Supporting the construction of a girls’ boarding house and a community dining hall in Dawplin
Funds raised so far: 12%
This project will provide a safe and stable boarding house for 45 young girls in Dawplin, giving them the chance to live and study in a secure environment. It also includes a new kitchen and community dining hall for all the young boarders, girls and boys alike, improving their living conditions and hygiene.
A GENERATION AT RISK IN MYANMAR
After a decade of democratic transition, Myanmar was thrown into turmoil when the military seized power on 1 February 2021, overturning the 2020 election results. Protests were crushed, and the country descended into civil war, leaving civilians trapped between the army and armed ethnic groups.
By January 2025, the UN estimated that 3.5 million people had been forced from their homes. While the army retains control over most of the country, insecurity and hardship affect millions: nearly 40 % live below the poverty line, prices have tripled, and young people are increasingly leaving, especially since compulsory military service was introduced. In just two years, the nation has lost the equivalent of 15 years of development.
Schools lie in chaos. Many teachers have resigned, and countless children and teenagers can no longer attend class. With education collapsing, young people face heightened risks of exploitation, forced labour, and recruitment by armed groups. Yet even in the darkest corners of the country, former teachers are stepping in, offering informal lessons and keeping hope alive for the next generation.
URGENT NEEDS IN KAREN STATE
Life for young people in Karen State is marked by uncertainty. The Diocese of Hpa An, established in 2009, remains extremely underdeveloped, and the region is largely rural, with very limited access to medical, educational, or administrative services. Displaced families often flee to Thailand or hide in the forest under harsh conditions, surviving on their own crops with little or no stable income. Many young people leave the country illegally in search of work, while some fall victim to exploitation, trafficking, or early marriage.
Education has been severely disrupted by the ongoing conflict. Schools are closed, teachers have left, and fear keeps many children away, leaving displaced young people with no safe places to study.
Many are sent to Dawplin, where a middle and high school still provide a lifeline, as the former Children of the Mekong centre in Hpa Pun has become a conflict zone. In 2024, temporary bamboo structures were erected as an emergency measure to accommodate students, but they remain too few and fragile, while plans to provide lasting support for these young people are still underway.
BETTER FACILITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS AT DAWPLIN
Life at Dawplin can be a daily struggle for the students. A new boarding house for 45 girls from Year 7 onwards will soon provide a safe, supportive space, with a classroom and toilets on the ground floor and a large dormitory upstairs. A separate building already accommodates 40 boys. With proper living spaces, all students will be able to focus on their studies and feel secure.
Mealtimes remain a challenge. The current dining area is far too small for 47 students, and some have to eat in the kitchen, which is poorly equipped. With the girls joining the community, the total number of students will rise to 85, highlighting the urgent need for a proper kitchen and dining hall. The temporary facilities are cramped and fragile, and the project aims to create lasting, suitable spaces where all students can eat comfortably, stay healthy, and feel at home.
A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW
- Give vulnerable girls affected by armed conflict a safe and welcoming home where they can focus on their studies.
- Improve space and hygiene for all students, replacing cramped dining and kitchen areas with proper facilities.
- Ensure young Karen students can continue their education beyond primary school, opening doors to a brighter future.
- Support higher educational standards across Karen State and contribute to the long-term development of this underdeveloped region.
Who benefits from this project?
Boys and girls start boarding from the equivalent of Year 7, after finishing primary school in their villages. Most come from the mountainous Hpa Pun region. At this crucial stage of their education, they live in the boarding houses in Dawplin and attend the local public school.
Life in the boarding houses goes beyond academics. It helps young people learn to live together, share with others, and gain independence while being away from their families.
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