ADRA News

ELS2: Remaining IDP Beneficiaries Receive Cash Assistance for Education
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and ADRA Czech Republic funded ELS2 ‘Education and Livelihood Support II’ project, has completed the planned cash distributions in IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps in Kachin State.

ADVOCACY: Meeting with Communities to Discuss Out-of-School Children and the Mobilization of Non-Government Teachers
The ADRA International funded ADVOCACY project in partnership with the Myanmar Union Mission, has recently been conducting meetings with community representatives from 5 villages in Mon State, Tanintharyi Region and Kayin State.

ELS2: Antar Causeway Construction Increases Access to Water in Magway Region
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and ADRA Czech Republic funded ELS2 ‘Education and Livelihood Support II’ project, recently constructed a causeway near Antar Village in Magway Region through the cooperation of the local community. The causeway, 90 ft in length, 24ft wide and 2.4ft high, is estimated to hold a minimum capacity of 1,000,000 gallons of water.

Desludging Activities Improve Hygiene in IDP Camps in Kachin
Due to overpopulation in some of the IDP camps in Kachin State, WASH facilities, including toilets, are often insufficient to service the number of people. With toilets overflowing, the risk of disease remains high and the potential for water contamination. “We can solve this problem for IDPs. This natural fertilizer is beneficial for the whole country. It brings benefits. Thank you to ADRA for the support.”

Seng Pri’s Story: Former Medical Student Turned IDP still Believes in the Value of Education
“Education is very important to our family. I want my children to be educated. My mother also knows education is very important.”

Daw Hkawn Tawng’s Story: Supporting IDP Families through Cash Assistance for Education
Before the conflict, Daw Hkawn Tawng owned walnuts, trees and a tea leaf garden. She is 50 years old living with her husband and their four children in Wu Htau, Sadung township. When her children passed Grade Four, they were sent to their relatives from her mother’s side in Waing Maw to continue their education. Their life was happy and simple.

U Kawi Yah’s Story: Vulnerable Families Receive Food Rations and Hygiene Kits in Response to COVID-19
In response to COVID-19, and to mitigate risks of a potential outbreak, the local government in Chin State conducted risk assessments and followed national guidelines by imposing strict travel restrictions. In doing so, this caused socio-economic consequences, as it has across the world, critically affecting vulnerable populations and steepening their descent into poverty.

Daw Nang Sam’s Story: Supporting IDP Families through Cash Assistance for Education
“Because of the money, I cried for joy. It helped my children’s needs for School. I could buy school uniforms and cover their study fees.” Before the conflict, Daw Nang Sam worked with her husband earning a stable income from their grocery store, small movie theatre and raising goats in their home village.

SURE: Farmer Field School (FFS) Training
This month, the MFAT and ADRA New Zealand funded SURE project conducted Farmer Field School (FFS) Training for 75 farmers in 8 project villages.

Daw Daw Uh’s Story: Vulnerable Families Receive Food Rations and Hygiene Kits in Response to COVID-19
In response to COVID-19, and to mitigate risks of a potential outbreak, the local government in Chin State conducted risk assessments and followed national guidelines by imposing strict travel restrictions.

SEAQE2 Project Distributes Hygiene Kits in Response to COVID-19
On 12 October 2020, the Norad and ADRA Norway funded SEAQE2 project participated in a distribution of prevention based hygiene kits and awareness raising for the Pre-International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in response to COVID-19.

ADRA Myanmar Welcomes New Country Director
ADRA Myanmar officially welcomes new Country Director, Vitalie Zegera and his wife Ramona who will serve as HR Advisor. German nationals Vitalie and Ramona commenced work on 1 October 2020 and are currently awaiting their visas to enter Myanmar, COVID-19 permitting.

Daw Nuing Kyi’s Story: Weaving Transforms Lives of Female Household in Chin State
“Everything has changed. When I was young, I depended on my parents. But now I am the head of household for my family.”

VESI: Labour Market and COVID-19 Impact Assessments Virtual Launch
Today, the LIFT (Livelihoods and Food Security Fund) funded VESI project, in partnership with AVSI and FRC (Finnish Refugee Council), virtually launched the ‘Labour Market & COVID-19 Impact Assessments to Inform Vocational Education and Decent Work Opportunities for Youth in Kachin and Northern Shan States’.

Ma Pauk Lau’s Story: Disabled IDP Youth Receives Support through Cash Assistance
I want to go back to my home. I don’t know when I will go back home. I don’t want to run again, I am afraid.

SURE: Establishing Coffee Nurseries in Keilung
A key activity in the MFAT and ADRA New Zealand funded SURE project has revolved around cultivating community nurseries in target villages such as Lungngo, Sempi, Balei and Vawti by providing technical support and materials to local farmers.

Yaw Mai Pursues His Dream of Owning a Motorbike Repair Shop
Yaw Mai is one of 74 selected young IDPs and one of two persons with disabilities who participated in the VESI Project

Daw Ngun Cawi’s Story: Supporting Female Headed Households through Savings & Loans Groups
The project has been very effective for us. It is very useful for someone who has no husband, like me.

ADRA Myanmar Bids Farewell to Country Director and Family
It is with sadness that today ADRA Myanmar says farewell to our Country Director Claudio, his wife and former M&E Coordinator Brenda and their 2 children.

Nan Sanay Ma’s Story: TVET Training Brings Hope to Disabled Youth
Nan Sanay Ma is from Kawt Pran village. She is the sixth daughter of eight siblings. Of the siblings, she was the only one born without both legs.

ADRA Myanmar Office’s Begin to Reopen
As restrictions are easing in Myanmar and the number of COVID-19 cases are decreasing, ADRA Myanmar has approved for certain offices to reopen.

SURE: Thriving Nurseries
The SURE project has made efforts to develop nurseries in 6 villages. With lockdown and travel restrictions imposed following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Myanmar, it has been impossible to visit the nurseries and monitor their progress.

Kawt Phaung: Constructing Schools for Improved Learning Environments
“We have benefitted greatly. Before we couldn’t do activities in the old school building. In this new building, we can do anything. We can create more.”

SURE Project Distributes Food Rations in Response to COVID-19
Thanks to a reallocation of funds, the SURE project has provided emergency food rations of rice, cooking oil and beans in Myanmar’s Northern Chin State.

Daw Zar Zar Naing’s Story: Preparing for Healthy Pregnancies in Kayin State
My name is Daw Zar Zar Naing, I am 35 years old living in Ka Di Kan Village with my husband and our three daughters. In 2012 we moved to this area in Hlaingbwe Township, Kayin State. I was recently pregnant and hoping to give birth to a healthy baby.

Nang Kham Mart’s Story: ESE Events Connect Community to Education
TEES teacher and youth leader Nang Kham Mart is 26 years old from Nar Ngwe village, Lashio, Northern Shan State.

PRICE Project Responds to COVID-19 in Chin State
Since COVID-19 broke out in Myanmar, ADRA Myanmar’s projects have had to adapt to changing situations as restrictions are put in place.

SEAQE2 Project Responds to COVID-19 in Myanmar
Since COVID-19 began spreading to countries around the globe, ADRA has been working to ramp up its operations to respond to the highly infectious virus.

U Ho Ling’s Story: Life as an Elephant Foot Yam Farmer in the Chin Hills
My name is U Ho Ling and I am 52 years old from Siatalai village in the Chin Hills. I have 11 family members including 6 sons, but not all live here.

U Yaw Han’s Story: Life Post Conflict and Living with a Disability in an IDP Camp
Before the conflict, I was working as a farmer and living together with my wife and our two sons in our home village in Kachin State. We had already lost our youngest son in January 2018 to throat cancer at 19 years of age.

ADRA Myanmar Offices Closing Temporarily due to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and to minimise potential risks, all ADRA Myanmar offices including the Head Office in Yangon and all Project Offices (Lashio, Hpa-an, Pyin Oo Lwin and Gangaw), will be closing effective 23 March 2020.

The EU and Member States Visit CASE2Learn Project in Myanmar
On Tuesday, 28th January 2020, the EU Ambassador and EU Member States’ Ambassadors and Heads of Mission resident in Myanmar, met together with ADRA Administration and Program staff from the Asia Regional Office, Norway, Thailand and Myanmar.

‘Every Child Everywhere’ Advocacy Petition Signing at Myanmar Plaza
Yesterday, ADRA Myanmar, in partnership with the Myanmar Union Mission, launched a petition signing event for the global Advocacy Campaign “Every Child, Everywhere, In School” at Myanmar Plaza

Daw Htu Bu’s Story: Educating our Children living in an IDP Camp
My name is Daw Htu Bu and I am 48 years old living in Shwe Zet IDP (Internally Displaced Person) Camp. I have seven family members and 5 children.

VESI Project Kicks Off with an Orientation Workshop
Yesterday on the 24 October 2019, the ‘Vocational Education to Support IDPs and Host Communities’ or VESI project was launched at Summit Park View Hotel, Yangon for an orientation workshop.

SURE: Orchid Nursery Pilot Project Activity Promotes Sustainable Development
In Myanmar’s Northern Chin State, common and rare orchids grow well naturally due to fair weather conditions and can be found spread all over the State.

CASE2Learn Launch and Orientation
This week, the CASE2Learn project was launched at the Hilton Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw on the 3 September 2019 with orientation for the project following til the 5 September.

35th Anniversary Gala & ‘Every Child, Everywhere, In School’ Launch
ADRA Myanmar celebrates 35 years of service to the people of Myanmar since 1984 by holding a special Gala dinner for staff, partners, donors and Government representatives on the 30 May 2019 at Summit Parkview Hotel in Yangon.

Farewell to our Programs Director
On the 27th May 2019, Yangon staff held a farewell lunch for Derek Glass our Programs Director in our head office.

CASE+: RISE Baseline Report Launch
Yesterday, 23 May 2019, ADRA Myanmar along with CASE+ project partner RISE, hosted a meeting at Summit Parkview Hotel in Yangon. The purpose was to launch the presentation of 2 baseline reports completed on Out of School Children and Teaching and Learning.

Lway Arm Saw Hlaing’s Story: TEES Teacher Educates Marginalised Ta’ang
23 year old Lway Arm Saw Hlaing comes from Namkhan Township. Despite her parents’ disapproval of her idea to become a TEES teacher, Lway Arm Saw Hlaing was determined to educate children in the remote marginalized Ta’ang community.

Gender Equality Training Kickstart for Yangon Staff
On Friday, 10 May 2019, Yangon staff from ADRA Myanmar participated in Gender Equality training conducted by Gender Specialist Diana Opollo from ADRA Canada.

Staff Retreat 2019
Each year, ADRA Myanmar staff from both the field and support office, join together for a capacity building based staff retreat. This year we went international and travelled to Bangkok, Thailand staying at the Avani Atrium Hotel from 10-14 March.

ADRA International Launches Official Rebrand
During an ADRA network meeting hosted in Jordan over the last few weeks with Country Directors and other ADRA staff in attendance from different offices around the globe, ADRA International launched the official rebrand of ADRA.

Naw Lwan’s Story: Orange Farmer Turned IDP
In 2011 when the conflict started in my home village Kasoo up in Myanmar’s Northern Kachin State, we would hide in the church until things quietened down and we could return home again.

Farewell to our Finance & Administration Director
Last week, we said farewell to Herinjanahary Fleur Henrisse (Hery) our Finance & Administration Director. We commemorated the event by holding a farewell luncheon at the Corriander Leaf in Yangon with Head Office staff in attendance.

Tailor at the Banyantree
It’s a mother who has to tell Naw Paw Wah’s story. The young girl cannot tell it herself because she is deaf and was asked to leave school the same year she began.

SEAQE: ToT’s Complete Training at Technical Colleges in Maesot & Tak, Thailand
Graduation ceremonies were held for GTHS (Government Technical High School) teachers who underwent ToT training (Training of Teachers), an activity of ADRA Myanmar’s SEAQE-TVET project in Thailand last week on the 28 May 2018.

HR Competency Framework Training by ADRA International
Korey Dowling, Vice President of People & Culture from ADRA International, visited ADRA Myanmar to conduct ‘HR Competency Framework Training’ for select staff over 3 days (May 14-16 2018) in Summit Parkview Hotel.

SHARE: Health Clinic Constructed in Htee Klay Village Tract
On 27 February 2018, an opening ceremony was held for a newly constructed health clinic in Htee Klay Village Tract, Kayin State as apart of the SHARE ‘Support for Health Access in Remote Ethnic Areas’ project funded and supported by GBG Fund for Global Development and HELP International.