MYANAMR

(MissionNewswire) The situation in Min Gun, in the Sagaing region of Myanmar*, remains critical more than a year after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the area. The initial emergency response for Salesian missionaries has continued as they support thousands of people who are still trying to rebuild their lives in great instability in the country.

Currently, between 4,000 and 5,000 people — around 1,600 families — are living in a makeshift camp near a Buddhist monastery. Their homes were destroyed by the earthquake and they have been surviving in small huts without adequate access to basic services. The political climate in the country hinders access to resources and limits the arrival of humanitarian aid.

“Every day is a struggle for survival,” explained a Salesian in Myanmar, who works closely with the community. “Jobs are scarce, and although youth try to go out to work to support their families, the prevailing political instability makes this difficult and dangerous.”

The support of the global Salesian Family, coordinated by the Don Bosco Network and with the participation of Bosco Global, remains crucial. Thanks also to the emergency and fundraising campaign launched by Bosco Global last year, Salesians are providing care for families living in the camps. As time has passed, the flow of aid has diminished and access to the camp is now more difficult, and fewer and fewer organizations are able to intervene due to restrictions and risks in the area.

Salesians are distributing basic foodstuffs such as rice, pulses, oil and noodles. Health care, particularly for children and the elderly, is being provided with support of health care staff within the camp. Salesians are also offering educational spaces for more than 500 children and distributing toys and emotional support to more than 400 children under the age of 7, aiding their recovery from trauma.

A Salesian said, “Despite the difficulties, the Salesian presence continues to closely support the camp’s population, in coordination with local leaders and following the necessary protocols to access the area. At Bosco Global, we continue to support this process alongside the Don Bosco Network, making this support possible thanks to the commitment of so many people who mobilized during the emergency, convinced that in humanitarian emergencies it is essential to sustain life and support those who need it most.”

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Supporting people in the aftermath of the earthquake

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Youth Center in Kalay, Myanmar*, was able to update and expand classrooms to create more spaces for education. The funding came from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Salesians were able to add five classrooms, which will enable them to admit more students.

Kalay is located at the gate to the northern Chin State and is one of the business border towns adjacent to India. In 2021, the military took over the town, destroying everything. Salesians report that fighting happens on the outskirts of town, houses are burned down, roads are blocked and youth run away from the town for their safety. Life has become more difficult with people living well below the poverty line. With the economy down, many people are engaged in smuggling goods or enter early marriages without hope for the future.

A Salesian reported, “Don Bosco Youth Center is the only boarding school for youth. Many come seek our care for education and spiritual growth. The expansion of these classrooms allows us to serve many more vulnerable and at-risk youth who have little opportunity for education.”

A resident in the community, Ko Khai No, explained, “I know many youth who are taking classes at the center. Don Bosco, with its preventive system, brings positive changes for youth and their families. I am quite impressed and grateful for the Salesians for all they are doing in our community.”

Despite the challenges in the country, Salesian missionaries continue supporting people who are the most vulnerable, and efforts have expanded to the creation of a long-term global aid plan to help people rebuild their lives after the earthquake.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries were able to buy a tractor for the Nazareth Boarding House, located in Anisakan, Myanmar*, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The donation is impacting 170 boys who are boarding there, 20 people who work on the farm and 15 staff working at the house.

Anisakan is an agricultural village, and farmers are facing many challenges. Transportation costs are also soaring, and the changing climate negatively impacts farmers in the region. With many parts of the country facing civil war, crops grown on the farms cannot be sent nor sold to other areas.

The Salesians have a farm of 12 acres where they grow different types of vegetables. Previously, they had to hire a tractor to work in the fields. The cost is high and at times they could not access one when they needed it. As a result, they were late for harvesting the crops. By having a tractor, Salesians will save money and can plow whenever they want, helping the farm to be more productive.

Father Simon Louise explained, “Now that I have a tractor, I am really excited to use it to get more farm products. We can also rent our tractor to other to get some income. I will train three young boys, who are Nazareth past pupils, to drive the tractor and we can work on our farm. We are grateful for the donation.”

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have run the Don Bosco Youth Center in Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar*, since 2014. The city has been crushed for years by the weight of civil war and most recently a devastating earthquake that continues to impact millions of people. Many youth have been left orphaned or without a family, living on the streets without anyone to protect them.

The Don Bosco Youth Center provides support for 60 youth from difficult backgrounds, including youth from single-parent families and orphans. Most of the youth attend a local school and depend entirely on the Salesian community for their daily needs. The center is run by four Salesian priests, two cooks and a volunteer.

Before the March 2025 earthquake, the center had organized short vocational training courses in electrical wiring, computer skills and motorbike repair. When the earthquake severely damaged the buildings, Salesians were forced to suspend classes.

Although the Myanmar Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province offers regular financial support, missionaries continue to struggle with rising costs for health care and education. Because of the financial difficulties in which they live, Salesians in Mandalay have asked for help to continue food support for 60 youth between the ages of 8-18.

“This support is a valuable help for our mission. It allows these children to continue to grow up in safety, dignity and with hope,” said Father Zeya Aung, a Salesian missionary who wrote to the Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy, explaining the situation.

Despite the challenges, Salesian missionaries continue supporting the most vulnerable, and efforts have expanded to the creation of a long-term global aid plan to help people rebuild their lives after the earthquake.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Nourishment, security and an educational journey: the three objectives of the ‘Missioni Don Bosco’ project for the Mandalay youth centre

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Don Bosco Youth Center supports vulnerable youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries, sisters and collaborators provided much-needed aid and support to 1,600 displaced families in Min Kun, Myanmar*. The families, who were forced to flee their homes due to ongoing conflict, received not only essential supplies but also spiritual encouragement and emotional support during this challenging time.

The team, led by Father Don Bosco Nyi Nyi, superior of the Salesian Vice-Province of Myanmar, distributed rice, onions, cooking oil, dried fish and eggs. Special attention was given to vulnerable groups. Elderly individuals received multivitamins to support their health, while children under the age of 3 were given toys to bring them moments of joy amidst hardship. In addition, the Salesians allocated funds for medicines and for general camp expenses, ensuring that the families could maintain basic living conditions.

A Salesian noted, “The Salesian mission in Min Kun stands as a testament to the power of compassion and collective effort in addressing the suffering of displaced communities. Through their actions, Salesians continue to embody their commitment to serving those in need, bringing light and hope to even the darkest circumstances.”

This humanitarian effort was made possible with the support of the Salesian Mission Office in Spain, whose contributions helped bring relief to the affected families. The displaced community expressed heartfelt gratitude for the assistance.

Months after the devastating 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar, the emergency continues to impact people’s daily lives as they face destruction, poverty and insecurity. Salesian missionaries continue supporting the most vulnerable, and efforts have expanded to the creation of a long-term global aid plan to help people rebuild their lives.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Salesians bring Hope and Aid to 1,600 displaced families

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries deliver critical humanitarian aid to 1,600 displaced families first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Months after the devastating 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar*, the emergency continues to impact people’s daily lives as they face destruction, poverty and insecurity. Salesian missionaries continue supporting the most vulnerable, and efforts have expanded to the creation of a long-term global aid plan to help people rebuild their lives.

“The population was already suffering from the political crisis, and now they face even more pain because of this natural catastrophe,’ said Father Don Bosco Nyi Nyi, superior of the Salesian Vice-Province of Myanmar. “The earthquake destroyed houses, schools, churches and health centers. Many displaced families had fled the armed clashes and were living in makeshift shelters, which also collapsed. Today, they continue to sleep on the ground, under plastic tarpaulins, in unhealthy conditions, while the rains make the situation worse.”

In Min Gun, a town about an hour’s drive from Sagaing, there are about 1,200 families living in a large camp, with each family living in a four-square meter hut. They came to this camp from seven villages because of the earthquake and political instability. Salesian missionaries have initiated a structured aid plan that focuses on education, nutrition, childcare, health and food assistance.

Fr. Nyi Nyi added that despite the many difficulties faced, the local community shows admirable courage. Volunteers, religious groups and aid workers do their utmost to assist everyone, even if the needs exceed the available resources.

Salesian missionaries indicated, “What the population needs now is long-term help. They need housing, clean water and sanitation. Children need to go back to school and teachers need support to resume teaching. Those who have lost their farms or small businesses need help to start again. Hospitals and clinics were already scarce in the worst affected areas and are now overcrowded or dilapidated. People with chronic injuries or illnesses suffer in silence. Many families have experienced war, displacement and now an earthquake. Their pain is deep.”

In response to the need, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid has launched a new appeal to help people rebuild their lives, while Salesians across the globe continue to send relief to the country.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – After the earthquake, Salesian missionaries strengthen their commitment to the neediest people

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries create long-term plan for people impacted by earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries continue to respond after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Mandalay, Myanmar*, on March 28. The earthquake caused more than 3,600 deaths and injured more than 400,000 people. There was severe damage in many towns and villages in the Mandalay and Sagaing regions. Buildings collapsed, roads were damaged and families were forced to flee their homes.

A Salesian explained, “Many families are still sleeping in the open, under plastic sheeting or makeshift tents. The rainy season has begun, making life even more difficult. The ground is muddy and the shelters are wet and unsafe. The drinking water is dirty and there are not enough toilets or clean places to cook. These conditions cause illness, especially for children and the elderly.”

He continued, “People are tired and frightened. Many are still in shock from the earthquake. Children can no longer go to school because many schools have been damaged or destroyed. Teachers have no teaching materials and students have lost their books. Parents do not know how to give their children a better future. Hospitals and clinics are already scarce in these areas, and are now overcrowded or inefficient. People with chronic injuries suffer in silence.”

Local volunteers, religious groups and aid workers are doing their best to help, and are sharing food, water, clothes and medicine. They have built temporary shelters and visit the sick. Many areas, however, are still difficult to reach because of the conflict in the country and road conditions.

“We ask all our supporters to stand by the most vulnerable people,” Father Don Bosco Nyi Nyi, superior of the Salesian Vice-Province of Myanmar, wrote in a letter. “Even a small gesture of kindness can bring light to a family living in darkness. Together we can bring hope, healing and new life to the people of Mandalay and Sagaing.”

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Photo courtesy of Missioni Don Bosco

ANS – Myanmar – Courage amid the rubble

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries continue to respond with aid months after earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) A delegation of Catholic priests and others from religious groups from across Myanmar* traveled to Min Kun, a village located in the hilly Moemeik area of Sagaing region, to bring vital aid to those impacted by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Mandalay on March 28. The initiative was led by members of the Mandalay Catholic Mission and Salesian Congregation, together with sisters and lay volunteers from various communities.

The aim was not only to provide material support, but also to offer emotional comfort to families devastated by this natural disaster. More than 4,000 people were provided food and everyday goods to help alleviate the immediate difficulties.

The Salesian Congregation contributed 600 sacks of rice and basic foodstuffs. Other religious groups contributed soap, vegetables, spices, insect repellent and personal hygiene items. These products are indispensable, especially in temporary shelters and in crisis conditions.

Mission members also spent time with local residents, offering words of encouragement and  listening to their stories. This pastoral presence was an equally important part of the mission, underlining the Church’s commitment to support those who suffer.

“We came not just to give, but to be with the people, to listen to them, comfort them and reassure them that they have not been forgotten,” said Father Bosco Zeya Aung, superior of the Salesian visitation in Myanmar. “Our presence, united in faith and fraternity, is a small but heartfelt gesture of love from the universal Church.”

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – ‘Compassion in action’: Salesian aid for earthquake victims

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Salesians provide humanitarian aid to people impacted by earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Youth at Don Bosco Youth Center in Mandalay, Myanmar*, have a new building for bathrooms and showers thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project is part of the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” Sixty boys were impacted by this donation.

The boys at Don Bosco Youth Center live on the street and do not have one or both parents. Mandalay is hot, and hygienic facilities are essential for the health and well-being of the boys. The new building is helping the youth maintain cleanliness.

Father Ken Lian James, provincial economer, wrote in a letter to Salesian Missions, “Thanks to your kindness, we are now able to provide our boys with a safer, healthier environment, which also promotes ecological care and overall well-being. Your generous contribution has greatly uplifted the standard of our center and has been a true blessing for our brothers in need.”

In Myanmar, the military takeover of the democratically elected National League For Democracy Government has unleashed an unprecedented political, socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis on top of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the country into a dangerous spiral of conflict and poverty, according to the United Nations.

More than 3 million people are internally displaced, and there has been significant human suffering, asset depletion, rising food insecurity and reversal of many of the development gains made in recent years. Nearly 50% of the population is estimated to be living in poverty.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency. Most recently, Salesians have been responding to the need of those impacted by the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Mandalay on March 28, 2025.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Don Bosco Youth Center has new bathroom facilities thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are continuing to respond to the needs of people impacted by the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Mandalay, Myanmar* on March 28. More than 3,500 people have died and 3,000 people are injured, according to reports from the military government. However, there are questions on the scale of the disaster given the challenges of getting information out of Myanmar. With ongoing civil strife in the country, aid has been slow.

On April, 2 Myanmar authorities announced a three-week ceasefire to facilitate rescue and relief operations. However, clashes reportedly continued between government forces of the military junta, which has ruled the country since a 2021 coup, and rebel groups in the Sagaing region.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, a Salesian of Don Bosco and Archbishop of Yangon, immediately called on the military junta to implement a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach affected areas.

“Today, I urge everyone to give peace a chance. Our people have suffered immensely. Peace is possible — peace is the only way,” Cardinal Bo stated.

Thanks to its vast network of parishes and dioceses, the Catholic Church is uniquely positioned to support relief efforts. Salesian missionaries live among the communities where they work.

The Church launched an emergency response protocol called MERCI – Myanmar Earthquake Response Church Initiative. The Diocese of Mandalay will be the first to receive aid, followed by others impacted. The relief will include community outreach, using local networks to spread information and emotional support, and using church structures as temporary shelters for displaced people; food distribution and medical care, provided through Church-run clinics or mobile units; and psychological and spiritual support, led by Catholic religious sisters, offering comfort and resilience.

When asked about aid entering the country, Cardinal Bo explained, “We believe that human vulnerability can bring people together and eliminate hatred. I have urged everyone to respect the ceasefire during this urgent humanitarian crisis. Remember — Myanmar already has more than 3 million internally displaced people due to conflict. The earthquake has disrupted the lives of another million. Altogether, nearly 15 million people have been directly or indirectly affected.”

Cardinal Bo explained that the military is working to help. He noted, “They have appealed to the international community for assistance. They have allowed many countries to stand by the people — this is a positive step. It seems they have accepted a ceasefire, at least for a month. These are good signs. But we call for a long-term solution grounded in justice, to ensure the full recovery of the population. This devastating natural disaster could become a turning point for peace and reconciliation in Myanmar.”

While some Salesian structures were impacted by the earthquake, Salesians in local programs are responding to the needs of the people with the aid they have available. Salesian communities will remain steadfast in their commitment to serving the most vulnerable.

To give to the special the Salesian Missions Myanmar Earthquake Fund, visit https://salesianmissions.org/myanmar-earthquake/.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Cardinal Bo, SDB: “A Ceasefire to Allow Aid Is Welcome. Our People Have Suffered Greatly – Now It’s Time for Peace”

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Salesians provide ongoing aid for people impacted by earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Myanmar* are working to support people impacted by the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28. While their centers in Mandalay suffered damage, Salesians were responding to community needs in the immediate aftermath offering much-needed support.

A Salesian explained, “While attempting to cross the Sagaing Bridge over the River Irrawaddy, our team was unable to proceed further due to restrictions. However, this did not deter our mission to serve. By meeting with those impacted, we discovered that while many groups were providing rice boxes for daily meals, there was a severe shortage of essential items such as mosquito nets, tarpaulins, umbrellas, mats, bed sheets and pillows. The scorching heat further added to the challenges faced by the victims.”

Salesians provided electric power by running a generator, enabling people to charge their phones and lamps for the night. One of the community members expressed gratitude, saying, “It is the first time that we received free power to recharge our phones and connect with our families.”

Salesians offered drinks and snacks to people who were impacted, as well as ice cream for the children to enjoy.

The Salesian added, “The team felt deeply fulfilled, witnessing the joy and relief they brought to people. Their presence not only eased some of the material hardships but also provided emotional comfort and hope during a time of great difficulty. We will continue to assess needs and respond with the relief we can.”

The earthquake rattled much of Southeast Asia, impacting as far away as Bangkok, Thailand where it flattened a skyscraper that was under construction. More than 2,000 people have died and 3,000 people have been injured, according to reports from the military government. However, there are questions on the scale of the disaster given the challenges of getting information out of Myanmar.

Salesians around the globe have been mobilizing to send relief to Salesians living and working in Myanmar to help those most in need. Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, is one of the organizations. To give to the special Myanmar Earthquake Fund, visit https://salesianmissions.org/myanmar-earthquake/.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Myanmar – Reaching Out to Earthquake Victims in Myanmar: A Gesture of Compassion

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries responding with aid after devastating earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has launched an emergency appeal for donations in the wake of the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Mandalay, Myanmar* on March 28.

The earthquake rattled much of Southeast Asia, impacting as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, where it flattened a skyscraper that was under construction. More than 2,000 people have died and 3,000 are injured, according to reports from the military government. However, there are questions on the scale of the disaster given the challenges of getting information out of Myanmar.

The earthquake brought widespread devastation, especially in Mandalay City, where numerous high-rise buildings, pagodas, mosques, and churches were reduced to rubble. The iconic Sagaing Bridge, spanning the famous Irrawaddy River, also suffered severe damage, with parts of the structure collapsing into the river.

Salesian Missions, along with the global Salesian community, is responding to the disaster both on the ground in impacted communities and by working to raise funding to help those most in need.

A Salesian reported, “The Salesian community in Mandalay was severely affected by the earthquake. The St. John Paul II Chapel suffered extensive damage, with its façade and parts of the walls collapsing. Tragically, two faithful who were present for Adoration were injured as well as a young boy. The building housing street children also sustained significant damage, including to its ceiling, sections of the walls and the dormitory. Classrooms and the refectory also sustained damage. The confreres’ quarters had falling plaster in several of the rooms and the corridor leading to the dining room was damaged. We will continue to assess the situation in Salesian centers and within the community.”

In Anisakan, many buildings for Salesian missionaries and sisters with Daughters of Mary Help of Christians were impacted with widespread structural damage. The St. Joseph Chapel in the Provincial House community suffered cracks at the back of the altar, and the statue of St. Joseph was broken at its pedestal.

The newly appointed Salesian Rector Major Father Fabio Attard addressed the earthquake during the March 28 morning Chapter Assembly in Turin. He led the assembly in prayer and invited in Father Bosco Zeya Aung, provincial of Myanmar, to provide a brief about the situation. Fr. Attard also said that Salesians would immediately contribute to relief efforts for those affected.

“This earthquake is coming at a time of great political instability in Myanmar, making humanitarian aid, transportation and communication extremely challenging,” explained Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “The Salesian communities, along with the local population, are struggling to respond to the urgent needs of those affected. Salesians though live where they work and know the communities and how to get things done. This perfectly positions them to respond in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy such as this and in the long-term rebuilding process.”

Salesian communities will remain steadfast in their commitment to serving the most vulnerable. Despite the challenges posed by the earthquake and the ongoing political crisis, they will continue to bring hope and healing to those in need.

To give to the special Myanmar Earthquake Fund, visit https://salesianmissions.org/myanmar-earthquake/.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

ANS – Myanmar – Earthquake hits Don Bosco Mandalay: A Call for Solidarity and Prayer

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Salesian Missions launches emergency appeal to help those impacted by Myanmar-Thailand earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Myanmar* were able to provide housing and nutrition to 350 boys who are boarding in Salesian communities thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. These boys are mainly from war-afflicted zones where there is very little education and safety. The Salesian communities supported include Nazareth, Thibaw, Hlaing Thar Yar and Mandalay.

Donor funding helped youth during the six months of November 2023 to April 2024. During this time Salesians were able to provide the boarding for the students and meet nutrition needs, including the purchase of rice, beans, vegetables and cooking oils.

A Salesian said, “We are appreciative of Salesian Missions and the donor funding provided that has allowed us to aid 350 boys who are boarding in different Salesian communities. Education in Myanmar has been challenged given the ongoing war. We are supporting these youth with their education and basic needs like housing and nutrition.”

In Myanmar, the military takeover of the democratically elected National League For Democracy Government has unleashed an unprecedented political, socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis on top of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the country into a dangerous spiral of conflict and poverty, according to the United Nations. More than 3 million people are internally displaced, and there has been significant human suffering, asset depletion, rising food insecurity and reversal of many of the development gains made in recent years. Nearly 50% of the population is estimated to be living in poverty.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: 350 boarding students have housing, nutrition thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Media Team in Anisakan, Myanmar*, has been offering computer training courses for youth. The organization provides laptops for the training at different locations to make it more accessible. To date, 150 young people have benefited from the training courses, including 50 youth who have already obtained certificates of completion.

A Salesian said, “Basic computer skills are one of the requirements that today’s young people require in order to enter both the field of education and any other professional sphere in global society. Just to acquire basic computer skills, many young locals have to travel hundreds of kilometers to big cities, such as Yangon and Mandalay.”

The Salesian noted how challenging that is for many youth. He added, “Expenses incurred for travel, food and lodging are always much more expensive than expenses for computer training. In addition, being away from your family can also lead to social problems if they are not cautious enough about the threats in city life. With all these underlying reasons, Salesians have launched the computer course to make this training more accessible and affordable for youth.”

The military takeover of the democratically elected National League For Democracy Government has unleashed an unprecedented political, socioeconomic, and humanitarian crisis on top of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the country into a dangerous spiral of conflict and poverty, according to the United Nations. There has been significant displacement, human suffering, asset depletion, rising food insecurity and reversal of many of the development gains made in recent years. Nearly 50% of the population is estimated to be living in poverty.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Computer training courses for local youth

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023 (January 2023)

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Youth receive local computer training first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) Students in a Salesian school in Myanmar* have laptop computers thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Donor funding was utilized to purchase 25 laptops to help the students with their education and for them to learn basic computer skills. The school set up internet and the electrical wiring for a new computer room for the 300 students as well as hired skilled staff to teach the course. The donation was sent in 2022.

Father Khun Myat Victor, provincial economer in Myanmar, said, “We have just set up the computer room and the first group of young people have begun their lessons on basic computer skills.”

Myanmar has suffered political violence and instability since the military coup took over power in February 2021. There has been ongoing violence and chaos, and schools have been shut because of this and the COVID-19 pandemic. Salesians are opening their schools to enable youth to get back to their education, which they have been without for two years. Classes focus on English, computers and math.

“Computer skills are essential for students today to compete in the global economy,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions. “We are grateful for our donors who enable the Salesians in Myanmar to complete the computer room with new laptop computers for the students.”

The military takeover of the democratically elected National League For Democracy Government has unleashed an unprecedented political, socioeconomic, and humanitarian crisis on top of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the country into a dangerous spiral of conflict and poverty, according to the United Nations. There has been significant displacement, human suffering, asset depletion, rising food insecurity and reversal of many of the development gains made in recent years. Nearly 50% of the population is estimated to be living in poverty.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

U.N. – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023 (January 2023)

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MYANMAR: Students learn with new laptops first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Nazareth House in Anisakan, Myanmar, held a meeting on Dec. 26 to discuss social ecology and care for creation. The meeting brought together 55 people, including Salesians, youth, volunteers and house staff. The meeting was held in response to the call from Pope Francis in his 2020 Laudato Si, which has as its theme “Good Christians and Upright Citizens.”

Pope Francis underlined the importance of education and training that will help youth shape a lifestyle and foster environmental responsibility. Further, Rector Major Father Ángel Fernández Artime noted the importance of concrete initiatives in the care of the environment. The first objective is encouraging the environmental commitment of youth.

Salesian missionaries in Myanmar and around the globe have an ongoing focus on the environment. Many have joined the Don Bosco Green Alliance, an international collective of youth from Salesian institutions and organizations that contribute to global environmental action, thought and policy. Launched in April 2018 in India, the Alliance has 273 registered members from 56 countries. Membership is open to all Salesian institutions and organizations worldwide.

“The Don Bosco Green Alliance is an important part of our Salesian youth ministry today,” said Father Savio Silveira, the convener of the Alliance. “Young people feel very strongly about the environmental crisis since they understand the impact it has on their lives and their future. Accompanying young people as they seek solutions to environmental issues has to be an aspect of our youth ministry.”

Don Bosco Green Alliance members work to create an environment that is safe and caring for all life on the planet while building up a new generation of environmentally committed citizens and leaders. The Alliance’s priorities are combating pollution, reducing global warming and eliminating disposable plastics. In each of these areas, it aims to partner with ongoing global campaigns promoted by UN Environment or other international organizations.

Members of the Alliance have also undertaken such initiatives as environmental education to increase green areas and planting trees, the reduction of the use of nondegradable materials, promotion of organic agriculture and home gardens, preservation and conservation of water, and increasing the use of renewable energy sources.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – A meeting to raise awareness of social ecology

Don Bosco Green Alliance

Don Bosco Green Alliance Facebook

Salesian Missions

The post MYANMAR: Salesians focus on the environment  first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MYANMAR

(MissionNewswire) The Opera Don Bosco Foundation, located in Milan, Italy, has been active in Myanmar for several years supporting youth through education and social development programs. To help aid youth in need, the foundation operates several Salesian centers across the country.

The Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in the city of Myitkyina is one such center. It offers carpentry, welding, electricity, automotive, tailoring, dressmaking and beautician programs. Over the last 11 years, more than 500 young men and women, aged 18-25 years, have graduated from its programs.

Because the school is located in the northernmost part of Myanmar within the Kachin State, which has a long history of armed conflict, some of the graduates are orphans or come from broken families. The school is operated by a small Salesian community with four Salesian priests, four sisters of St. Paul and eight volunteer part-time teachers/instructors. The volunteers come from various religious faiths including Catholicism and Buddhism and work together to educate the students.

The Don Bosco Vocational Training Center provides room and board to its students and instructors. All of the buildings on the campus are constructed of wood with just a few walls made of brick or cement. Salesian missionaries would like to be able to expand the boarding house to help graduates who already have jobs but have no place to stay in Myitkyina. They are also interested in growing the programs that are currently offered.

Recently the Opera Don Bosco Foundation supported the Don Bosco Center in Myitkyina through the creation of a new study room for young students so they can better focus on their studies. In 2019, the Opera Don Bosco Foundation also inaugurated a new kindergarten building, which is operated by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the Hlaing Thar Yar district of Yangon, a suburb inhabited primarily by Buddhists.

“These educational programs help ensure that youth have a chance to gain and education and have hope for a better life,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Beyond education, Salesian missionaries aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like shelter and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 189 countries according to the 2018 Human Development Report. Just over 37 percent of the population lives near or below the poverty line in the country. Poverty rates rise sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Only about half of school-age children complete their primary education.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Myanmar – The study and education of young people as a push for a bright future

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Opera Don Bosco Foundation supports poor youth in Salesian centers with education and social development programs first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Don Bosco Friend Youth Center in the city of Mandalay plays a major role in keeping youth away from paths that lead to the juvenile penitentiary systems by providing them with a safe haven of shelter, nutrition and education. The center was developed to help youth who are living on the streets access services and education.

The facility, which operates 24 hours a day, is directed by Father Peter Myo Khin along with six paid staff members. It provides temporary shelter, food, health care, and formal and non-formal education. Close to 30 boys, aged 4 to 18, live at the center permanently while dozens more access services on a drop-in basis.

Youth living on the streets are often targeted by traffickers, predators and gang recruiters. In order to feed themselves, youth must beg for money and collect bottles and cans to sell. But too often this is not enough. If they are too conspicuous or assertive with their efforts, the police may throw them in jail, where they are locked together in overcrowded cells with no rights.

Given how important this center is for the community, Salesian missionaries are working to increase the number of youth in the program from 30 to 75, in addition to adding staff and more training

In Hlaing Thar Yar, Salesian sisters provide education, food, water and health care for young people from local working families who are forced to spend very long hours in factories and camps in order to make a meager living. Without this support, these children would also be left by the wayside with little access to a brighter future.

In Anisakan and May Myo, 100 widows and their children receive weekly nutritional support and educational support. In addition, at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in Myitkyina, summer camps are run that help support more than 1,200 children, educating them on social values, child protection, drug awareness and leadership. In the Wa State, which borders China, education and healthcare support are provided for young people from more than 400 tribes.

“The work of Salesian missionaries and sisters in Myanmar and in programs around the globe goes beyond education,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like shelter and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2017 Human Development Report. Just over 37 percent of the population lives near or below the poverty line in the country. Poverty rates rise sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Only about half of school-age children complete their primary education.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

Australian Salesian Mission Overseas Aid Fund Annual Report 2018

World Bank – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries and sisters provide education and social programs to support poor youth and their families across the country first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The facility, which operates 24 hours a day, is directed by Father Peter Myo Khin along with six paid staff members. It provides temporary shelter, food, health care, and formal and non-formal education. Close to 30 boys, aged 4 to 18, live at the center permanently while dozens more access services on a drop-in basis.

Youth living on the streets are often targeted by traffickers, predators and gang recruiters. In order to feed themselves, youth must beg for money and collect bottles and cans to sell. But too often this is not enough. If they are too conspicuous or assertive with their efforts, the police may throw them in jail, where they are locked together in overcrowded cells with no rights.

The motorcycle repair course stated in May and is educating 15 youth, aged 17 to 24, in the program this year. Youth perform major repairs and are in the workshop every day, except on Sundays, to learn all there is to know about the motorcycle trade. The course provides them with professional skills in motorcycle and car repair along with welding, and it even provides them driving lessons.

The young people who attend the course come from different backgrounds, including the various ethnic and religious backgrounds represented in the country. Some of the youth have had previous trouble attending school while others come from poor families and this is their only chance at an education.

Father Andrew Yan Naing Win, who runs the program, said he always encourages young people to pay attention and learn about all aspects of the industry. Only then can they start planning life after the course ends. He said, “Acquiring certain skills is important so that they can find work in the places where they come from. Many of the participants also follow extra-curricular lessons in the evening hours. I try to motivate them to become skilled and competent professionals.”

Salesian missionaries also address other issues such as problems related to drug abuse. The center offers free food and housing so that youth can live at the school while taking the course. Two students, who previous graduated from the course, recently opened their own bicycle repair shops in the state of Chin and in a village near Mandalay while others have found work as welders on construction sites in Mandalay.

Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2017 Human Development Report. Just over 37 percent of the population lives near or below the poverty line in the country. Poverty rates rise sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Motorcycle workshop to give youths a job and future

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

World Bank – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Don Bosco Friend Youth Center offers yearly motorcycle repair course for students first appeared on MissionNewswire.

To help aid youth in need, the foundation operates several Salesian centers across the country. The Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in the city of Myitkyina is one such center and offers carpentry, welding, electricity, automotive, tailoring, dressmaking and beautician programs. Over the last 11 years, more than 500 young men and women, aged 18 to 25 years, have graduated from its programs.

Because the school is located in the northernmost part of Myanmar within the Kachin State which has a long history of armed conflict, some of the graduates are orphans or come from broken families. The school is operated by a small Salesian community with four Salesian priests, four sisters of St. Paul and eight volunteer part-time teachers/instructors. The volunteers come from various religious faiths including Catholicism and Buddhism and work together to educate the students.

The Don Bosco Vocational Training Center provides room and board to its students and instructors. All of the buildings on the campus are constructed of wood with just a few walls made of brick or cement. Salesian missionaries would like to be able to expand the boarding house to help graduates who already have jobs but have no place to stay in Myitkyina. They are also interested in growing the programs that are currently offered.

While students are not attending classes and on-the-job training, they are participating in daily chores on the large farm and afternoon sports including kickball, football and volleyball. Students also attend prayer lessons and orientation sessions.

Opera Don Bosco Foundation also operates a center in Chantagon which is managed by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. This center offers a covered courtyard where the poorest children in the region can meet to play, study and learn a trade.

In the city of Mandalay, the foundation provides an educational center where former street children can live and study. In Anisakan-Nazareth, there is a center where 153 boys are preparing for public school exams and attending various courses in music, football and theater. In Hlaing Thar Yar, on the outskirts of Yangon, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians run a kindergarten for children.

“The work of Salesian missionaries in Myanmar and in programs around the globe goes beyond education,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like shelter and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2017 Human Development Report. Just over 37 percent of the population live near or below the poverty line in the country. Poverty rates rise sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – “Opera Don Bosco Foundation” offers young an opportunity for redemption

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

World Bank – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Opera Don Bosco Foundation offers several Salesian centers to help poor and at-risk youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The medical clinic has two volunteer doctors. Han Zaw Htun M.B., B.S. is from Mandalay and Thu Thu Nyein M.B., B.S., are a husband and wife team from the local area. Salesian missionaries are working to secure two more doctors from Pyin Oo Lwin.

The clinic will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. when people are usually finished with work. A volunteer college student will perform record keeping during office hours and the basic equipment and medicines have already been provided to the clinic.

“The work of Salesian missionaries around the globe goes beyond education,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like health and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs. Medical clinics ensure that those who are living in poverty still have access to the medical care they need even when they cannot afford to pay for it.”

The origins of the first Salesian medical clinic in the area dates back to 1957 when the Salesian Nazareth Seminary in Anisakan opened a small infirmary for the boys attending the seminary. Services slowly extended to the local population with the launch of a small medical clinic.

Thanks to the consistent quality care offered to the poor and sick in the Anisakan area, hundreds of local people from all cultures and religions, the majority being Buddhists, were able to access medical care. Under the late Father Fortunato Giacomin, who was based in Anisakan from 1968 until his death in 2000, the medical clinic flourished.

The clinic’s two spacious rooms were well-supplied with medicines. Three volunteer medical doctors from Pyin Oo Lwin came three times a week to offer free medical services. When they were absent, Fr. Giacomin would dispense medicines according to the doctors’ prescriptions.

Salesian missionaries also offered free transportation for patients from distant areas. However, due to a lack of financial support after Fr. Giacomin’s death, these services slowly disappeared. With the reopening of the clinic, Salesian missionaries are able to continue the 50-year tradition and honor the late Fr. Giacomin.

Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2017 Human Development Report. Just over 37 percent of the population live near or below the poverty line in the country. Poverty rates rise sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Fr Giacomin Clinic in Anisakan re-opened

World Bank – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries re-open Father Giacomin Medical Clinic to provide health services for those in Anisakhan first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Funding went to support food, clothing, shelter, healthcare and education for at-risk youth who were waste pickers, beggars and child laborers who are now living at the Don Bosco temporary shelter. This funding also helped send 27 youth to school and enabled Salesian missionaries to protect 70 children from abusive situations and provide them shelter. It also supported additional youth by providing them access to job training and connections to employment. Funding further helped to support programs for incarcerated youth, impacting 350 boys and 72 girls in prison.

“The work of Salesian missionaries in Myanmar and in programs around the globe goes beyond education,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like health and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

The city of Mandalay has a number of street children who live on the margins of society in inhumane conditions. These youth have no access to education, use drugs, feed on scraps of food and only rarely find small jobs. Stealing is commonplace. The juvenile prison is in a pitiful condition with a scarcity of food and no medical care. The only educational services offered in the penitentiary are carried out by Salesian missionaries.

Don Bosco Friend Youth Center was created as a safe haven for street youth to avoid juvenile prison by accessing shelter, proper nutrition and education. The facility, which operates 24 hours a day, is directed by Father Peter Myo Khin and employs six staff. It provides temporary shelter, food, healthcare and formal and informal education.

Close to 30 boys, aged 4 to 18, live at the center permanently while dozens more access services on a drop-in basis. If the boys in the center do not want to attend school, they can pursue an informal education at the center. Of the 30 boys currently attending the program, 22 are being formally educated while eight have chosen an informal education path.

“This is a life-changing program for youth living on the streets in Mandalay,” says Fr. Hyde. “There is an outreach program, which is the first step in helping youth and giving them a better life beyond the streets. Once in the program, the youth center is a safe place for the boys where they can access the services and support they need and ensure they gain an education.”

Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2017 Human Development Report. Just over 37 percent of the population live near or below the poverty line in the country. Poverty rates rise sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Donation through Salesian Missions helps provide social services and education for at-risk youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Because the school is located in the northernmost part of Myanmar within the Kachin State, which has a long history of armed conflict, some of the graduates were orphans and children from broken families. The school is operated by a small Salesian community with four Salesian priests, four sisters of St. Paul from the local congregation founded by Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon, and eight volunteer part-time teachers/instructors. The volunteers come from various religious faiths, including both Catholic and Buddhist, and are working together to educate the students.

“New students are all ready for the launch of the 2018-2019 school year and second-year trainees are attending their on-the-job training,” says Salesian Father Victor Nawki, who is in charge of the community. “We are still hoping for new improvements to the center like a new community building and a new study hall for the second-year students, a much-needed water reservoir, repair of the roofing and new equipment in all six sections of the educational programs.”

The school also provides room and board to its students and instructors. All of the buildings at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center are wooden construction, with few walls made of bricks or cement. Salesian missionaries would like one day to be able to expand the boarding house to help graduates who already have jobs but have no place to stay in Myitkyina. They would also like to look at expanding the programs that are currently offered.

While students are not attending their classroom and on-the-job training, there are daily chores on the large farm and afternoon sports including kickball, football and volleyball. Students also attend prayer lessons and orientation sessions.

During the 2017-2018 school year, the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center had a number of improvements including the development of two new open-air workshops and the purchase of 10 new laptops for the new IT program. Due to the large number of students attending, some corridors were transformed into study halls or bedrooms to accommodate the growing student population. Improvements to the center will continues as Salesian missionaries meet the growing demand for their educational programs.

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2016 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas.

Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education. Salesian missionaries operate 10 centers throughout Myanmar to help those who are poor, in need of education and are marginalized.

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – New “Bartolomeo Garelli” educated at Vocational Training Center of Myitkyina

World Bank – Myanmar

ANS photo

The post MYANMAR: Don Bosco Vocational Training Center has graduated more than 500 students over the last 11 years first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Because the school is located in the northernmost part of Myanmar within the Kachin State which has a long history of armed conflict, some of the graduates were orphans and children from broken families. Salesian missionaries were happy to announce that 22 of the boys who graduated were immediately employed in their respective trades. Three of the remaining students went back to help their families in their rural communities.

Don Bosco Vocational Training Center has been in operation for more than 20 years. The school is operated by a small Salesian community with four Salesian priests, four sisters of St. Paul from the local congregation founded by Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon, and eight volunteer part-time teachers/instructors. The volunteers come from various religious faiths including both Catholics and Buddhists, who are working together to educate the students.

The school also provides room and board to its students and instructors. All of the buildings at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center are wooden construction, with few walls made of bricks or cement. Salesian missionaries would like one day to be able to expand the boarding house to help graduates who already have jobs but have no place to stay in  Myitkyina. They would also like to look at expanding the programs that are currently offered.

“We would like to increase one trade section each for boys and girls, possibly in computer science,” says Salesian Father Victor Nawki, who is in charge of the community. “There is also an urgent need for two buildings—a one-story building for the library and the study hall and another one for the new computer section. We also need more adequate textbooks for all seven programs offered at the school.”

“We also would like to upgrade the school to a secondary technical school. We are happy to receive any help through our Provincial Economer Father Leo Mang.” adds Fr Nawki.

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2016 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas.

Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education. Salesian missionaries operate 10 centers throughout Myanmar to help those who are poor, in need of education and are marginalized.

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – Myitkyina Vocational Training Center as Project SMD 2018

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Don Bosco Vocational Training Center graduates 43 students from seven different trade programs first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Facilitating a large educational project is not the easiest of tasks in Pang Wai, but Salesian missionaries are committed to opening schools in four villages. First, they plan to restore and reuse a number of old school buildings, which have been long neglected and are now used as a place where animals seek shelter. After more than five years of neglect, many roofs have collapsed or are crumbling. The walls are dirty and fallen in. The Salesian Mission office in Turin is helping to support this effort.

Salesian missionaries want to focus on the education of the youngest children, teaching them a foundational education along with the basic principles of respect for human dignity and social life. The school will educate local children 12 years and younger. Educators will begin to teach them to read and write with activities and group games. The tribal chiefs have agreed to this educational project, which is a guarantee of security and community involvement.

Salesian missionaries have also been asked by the local bishop work with local populations in the hopes to decrease clashes and bring a more peaceful way of life to the communities. This work is challenging. The country’s authorities periodically carry out “land reclamation” campaigns that consist of ethnic cleansing, which kills many in the local regions. This is often done to support the dominant interest of foreign mining companies, especially those that are located immediately beyond the border. They continue to take the country’s natural resources without restrictions.

While Myanmar as a whole is enjoying some overall economic growth, not all people in the country are enjoying the benefits of this expansion. Many are still living in poverty. Salesian missionaries operate 10 centers throughout Myanmar to help those who are poor, in need of education and are marginalized.

“The work of Salesian missionaries in Myanmar and in programs around the globe goes beyond education,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Missionaries aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like health and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 148 out of 188 countries according to the 2015 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – Reborn, the primary school, among headhunters

Mission Don Bosco

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries launch project to build schools in isolated tribal areas first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In Anisakan and May Myo, approximately 100 widows receive weekly food supplies and educational support for their children. At the Vocational Training Center in Myitkyina, missionaries hold summer camps each year that help support more than 1,200 children. Courses are provided on social values, child protection, drug awareness and leadership. In addition, Salesian missionaries provide education and healthcare support for youth from more than 400 tribes in the Wa state region of the country.

“The work of Salesian missionaries in Myanmar and in programs around the globe goes beyond education,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like health and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

The city of Mandalay has a number of street children who live on the margins of society under inhumane conditions. These youth have no access to education, use drugs, feed on scraps of food and only rarely do they find small jobs. Stealing is commonplace. The juvenile prison is in a pitiful condition with a scarcity of food and no medical care. The only educational services offered in the penitentiary are carried out by Salesian missionaries.

Don Bosco Friend Youth Center was created as a safe haven for street youth to avoid the juvenile prison by accessing shelter, proper nutrition and education. The facility, which operates 24 hours a day, is directed by Father Peter Myo Khin along with six paid staff and provides temporary shelter, food, health care and formal and non-formal education.

Close to 30 boys, aged 4 to 18, live at the center permanently while dozens more access services on a drop-in basis. If the boys in the center do not want to attend school, they can pursue a non-formal education at the center. Of the 30 boys currently attending the program, 22 are in formal education while eight have chosen a non-formal education path.

“This is a life-changing program for youth living on the streets in Mandalay,” says Fr. Hyde. “There is an outreach program, which is the first step in helping youth and giving them a better life beyond the streets. Once in the program, the youth center is safe place for the boys where they can access the services and support they need and ensure they gain an education.”

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 148 out of 188 countries according to the 2015 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Sisters in Cambodia and Myanmar

The Australian Salesian Mission Overseas Aid Fund Newsletter/ Annual Report 2017

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian missionaries provide life-changing education and social programs first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Mandalay has a number of street children who live on the margins of society under inhumane conditions. These youth have no access to education, use drugs, feed on scraps of food and only rarely do they find small jobs. Stealing is commonplace. The juvenile prison is in a pitiful condition with a scarcity of food and no medical care. The only educational services offered in the penitentiary are carried out by Salesian missionaries.

Don Bosco Friend Youth Center was created as a safe haven for street youth to avoid the juvenile prison by accessing shelter, proper nutrition and education. The facility, which operates 24 hours a day, is directed by Father Peter Myo Khin along with six paid staff and provides temporary shelter, food, health care and formal and non-formal education.

Close to 30 boys, aged 4 to 18, live at the center permanently while dozens more access services on a drop-in basis. If the boys in the center do not want to attend school, they can pursue a non-formal education at the center. Of the 30 boys currently attending the program, 22 are in formal education while eight have chosen a non-formal education path.

“This is a life-changing program for youth living on the streets in Mandalay,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “There is an outreach program, which is the first step in helping youth and giving them a better life beyond the streets. Once in the program, the youth center is safe place for the boys where they can access the services and support they need and ensure they gain an education.”

Fr. Piccinotti also visited the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Hlaing Thar Yar. Here, Salesian nuns offer education, food, water and health care for the children of local families who are poor, despite working hard long hours in camps and large factories. Many are are unable to take care of the children and so the Salesian nuns work to provide what they can for these families.

At the end of his trip, Fr. Piccinotti noted, “Here, every child has a story to tell. Each child has a tear to shed. Each child has a smile to donate. I have decided to leave my heart here to them!”

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 145 out of 188 countries according to the 2017 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second-highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – Salesian missions in the country: a service for the smile of the poorest children

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian programs provide hope and education for poor youth and their families first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Youth living on the streets are often targeted by traffickers, predators and gang recruiters. In order to feed themselves, youth must beg for money and collect bottles and cans to sell. But too often this is not enough. If they are too conspicuous or assertive with their efforts, the police may throw them in jail, where they are locked together in overcrowded cells with no rights.

“Ultimately, the prison system feeds Myanmar’s military,” explains Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.  “When these homeless and falsely jailed youth reach the age of 16, they are offered a choice to either be released with no money, no job, no education and nowhere to go or join the army, where they will be housed, fed and clothed. It’s a false choice, but one many of them are forced to make.”

Several times each week, outreach workers fan out into the darkest corners of Mandalay’s streets, introducing themselves to the children, working to gain their trust and inviting them to access the youth center’s services. While some youth are able to trust quickly and access services, others take months of convincing.

Maung Zaw Oo is a Burmese boy who has experienced abandonment, loneliness and life on the streets. But thanks to Don Bosco Friend Youth Center he has begun a new life. When he was still a child his parents separated. At age of nine, Maung was accompanied by his mother to live with family friends who owned a tea room in Mandalay. It was supposed to be a temporary solution, but then his mother disappeared, and he was alone with the new family. He stopped studying and started working as a helper in the tea room.

After about a year Maung decided to leave but was forced to live on the streets. He had to struggle just to survive and had to eat what little he found in the garbage. Soon he regretted his choice to live on the streets and was introduced to services at the Don Bosco Friend Youth Center. Maung has now been living with Salesian missionaries and other boys his age for several years. He is no longer alone and has several friends and adults who help ensure he lives a healthy life. In the center, he has time for education, rest, meditation and prayer.

Maung is also now back in school. Not having the necessary certificates, he could not enroll in the state schools, so he attends a Buddhist school near the Salesian center. He is in a class of 25 other students, but there are some classes with up to 100 students. Maung is studying hard, and he likes to study the English language, which he now speaks fluently. He hopes one day to become a tourist guide.

“This is a life-changing program for youth living on the streets in Mandalay,” says Fr. Hyde.“There is an outreach program, which is the first step in helping youth and giving them a better life beyond the streets. Once in the program, the youth center is safe place for the boys where they can access the services and support they need and ensure they gain an education.”

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 148 out of 188 countries according to the 2015 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second-highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – A day with Maung Zaw Oo

Salesian Missions – Shining Light on Mandalay’s Homeless Youth

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Don Bosco Friend Youth Center Helps Boys Like Maung Zaw Oo Access Shelter and Education first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The center, which received its official registration in Mandalay in 2015, hopes in the future to be able to house up to 100 boys. At the heart of the center is its outreach services. Salesian Father Peter Myo Khin and other staff visit railway stations and bus terminals to help boys living on the streets access the program and other services they need. The boys come from various backgrounds. Some have run away while others are from broken homes. All of them are living in conditions of poverty.

“We do the outreach program two or three days a week, and we make friends with street children and find out about their daily lives and family backgrounds,” said Fr. Myo Khin in the UCANews.com article. “The outreach program is the first step in helping these children and giving them a better life beyond the streets. The youth center is safe place for the boys and we treat them as family members.”

Patrick Zaw Tan, a project officer, told UCANews.com that he meets with each boy on a daily basis and talks to him like a close friend. The aim is to give the boys as much structure and information as possible in the first two weeks, but because the boys have been living on the streets, they are more focused on playing games rather than engaging. He notes one of the issues for some boys is sniffing glue, which is common among the urban poor, and the center helps them to break this habit.

Zaw Tan also notes that most families are poor so they force their children to work and earn money. Some parents beat the children if they refuse to do so, which can lead a boy to running away. The Salesian center does offer a family reconciliation program if the boys have a willingness to go home and the parents are ready to accept and care for them.

In the article, Fr. Myo Khin said that they encourage the boys to attend school as some have had to drop out due to their families’ poverty. If the boys do not want to attend school, they can pursue a non-formal education at the center. Of the 30 boys currently attending the program, 22 are in formal education while eight have chosen a non-formal education path.

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 148 out of 188 countries according to the 2015 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second-highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

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Sources:

UCANews.com – Salesian center in Mandalay offers helping hand to street kids

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Don Bosco Friend Youth Center Shelters and Educates Boys Living on the Streets first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Many poor residents in the village have nowhere else to turn for regular health care. The medical clinic was set up to provide much needed medical services including wellness exams for men and women and pediatric exams. More than 2,000 patients who suffer from various kinds of illness were able to access medical care. Patients were given medication, some for up to six months, all free of charge. Doctors also performed minor surgery. In addition, dentists were available to provide care for patients, many of whom had never had a dental visit in their life.

Salesian missionaries utilized volunteers, many of whom were youth from Anisakan and Pyin Oo Lwin, who did their best to translate from Burmese to English. Close to 20 translators gave their time to help those who were sick. Many doctors, dentists and translators even skipped lunch during the medical clinic in order to assist as many patients as possible.

“The work we do in Myanmar and in programs around the globe goes beyond education,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We aim to serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like health and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs. This medical clinic is the perfect example of how Salesian missionaries work with other organizations in their local communities to provide for those most in need.”

While the medical clinic was happening, Salesian Father John Jeon Bok Nam, together with his youth volunteer group, went around Anisakan village and distributed rice to the poorest families. They also rid the environment of mosquitoes with mosquito killer sprays, cutting down on mosquito borne illness that affect the local community. In addition, they painted the guest house of the seminary to improve its appearance.

While Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 148 out of 188 countries according to the 2015 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still lives in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – Angels in Yellow, second time in Anisakan

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian Missionaries Hold Medical Clinic Providing Care to More Than 2,000 People first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The local village of Bang Wa suffered severe damage with houses and crops burned. People who were defenseless and feared for their lives left their homes to take shelter at the local Salesian parish. The Salesian community was faced with the unexpected arrival of people in need of food and shelter. Some had been wounded in the clashes and needed medical care and almost all, especially the children, were frightened and traumatized by shooting and explosions. The clashes interrupted the harvest season in the village and many crops were burned and left unattended, affecting the food security for the community.

“While in many parts of the world Christmas was being celebrated, we lived in anxiety and fear because of the clashes. We are hoping that peace will be returned to our communities,” said a local Salesian priest reporting from Bang Wa.

Many still remain sheltered at the Salesian parish because their homes were destroyed or they still fear for their safety. Even though many houses have been destroyed by bombs and grenades, the Salesian community is grateful that the local chapel in the village was spared.

“Because Salesian missionaries live within the communities they serve, they are perfectly positioned to respond in times of crisis,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Our programs are helping to provide food, clothing and shelter to those in need and our missionaries will remain through the long recovery process helping the many families who will be forced to rebuild their homes and salvage their livelihoods.”

According to the World Bank, while Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia and rich in natural resources, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 148 out of 188 countries according to the 2015 Human Development Report. More than a quarter of Myanmar’s population still live in poverty with the poverty rate rising sharply to 70 percent for those living in rural areas. Myanmar also has the lowest life expectancy and the second-highest rate of infant and child mortality in the region. Just one-third of the population has access to the electricity grid, and only about half of school age children complete their primary education.

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – Still More Violence: Violence: Over 100 Refugees at the Salesian House of Namtu

New York Times – Violence Escalates between Myanmar Forces and Rohingya

World Bank – Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian Missionaries Continue to Provide Shelter and Assistance to Those Displaced by Recent Violence first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian missionaries living and working in the region are responding to the situation with aid for the flood victims, many who have lost everything. With the support of current and former students and volunteers from the Salesian Vocational Training Center located on the outskirts of the city of Myitkyina, the capital of Myanmar’s Kachin State, missionaries have distributed food, water, bedding and medicine to those affected. In addition, more than 125 Salesian students are assisting flood victims in cleaning mud from their houses and repairing damage. Their work has allowed some flood victims to return to their homes.

For those whose homes could not be repaired right away, Salesian missionaries and students relocated villagers, mostly women and children, to safety by transporting them by boat to local church compounds and state school buildings. In total, Salesian missionaries have been able to assist and provide supplies to close to 60 villages.

“Salesian missionaries were able to immediately assess the situation on the ground and move into action providing assistance and relief,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Our programs are helping to provide food, clothing and shelter to those in need and our missionaries will remain through the long recovery process helping the many families who will be forced to rebuild their homes and salvage their livelihoods.”

The regions most affected include Chin, Rakáin, Magwe and Sagaing which the Burmese government declared a state of natural disaster. The Salesian house of Kalay, a boarding school in the region of Chin, is located at the center of one of the most flood-stricken areas but did not suffer any damage. In the region, there are still many villages where aid has not reached, and some villagers have had to walk more than 10 days from their homes to reach assistance.

There are concerns about long-term food shortages affecting the people in Chin. Most of the rice fields are buried under mud causing residents to suffer the loss of their only yearly crop and their livelihood. Daily wage workers who once earned their food by working in the fields are currently unemployed because the mud-covered fields are noncultivatable and the time of sowing or planting is over.

Salesian missionaries in Myanmar have joined local authorities and other non-governmental aid groups in assessing the damage to determine the best course of action required long-term. At this point, missionaries are addressing the most basic of needs but as the death toll rises, they are reporting massive numbers of homeless people, starvation and vulnerability to infectious diseases.

“The scale of devastation is massive,” says Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon. “In a region that is chronically poor, the poor have lost everything and have become refugees. Urgent survival assistance is still needed in many villages and we are calling on everyone we can to assist us in this work.”

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – The Salesians continue to offer assistance

UN food relief now reaching more than 400,000 flood victims in Myanmar

The post MYANMAR: Salesian Missionaries Continue Flood Relief and Assistance to Those Affected first appeared on MissionNewswire.

International aid has begun to reach communities in need across Myanmar but continued heavy rain is expected to flood large parts of the low-lying southern delta region in the upcoming days and weeks. The area of most concern is the southwest region where the Ayeyarwady River and other rivers fork into a delta leading to the sea. This area is home to 6.2 million people, nearly 12 percent of Myanmar’s population.

“We’re very concerned about secondary flooding that is likely going to happen in the delta region as more water flows downstream,” said Pierre Peron, spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in a recent Reuters news report about the continued flooding.

Salesian missionaries living and working in the region are responding to the situation with aid for the flood victims, many who have lost everything. The regions most affected include Chin, Rakáin, Magwe and Sagaing which the Burmese government declared a state of natural disaster. The Salesian house of Kalay, a boarding school in the region of Chin, is located at the center of one of the most flood-stricken areas but did not suffer any damage. The Salesian community in the region is already actively engaged in emergency relief work and also planning long-term rebuilding and education and social development initiatives to help flood victims.

“Because Salesian missionaries live within the communities they serve, they are perfectly positioned to respond in times of crisis,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Our programs are helping to provide food, clothing and shelter to those in need and our missionaries will remain through the long recovery process helping the many families who will be forced to rebuild their homes and salvage their livelihoods.”

Salesian missionaries in Myanmar have joined local authorities and other non-governmental aid groups in assessing the damage to determine the best course of action required long-term. At this point, missionaries are addressing the most basic of needs but as the death toll rises, they are reporting massive numbers of homeless people, starvation and vulnerability to infectious diseases.

In an August 4th statement, the Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon said food and medical supplies are urgently needed to help thousands in the inundated Rakhine and Chin States and in the Sagaing Region. Cardinal Bo called for particular attention to be paid to the situation in Rakhine State which in recent years has experienced deadly religious conflicts and was already home to at least 100,000 displaced people, mainly Rohingya Muslims living in temporary camps.

“The scale of devastation is massive,” says Cardinal Bo. “In a region that is chronically poor, the poor have lost everything and have become refugees. Urgent survival assistance is needed in many villages and we are calling on everyone we can to assist us in this work.”

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Sources:

ANS – Myanmar – Floods devastate the country. Salesians help the population

BBC – Myanmar flooding affects one million

Reuters – Myanmar braces for more flooding as international aid flows in

The post MYANMAR: Salesian Missionaries are Providing Emergency Relief to Flood Victims first appeared on MissionNewswire.