1 June 2006
Myeik
Myeik Area Development Programme (ADP) is located in the Myeik District of southern Myanmar, close to the Thai border. World Vision has worked in five separate projects in the area since 1997. These projects and associated links with local communities have laid the foundation for the ADP, which began in 2004.
Initially, the programme will focus on 21 semi-urban wards and one rural village in Myeik. The population of 82,000 is ethnically diverse and includes some people displaced from other parts of the country.
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 Myeik ADP
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Education
Although official figures report 90 per cent enrolment rates, school attendance is far lower than this. Orphans, children from very poor families and children whose parents are working away from home, or who have abandoned them, often work rather than attend school.
The ADP improves classrooms and latrines and provides teaching materials. Children are supported to attend school through the provision of fees and stationery, and a non-formal education programme is run for those children who cannot go to school.
Health
Water shortages in summer and poor sanitation create chronic health problems, with gastric illnesses and skin infections being the most common complaints. Stunted growth caused by malnutrition is evident in some children. HIV and AIDS pose a real threat to Myeik because of its location on migration routes to Thailand.
The ADP provides education in hygiene, health and HIV-prevention. Community members are trained by Department of Health personnel to prevent and treat malnutrition and other common health problems. An established project that works to improve health and sanitation infrastructure has been integrated with ADP activities, as has a project that supports people living with HIV and AIDS and works to prevent its spread among high-risk groups.
Income-generation
Many families cannot cover their expenses from their income. Employment in Myeik is quite unstable, with casual labour and migrant work common. The economy is based around the fishing industry, but Thai boats trawling Myanmar’s waters may affect the industry’s long-term sustainability. Myeik is practically devoid of young men, who leave to join the fishing industry in Thai ports. Likewise, many young women have left to find work in industries such as processing, manufacturing, hospitality and, sometimes, the sex trade.
The ADP works to decrease the need to migrate, by providing employment skills training and creating links that result in regular employment at home. Small business loans allow entrepreneurs to start, or expand, productive activities. Budgeting, saving and business and marketing skills are all taught.
Community leadership
As a result of World Vision’s work in Myeik since 1997, there are already 250 active community development volunteers and some community-based organisations. The strong volunteer spirit provides a sound base for future community ownership and participation in ADP development activities.
The ADP builds on this base through leadership training in project proposal, management and evaluation. Sub-groups focusing on specific activities, such as water and sanitation, are formed, trained and linked together to form groups that oversee development activities in their communities.
Sustainable development
It is envisaged that by September 2017, the community will be resourced and able to continue managing development initiatives without World Vision’s direct assistance. We will keep you updated on the community’s progress.
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