 |
The Myanmar government does not allow international adoptions, so once a child enters an orphanage they are there until the age of 18. |
 |
The Mingalar Parahita Orphanage and School is located in the Irrawaddy Delta region of Myanmar approximately 45 minutes south of Yangon. Before Cyclone Nargis the orphanage had 200 children it was caring for. In the wake of the destruction and death caused by the storm, the orphanage suddenly found itself sheltering, clothing, feeding, and educating almost 300 children. To further complicate the situation the storm destroyed two buildings, one of which was a boys dormitory and the other a library and media room. All of the orphanages school textbooks were also completely lost in the violent winds and rain. Most tragic of all were the deaths of three young boys who were killed when trees crashed through the roof of their dormitory while they layed in bed.
It costs the orphanage $50 a day to feed all of the children. Rice and porridge are the staple meals while eggs and meat are luxuries only eaten on occassion. The school at the orphanage is accreddited by the governments ministry of education but it does not receive any kind of support from the government. English is a required subject in Myanmar yet the school does not have any teachers who speak English and so they are only able to teach the little that they can pull from basic alphabet and grammar textbooks. The orphanage is entirely reliant upon local and outside support to care for the children who call it home.
By making a donation to JWOC you can help us provide these 300 children who have lost so much with a chance for a better future. JWOC is committed to enabling the orphanage to educate, feed, clothe and care for these children in the best way possible.
20 Books for library: $40
Teachers salary for 1 month: $50
Rice for 1 month: $1,500
New boys dormitory: $30,000
New school and library: $50,000
There is still much work to be done however. Two buildings were destroyed and are in need of reconstruction. Only a few of the books contained in the library were salvaged so now their is a shortage of reading material for the children. The primary school sustained extensive damage and has only a tarp roof and half of its sheet metal walls in place.
JWOC has made a long term commitment to the Mingalar Parahita Orphanage to help sustain and build its capacity to provide the best education and care for the children.
| Home | About JWOC | News | Our Projects | How To Help | Contact | |