Activity in 2023

It is a difficult year.

Please note: the original of this text was written in Myanmar in English. Sections have been edited or deleted for clarity. In order to retain some of the orginal flavour of the report, there has not been a complete re-write of the text.

(II) Summary

This report deals with all projects (Schooling Support Program for most vulnerable students, Cash Grant Assistance to IDPs in Taunggyi Diocese, Nutrition Support for HIV positive patients at St. Raphael Shelter) funded by St. Lazarus-Fonds Europe. During this reporting period, we encountered many unexpected challenges, risks, and opportunities. Presently, the situation in Myanmar is characterized by a lack of safety, education, security, opportunities for economic progress, education and food security.  In some states and townships, it is impossible to open the schools and run academic activities regularly. This results in children not being able to exercise their right to education. On the other hand, in Southern Shan State, most of the schools open regularly and children attend normally. The cost for education has become more expensive than during the period before the junta. Thus, some children have to drop out of the schools in order to work.

Our brothers and sisters (HIV and leprosy patients), who were already among the most vulnerable, have had to struggle more than others since they have lacked support which they would receive from other donors in more normal times. As the governance system has been impacted around the country there are no longer any reliable systems for education, economic, or social support. Thus, our vulnerable groups have only been able to rely on themselves in this impossible situation.

Reached population for Schooling Support Project

In order to conduct these activities, we have remained in close touch and coordinated regularly with the priest and nuns. The teachers regularly update the students list and keep us informed of the current situation. The number of beneficiaries has changed slightly from the anticipated numbers but the cost has increased because of the unstable prices and inflation. .

There was a woman, more than 100 years old, who needed a toilet seat chair. One of the partners requested this for her and we supported the purchase and delivery.

Due to the nutrition support for HIV patients in St. Raphael Shelter, the children can learn, play and stay happy with much more ease. Feeding nutritious food to the children at St. Raphael’s Shelter is highly appreciated. It was also a great benefit to the children at the HIV/AIDS shelter. It also reduces the burden for the sisters and volunteers as well. Because of the nutritious food provided them, the children are all healthy and grow normally as others do.  Since they are studying and going to school daily, the educational support is a necessity. The oldest pupil is in grade ten in high school now. With this project, some desks and chairs were upgraded for their study room. Bookshelves were extended and more books were provided. The essential and necessary medicines were purchased every two months. The children take multivitamins daily, and the sisters provided other medication as required for minor diseases like seasonal flu.

(IV) Challenges and Lessons Learnt

• Check points along the trip. To avoid the unexpected risks, we made check lists for the safety and security of the staff and supported items.
• Between the proposal development time and the implementation period prices became much more expensive.
• The needs and demands are higher and the resources are limited. Thus, we identify the needier ones to be able to receive the supports.

(V) Reflective Analysis

According to the feedback from communities, the program is very beneficial and crucial to the students in this hard time for they are vulnerable or marginalized groups and it is very difficult to afford this kind of complementary support for education. It was also found that the situation of the patients in the center is very unstable and they are much in need of supports as the economic situation of Myanmar become worse day by day. Especially, they are in need of medicine and food.

The responsible person of the St. Raphael’s Shelter said that “Thank you so much for the regularly supports for our mission of caring this HIV/AIDS. Through this project, we are able to welcome the Least of Jesus. It’s really helpful project for them and effective mission for us. We pray for you all, our beloved donors, may God bless you all and may you receive a hundredfold blessing!”

A patient, 15 years old, was afflicted with dengue fever and had to be hospitalized. Due to financial constraints, he stayed in the monastery living on medicines. Although the monk offered occasional assistance, his illness worsened and hepatitis spread and had to go to the hospital in emergency. He couldn’t afford for the cost of pharmaceuticals any longer, on the other hand. Thus, he contacted to KMSS-TGI through the camp committee member. When he was hospitalized, he urgently needed blood and do the necessary tests for the effective treatment. Although the support amount couldn’t cover for all the costs, it could benefit to act life-saving in a timely manner. On 27.7.2023, he recovered not fully recovered but got a bit of normal condition, and could come back home.  However, due to the high expense of treatment, it is also reported that there is a debt of roughly 720,000 kyat in the hospital.