Support Education in Myanmar - Children of the Mekong
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Support Education in Myanmar

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is facing new challenges since the military coup of 1  February 2021.

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Sponsorship transforms children’s lives by enabling them to get an education while giving their families a real helping hand.

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Girl from Burma Myanmar

MYANMAR IS A COMPLEX, DIVIDED COUNTRY

Myanmar is known worldwide for its places of worship (like the Bagan temple, and the pagodas of Shwezigon and Shwesandaw), for the beauty of some of its cities (like Yangon and Mandalay) and for some magnificent scenery (like Lake Inle).

In the population of around 60 million there are 135 officially-recognised ethnic minorities. Best-known are the Karen, Bamar, Rohingya, Chin and Kachin peoples. This diversity has led to armed conflict. In recent years 340,000 people have been internally displaced by fighting in Kachin, Shan, Rakhine and Chin states.

Other Karen and Rohingya refugees have been forced to flee the country and now live in camps in Thailand or Bangladesh. The military coup of 1 February 2021 has weakened the country even further. Charities like Children of the Mekong are providing development aid.

Sulamani temple in Bagan, Burma
Sulamani temple in Bagan, Burma

EDUCATION IN MYANMAR

Burmese children at school

For decades education in Myanmar has been badly disrupted by coups d’état and periods of dictatorship. The level of attainment in schools has plummeted. Although the vast majority of children attend primary school (95%) only 45% continue into secondary education. Myanmar also suffers from a significant shortage of teachers.

Click here for more information about education in Myanmar

Educational challenges for the next few years:

  • Access to education is difficult in remote areas (which are mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities) and for people displaced by internal conflicts
  • More than half of children miss out on secondary education (which means there are few students in higher education and a large number of young people without any skills or training)
  • There is a need for career guidance and help with integration of young people into the workforce

HUMANITARIAN AID IN MYANMAR

There are very few charities supporting the education of children in Myanmar. Children of the Mekong collaborates with 120 local volunteers and works closely with them.

If you want to make a difference in a child’s life, give them access to education.

Pupils laughing in Myanmar

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