Tag: Burma

Windstorm Flattens Orphanage!

Yangon Orphans (2008)

The Asias Children orphanage home has been knocked down by a storm.  We have not received complete information about the disaster yet, since the government clamps down on travel and communication when events such as this occur.  We do know that the children were moved out of the home by a foresighted caretaker and that all survived the storm.  When we know more about the current circumstances of the children we will report that.
This storm highlights the need for a permanent orphanage to be built in a better area.  Since it will require time to raise funds for that new facility, we are going to try to implement a temporary solution of partnering with an existing orphanage in the new area by giving them funds to add capacity for our children, then send the monthly money there until a more permanent solution can be arranged.  We are still waiting to hear if that is a possibility.
If we cannot arrange things in time, we may have to invest in another temporary orphanage on the old site.  This is not as good of an option since it uses up funds that would be better spent getting the children to a safer area.  Please pray about this, and help financially if you can.

Yangon Orphanage

The Asias Children Yangon orphange is now in its third year of operation.  The orphanage currently provides shelter and support for 15 children.  These children lost their parents to Typhoon Nargis which struck the coastal areas on May 2, 2008.
Working with a contact who immediately traveled to the disaster area with a relief team, Asias children was able to purchase land and build a temporary orphanage to help some of the orphans who were rescued in the disaster area.  The orphanage opened with a community ceremony in October 2008 with 33 orphans.  13 children were eventually placed with relatives, and 5 of the older children were moved to an affiliated orphanage near the city where they could get more advanced schooling.
Support for the orphanage needs to be increased from $400 per month to $800 per month so that the children there can be trained in useful occupations like teaching and nursing to support themselves.  A new, permanent orphanage needs to be built away from the  temporary shelter in the disaster area so that the children will have more opportunities and their welfare can be more closely monitored.  The new orphanage is estimated to cost about $42,000.