Report from BHW Myanmar Partnership Facilitator Following Visit in March

Key Person: Samuel Thang 

Recent Events

General Situation

There continues to be political unrest in Myanmar, especially in the north and north-west, and several violent incidents have seen fighting in these areas. Earlier this year there were student protests from Mandalay over academic freedom which were violently put down by security forces outside Yangon.

The easing of internal migration has allowed more people to travel and children continue to be sent to Yangon both to improve their own chances of work and education as well as for safety reasons. There doesn’t seem to be a slowing in the number of kids that are arriving in Yangon from the outlying states and divisions.

Prices of staple food continue to rise regularly while wages remain static. As an example, an average labour wage is about 4000 kyats (US$3.50) per day while 1kg of chicken costs 3500 kyats and a bus ride costs between 500 and 1000 kyats. Anecdotally we see and hear that the main result of increased foreign presence in Myanmar has been to put huge upward pressure on the cost of land and consequently on rent as demand for accommodation outstrips supply. 

Peace Home

There are currently about 90 children living in the Peace Home ranging in age from 4 to 16 years.

The new hostel building has been completed using bricks made on site and looks good. They are in the process of building a new house for Samuel and his family as the existing one is too small to accommodate their current extended family as well as the new baby that Samuel and Mercy are expecting soon.

Samuel has also built some playground equipment on the property and extended the garden. It is great to see how well things work together with fruit trees and bean frames providing shade as well as food.

Samuel has rented an apartment in Yangon where 12 of the young people who have progressed through the Peace Home are now living following the completion of their high schooling. In order to get jobs they are undertaking tertiary study, mainly in 3-6 month courses as nurses or mechanics, which require them to live in the city.

As it’s not practical for them to commute from the Peace Home, the apartment gives them an affordable place to live in community that isn’t quite as open to the pressures and problems of typical student life. While renting the apartment is expensive it does afford the students some safety and Samuel feels that it is necessary to safeguard them as they make the transition to independent adults. There is an expectation that as the students find jobs following their study that they will help contribute to the running of the Peace Home and apartment. A few have begun to work repairing air conditioning units and as nurses’ aides at a local clinic. 

Internet Cafe

While the Internet Café has in the past provided a reasonable income, the incredible development in telecommunications in Myanmar over the last year or two has seen the demand for this service reduce significantly. Cellphones are now widely available and vastly more affordable – nearly comparable with the rest of Asia from a price of several thousand dollars for a very basic phone just a few years ago. Coverage in the area is ok and it appears that the growth in foreign investment will only increase their accessibility. 

Instead the computers are more regularly used to do computer training with the older children as employers want computer skills, something not taught at school. Having a level of proficiency with computers and programs helps to give the kids at the Peace Home an edge when it comes to entering the competitive Myanmar job market and so a concentrated computer course is run for the senior students in the post exam period.

Dairy Farm

The dairy farm is going well and provides a good income. They have increased the herd to 21 cows, though the cost of cows has increased about 150% since the farm began a few years ago. The farm produces about 150 litres of milk a day.

Since our visit last year the shed has been redone with a concrete floor and a loft area for straw. The concrete keeps the area cleaner and the new arrangement allows them to breed cattle. The straw above the animals acts as insulation during the hotter months to help keep the cows cooler, and supplementary feed is sourced from a local business.

An elevated water tank has been built at the farm. Previously water was pumped by hand into a large basin to water and bathe the cows. While it was possible to pump the water using an electric pump the extremely unreliable electricity supply made such an arrangement unworkable. With the new storage capacity water can be pumped before it is required and be available when needed. The combination of the new concrete floor and water on tap means that the cows don’t need to be taken outside to be washed, allowing a reduction in labour costs.

The milk is sold under contract to a local business for a set cost all year round. If it was sold at the gate the price would be higher during the rainy season but variable during the rest of the year. When national holidays/festivals prevent the milk being picked up for about 5 days at a time it is donated to the local villagers.

Samuel has also arranged for two large ponds to be dug out near the cow shed which will be used to grow fish as a supplementary income and food source.

There is also a modest free range henhouse on the property to supply eggs for sale and consumption.

Personal Stories

The young boy on the left of the photo arrived at Peace Home with an eye problem. As a consequence he had trouble with his education and was shy with people. Since our visit he has had eye surgery to correct the issue and is now attending school and feels a lot more confident in front of people.

Partnership's Influence within the Community

The Peace Home continues to provide a settled and safe place for kids and a focal point for the wider community. It is the meeting place for the Bright Hope Development Projects micro-loan programme (MYA05) and there always seem to be people coming and going from the property, or stopping in to speak to Samuel.

Samuel is involved in pastoring at his church and has influence in a much wider sphere. He has recently returned from speaking in the north of the country, an area where civil unrest has created many refugees and a large displaced population.

Samuel participated in the Foundations for Farming programme that was run in Yangon this year and has already been suggesting other locations in Myanmar where he has contacts and believes that it could be beneficial.

Current Issues and Challenges

Prices for food and accommodation continue to rise as Myanmar's economy surges ahead. The foreign investment and opportunities have yet to touch the lives of the poor. As Samuel explained, "What good is it if a car now costs $6,000 instead of $16,000 when most can't afford $60 for food?”

One of the bigger issues at the moment is working toward a sustainable and effective transition path for the children on leaving the Peace Home. The apartment in Yangon represents a way for the older teens to get access to further vocational education while still maintaining some of the oversight and Christian community aspects of the Peace Home. It does represent a considerable and growing expense in the current market.

Prayer and Praise Points

Praise for:

• The wise and high capacity leadership provided by Samuel and Mercy as they demonstrate the willingness and ability to adapt to the changing circumstances in Myanmar
• The development and growth of the dairy farm and the income that it provides
• Successful eye surgery for the young boy who is progressing well at school
• The older students making the adjustment to living together in rented accommodation and the first of them not only completing their training but also finding employment

Pray for:

• The children in the Peace Home to thrive and for continuing healing and transformation in their lives through the Holy Spirit
• Wisdom and strength for Mercy and Samuel as they seek to love and raise this big group of children and support them through issues that they face
• Safety and security for the Peace Home and the people involved with it
• Ongoing success and faith of the young people who are moving into the city for study
• The flourishing of the dairy farm business and gardens that provide food and income that help support the work
• Continued opportunities for development and growth of the Peace Home and the people associated with it

Comments

While Myanmar changes apace the situation for most of the poor has grown even more precarious. While issues of housing, and to a lesser extent food, are not as pressing in rural regions there is still a considerable migration to cities and surrounding areas particularly with the very young. Until educational and economic prospects improve in those areas (things we are working on with micro-loan partnerships and Foundation for Farming programmes) this movement will continue. These children also represent some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the region and it is great to see that the care of these kids extends to transitioning them out of the Peace Home environment.

Much of the success of the Peace Home, as well as the responsibility for it, rests on Samuel’s shoulders. It is a genuine pleasure to work with him. We are impressed with his vision to provide for those under his care, the way in which he manages the Peace Home and all the supporting parts of the infrastructure which contribute to its continued success.

Samuel is ably supported by his wife, Mercy, and their extended family who are involved in the day-to-day managing of the Peace Home in particular. The children who live on site are also regularly involved in the developing and maintenance of the place.

On all our visits to Peace Home the overall impression is of happy and well looked after children.