Burma (Myanmar)

Health & Hope

Health & Hope’s Founder, Dr Sasa, was born in a remote village in Chin state. His community had little or no healthcare facilities, limited education opportunities and chronic food shortages. He witnessed his parents taken for forced labour and the death of friends from preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea, and saw many women and babies die during childbirth.

Dr Sasa walked for many days to reach high school in Yangon, the first child from his village ever to attend. He learnt three new languages, graduated top of his class, and later travelled overseas to study medicine.

Dr Sasa returned to Chin state to launch the region’s first primary healthcare service, where 150 villages sent one male and one female to be trained as Community Health Workers. Health & Hope have since played their part in caring for tens of thousands of people across hundreds of villages.

In early 2021, Dr Sasa left his position at Health & Hope to focus on political responsibilities. Following the violent military coup on 1 February 2021, Health & Hope UK’s operational partner, Health & Hope Myanmar, closed down in-country operations. Health & Hope UK continues to deliver support to the people of Chin State. Despite huge challenges, hope remains through practical action and care.

Sunshine Health and Education Foundation

SHEF deliver short-term emergency relief, wherever the need is greatest. This includes procurement and distribution of food, clean water, clothing, medical supplies, blankets, baby formula and other basic survival necessities, first aid and trauma response.

The Foundation operate two schools located in remote villages in a mountainous region littered with landmines. A Children’s Learning Centre (CLC) is located on the bank of the Moi River, which constitutes the border between Thailand and Karen state – often referred to as ‘no man’s land’. Students at the CLC are primarily categorised as refugees or internally displaced persons. Most are from impoverished homes and heavily land-mined areas. SHEF is committed to alleviating the children’s emotional and physical suffering by supporting projects that promote health and education.

Shan Women's Action Network (SWAN)

SWAN’s flagship project, the Women’s Wellbeing Programme, reduces maternal and child mortality rates. Trained health workers are equipped to return to their villages in Shan state and among Burmese refugees in Thailand. They provide antenatal care and family-planning services. They assist in deliveries and conduct weighing sessions for children to identify those suffering from malnutrition. SWAN also provide emergency assistance for migrant women and children in crisis, particularly those affected by serious illness or domestic violence.

Loi Tai Leng School

HART has supported several projects at the school, including the construction of a dam in a nearby valley. Water from the dam facilitates agricultural development to improve regional food security. It can also be used to provide hydroelectric power to the school – crucial during the rainy season when existing solar panels are less effective.

During the peak of COVID-19 in 2021, the border between the Burma and Thailand remained closed and the cost of transporting food to the school almost doubled. With no other international donors, school staff were nervous about having to reduce the number of school meals, but with HART’s support were able to provide 340 boarding students with three full meals per day throughout the year.