MYANMAR
Myanmar
Myanmar is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. It has a population of 57 million. Of this, 88% of them are Buddhists, 6% are Christians, 4% are Muslims and 2% Others. Throughout its decades of independence, Myanmar has undergone military rule, civil war, isolation from global affairs and widespread poverty.
In 2020 - 2021, the Burmese in Myanmar were doubly hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic as well as the overhanging political climate, with many families needing urgent and critical help. Last year, there was a new spike of COVID-19 cases, with reported virus-related deaths surging. This led to added pressure on the already fragile health care system, with partial lockdowns and stay-at-home measures imposed. The people were scrambling to source for oxygen cylinders as the covid patients became severely ill. The political backdrop has resulted in unrest and disrupted the way of life for many families. To date, hundreds of thousands of Burmese have lost their homes and have become refugees in their own land. Tens of thousands have been killed by the political crisis and the faith of many believers have been severely tested in these trying times.
How RiverLife has been working with this Community
Since 2013, RiverLife has partnered churches in Myanmar by equipping pastors and leaders with ministry skills and knowledge, planting churches in remote villages and building tuition centres to educate children from poor families who could not afford school fees. Other projects include evangelism outreach, training tuition teachers, food distribution, building village roads, installing street lamps and conducting children camps.
Water tank at New Canaan
In MFH 2021, three MFH Myanmar teams sought to encourage and support six villages and local churches (221 families in all) as the nation battled through the pandemic and political crisis. The number of families and villages that we supported soon and rapidly increased as the crisis in Myanmar worsened. The teams provided water filters to hundreds of displaced families who were hiding in jungles and had no access to clean water. Oxygen concentrators were sent as the country ran out of oxygen cylinders for the critically ill covid patients. Homes were also built for the homeless and it was our great joy to see previously homeless families now having a roof above their heads. At the end of 2021, as we took time to recount the blessings of the Lord, we were amazed at how God could use simple believers like us to bless, encourage and support many families in need. It is our awesome privilege to meet the needs of the poor, and may we never turn a blind eye to those needs, both in Singapore and in the nations.
How are we working with the community in MFH 2022?
Provide Humanitarian Relief Aid
Due to the economic crisis and instability, many do not have the finances for their daily meals, and much less for basic medical aid or school supplies. Collect donations to provide for their immediate needs and distribute food, medication, and basic necessities of Burmese families.
Plan and launch new farming initiatives and micro-enterprise projects to help them rebuild and become self-sustaining.
Online Prayer Ministry
Connect with the Burmese villagers and local pastors to hear their needs. Through online platforms, we are given the opportunity to minister to them directly, and bring spiritual and emotional restoration through these sessions. We believe that God can work powerfully, even through digital platforms.
Join us to give prayer ministry for Burmese pastors and families over Zoom.
Tuition Program for Homeless Families
We have partnered with local churches to build tuition centres for children too poor to afford school fees.
Organise and collect donations to provide education for families that have been displaced by the epidemic and political crisis.
Make a Donation.
You can also give via UEN or Bank Transfer.
Via UEN: 200100806DTNO
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Via Bank Transfer: UOB Account 450-309634-4
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