank you

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, your generous support has been a lifeline. Together, we have delivered emergency relief and hope to communities left vulnerable after this latest tragedy to hit Myanmar.  

Beyond the immediate response, your support and partnership has enabled the continuation of our vital work in health, education, and humanitarian relief. In the midst of overwhelming challenge, our frontline teams continue to serve with courage, faith, and tireless commitment. Their unwavering devotion to their communities is a powerful testament to the love and hope that underpins all we do.

Together, we are not just responding, we are rebuilding lives and restoring hope.

Thank you for standing with us.