Myanmar Orphanages

The Myanmar Situation
In Yangon alone there are more than 6000 children living in unregistered institutions. These homes are often called orphanages, but about 75%* of these children have a living parent. Myanmar is a big country with more than fifty million people and many different tribes and languages. A big part of the population lives in very remote areas. Although there are schools in most villages, few...
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How to Help?
Placing a child in an institution should be the last option when thinking about how to help a child. Could we help the family? Could the child be adopted if he doesn’t have family or relatives? Are there any relatives who could look after the child? Starting a children home is easy, but to care for the children is difficult and history tells us that institutions are not good environments for...
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Tourist Attractions
We are continually learning that it brings long term damage for children to attach and then “detach” from people who show care, but then leave. Although people have good intentions, the children feel “put on display” every time donors and visitors come to spend time with them. Everyone needs uncle and aunts, but toursits do not fill this need in the children. Think before...
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Report from UNICEF and DSW
In a jointly launched report from UNICEF and Department of Social Welfare on “The Situation of Children in residential Care Facilities in Myanmar,” they express deep concern with the condition of private institutions. The press release says: Some deeply concerning findings reveal, nearly three-quarters of children living in residential care facilities have one or both parents alive...
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Starting schools – a good alt...
One alternative to supporting children homes is to help villages start their own schools. Since 2006 we have started more than 20 pre-schools and primary schools in Chin State through the local villages. Other development projects in rural areas are also good alternatives to supporting children homes since it enables the parents to take care of their own children. You can read more about our...
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Where do the children come from?
Most of the children in faith-based children homes in Myanmar come from villages in the rural areas of Chin, Kachin, Shan, and Karen State. Most of the homes that we have been in contact with are operated by Chin nationals, and therefore most of the children also come from Chin State. Children fra Shan State is most likely to end up in a Buddhist Monestery, since most Shan are Buddhist. Most...
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Understanding the Child
Understanding the Child by Dr. Bjarte Sanne (here pictured with the Chin Hills in the background). Understanding the child is written for workers in Children’s Homes in Myanmar, and it teaches on child development, from infancy to adolescence, and on child rearing. Most parents love their children and try their best to prepare them for adulthood. However, many times parents do not know how...
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The tragedy of orphanages
Orphanages are costly and can cause irreparable damage both mentally and physically for its charges — so why are they still so ubiquitous? Georgette Mulheir (Lumos) gravely describes the tragedy of orphanages and urges us to end our reliance on them, by finding alternate ways of supporting children in need. Georgette Mulheir is a pioneer for the movement to end child abuse in the form of...
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The Myanmar Situation
In Yangon alone there are more than 6000 children living in unregistered...

How to Help?
Placing a child in an institution should be the last option when thinking about...

Tourist Attractions
We are continually learning that it brings long term damage for children to...

Report from UNICEF and DSW
In a jointly launched report from UNICEF and Department of Social Welfare on...

Starting schools – a good alt...
One alternative to supporting children homes is to help villages start their...

Where do the children come from?
Most of the children in faith-based children homes in Myanmar come from...

Understanding the Child
Understanding the Child by Dr. Bjarte Sanne (here pictured with the Chin Hills...

The tragedy of orphanages
Orphanages are costly and can cause irreparable damage both mentally and...