FOCUS
Creating Economic Opportunities
Rebuilding Communities
MDGs ADDRESSED
MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
MDG 8: Create a global partnership for development
OVERVIEW
Myanmar is an ethnically diverse nation with 135 distinct ethnic groups officially recognized by the Myanmar government. There are eight major groups: 1) Kachin, 2) Kayah, 3) Kayin, 4) Chin, 5) Mon, 6) Bamar, 7) Rakhine, and 8) Shan. Myanmar is situated in southeast Asia and is bordered on the north and northeast by China; on the east and southeast by Laos and Thailand; on the south by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal; and on the west by Bangladesh and India.
The country now known as Myanmar1 was formed when the British merged several ethnic lands with those of the Burmese. This forced union accelerated historic conflicts when British rule promoted some ethnic groups in an effort to maintain control of the Burmese majority group (representing 2/3 of the population). Myanmar gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1948. A largely rural, densely forested country, the country is endowed with extremely fertile soil and has important offshore oil and gas deposits. However, its people remain very poor and the pace of development is slow.
Our PARTNER
Episcopal Relief and Development’s partner in Myanmar is the Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmnar (CPM). There are six dioceses: Hpa-an, Mandalay, Mytikyina, Sittwe, Toungoo and Yangon. Given very limited resources, many of these activities rely on volunteerism. Volunteers are called mission workers and usually engage in community health or education activities.
Our CURRENT PROGRAMS
Episcopal Relief and Development is working with the Church of the Province of Myanmar to build its capacity to plan and implement development programs, including training diocesan staff and supporting various projects.
Creating Economic Opportunities
Episcopal Relief and Development is supporting individual diocesan projects. Due to the extensive internal displacement in the country, one of the key priorities of the church is to ensure the continued education of its youth.
- School materials, training and support for teachers serving in 13 schools allow over 600 displaced students to continue their education in the Diocese of Hpa’an.
- Micro-finance programs, training and technical assistance help families in the Pyay, Delta and Yangon areas earn additional income.
- Vocational training for 60 youth and young adults provides needed job skills in the areas of agriculture, sewing, computer, motorcycle and car repair, and carpentry.
- Support for school costs allows 345 students, including 100 primary level, 50 middle level, 40 high school, 10 university, 100 boarding students, and 135 day students to compete their education in the Diocese of Toungoo.
- New rice mills in 6 parishes create opportunities to increase income for families in the Diocese of Sittwe.
Rebuilding Initiatives
Episcopal Relief and Development is assisting the Church in rebuilding specific properties that were damaged in recent years.
- Rebuilding homes for 32 families who lost their houses in a fire in 2006.
- Constructing a water system that provides clean water supply for St. John’s parish and community in Paletwa.
1 This name is not recognized by the US government which still refers to the country as Burma, the name given by the British colonial government
