A warm embrace
In a small village of Paung township, 12-year-old Minn shares his heartfelt story of overcoming adversity, embodying resilience and hope.
"My life hadn't been easy. Some days felt never-ending," Minn reflected, recounting the challenges faced by his family. His parents who used to work as day laborers, struggled to make ends meet. The situation worsened when his father fell ill with liver disease, leaving his mother as the sole breadwinner. It had been challenging for his mother to cover the family household’s expenses, especially with the debts they had.
"My mother decided to leave home, and she sent me to work at a tea shop as a waiter," Minn sadly recalled. His uncle later brought him back and handed him over to his father. Unfortunately, his father was in poor health, and he was the one taking care of his father.
He mentioned, “His health was declining every day, and without medical help, it was getting worse. We relied on the food provided by the nearby monastery for our meals, and sometimes our neighbour helped with noodles and porridge for my father.”
Despite being in the fifth grade, Minn also had to take care of his father when he returned from school. It was tough, and he often felt exhausted, experiencing depression and emotional trauma, especially because he had no contact with his mother.
A case officer from the Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA) project of World Vision visited his home. During the visit, the officer discussed with his father to assess their needs and challenges. Recognising his family’s urgency, the officer swiftly connected with social organisations offering health and nutrition services, aiming to support his father. Simultaneously, collaboration with the Community-Based Child Protection Group facilitated communication to reunite Minn with his lost mother.
"With each passing day, my father's health deteriorated, and without medical help, it was getting worse," Minn shared. Tragically, his father passed away. On the same day, Minn's mother returned, and together, they conducted the funeral rites.
After the funeral, the case officer continued their support, discussing the family's needs and sharing parenting skills. Minn's mother determined not to leave him again, explored ways to generate income. Drawing on her experience, they decided to open a home shop, supported by essential supplies from CPHA's project.
Now that his mother has a home grocery store, she also caring for Minn at home. She went to nearby villages to sell goods to boost her family’s income. To avoid capital loss, his mother is reinvesting the earnings from the sale of goods.
Moreover, Minn and his mother received kitchen supplies, a child protection kit, and school supplies, bringing stability and joy to their lives. "Living together with my mother without worrying about our income brings me immense joy," Minn expressed gratitude.
Now attending school daily, Minn works towards a future where he can be a dutiful son and help other children in need. Physically and mentally, he has undergone significant improvement.
"I am genuinely grateful for the support from the donors and the World Vision-CPHA project," Minn concluded, expressing hope for the continuation of World Vision Myanmar's invaluable work in supporting vulnerable children and families throughout the country.
Since its initiation in October 2020, the Child Protection in Humanitarian Action project has been actively engaged in Myanmar, collaborating closely with various stakeholders to fortify the child protection system and create a secure environment in targeted regions. A significant aspect of this effort involves the establishment of Community-Based Child Protection Groups (CBCPGs). Currently, the project has successfully implemented a comprehensive suite of initiatives encompassing child protection, child rights, case management, referral pathways, safeguarding, and safety audits in specific areas, namely Paung, Mawlayine, Nawngkio, Hseni, Lashio, Pathein, Pyapon Mandalay, and Yangon townships. From March 2023 to December 2023, the project has yielded positive outcomes, impacting over 15,973 individuals including 2,460 boys and 3,568 girls, enhancing the well-being of the communities it serves.