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Your community in Palaw
Ei is top of the class and pride of her school.

World Vision New Zealand (WVNZ) first became involved in Palaw in 1991 with an emergency relief programme, which expanded to address human trafficking and care for street children. With the financial support of WVNZ, World Vision Myanmar is now establishing an Area Development Programme (ADP) aimed at long-term community sustainability.

The Palaw ADP is located in southern Myanmar, 720 kilometres from the capital Yangon. WVNZ and World Vision Myanmar are working together to improve the living conditions of almost 139,983 people in 120 villages. World Vision has consulted widely with community and government representatives to develop a programme that meets the vision and long-term goals of this community.

Income-generation

Rubber plantations, fishing and agriculture are the primary employment industries. Food security is met by growing rice and beans in paddy fields.

World Vision’s development plans enable farmers to increase their crop and livestock income by:

  • Developing irrigation schemes
  • Teaching small-business skills
  • Offering low-interest, small-business loans
  • Enabling access to markets and high-yield seeds

Sanitation and water supply

Limited access to water leads to poor sanitation and a lack of latrines, which endangers the villagers’ health. World Vision is working with the community to improve water supply, irrigation and drainage systems.

Health

World Vision is focusing on improving people’s understanding of child health, family planning and sexually transmitted diseases. Poverty, the inability to pay for medical treatment, lack of health care, and limited health and disease knowledge, have forced people to wait too long before seeking assistance.

World Vision is addressing these serious health-related problems:

  • Malaria and dengue fever
  • Reproductive health and hygiene knowledge 
  • HIV and AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases

Employment and education

In Palaw, parents put their children out to work to support their families.

World Vision is working with the community to:

  • Release children from enforced labour
  • Ensure education
  • Educate parents
  • Improve literacy
  • Improve health and sanitation knowledge

Sustainable development

World Vision began researching the need for an ADP in Palaw in 2006.  Your commitment to help improve the life of children through sponsorship will not only benefit your child’s wellbeing, but also the health, food security, livelihood, and infrastructure of the Palaw community. World Vision’s partnership in the Palaw ADP is envisaged to stretch over a period of 15 years. During this time, the community works towards self-reliance. When this is achieved, World Vision will withdraw from the ADP - allowing the community to direct its own development.

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Myanmar at a glance

Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) shares borders with Thailand, Laos, China, India and Bangladesh and is one of the world's most ethnically diverse countries. It has abundant natural resources, especially timber, precious stones, oil, gas and fertile soil. However it is subject to destructive earthquakes, cyclones, flooding and landslides, and for the vast majority of the population there are few services or opportunities. Politically, the country has moved from a colonial administration to socialist government, then, in 1988, to a military regime known as the State Peace and Development Council.

Myanmar Map - Palaw
Children gather infront of Palaw map
These House of Hope children gather in front of a map showing where they have come from. This World Vision refuge gives street children a bed, some food, a health check-up and introduces education.
Photo: James East