SANNI News
Dear Friends of SANNI Foundation
Since the coup d’état on 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military has brutally cracked down on millions of people across the country who oppose its rule. The junta’s security forces have committed mass killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual violence and other abuses that constitute crimes against humanity. Freedom of speech and assembly is severely restricted.
The junta’s incompetence and mismanagement of the country’s economy since the coup have increased the suffering of the population and consolidated a climate of fear and insecurity.
Despite these very difficult circumstances, we are happy to be able to continue providing assistance to those affected with our local partner Medical Action Myanmar (MAM). SANNI Foundation continues to run the Lotus Clinic, our children’s home and we support 500 children and their families through the sponsorship programme.
In addition, we cooperate with other partners to alleviate the suffering of the population at least a little.
Read in our newsletter about an orphanage that houses 382 abandoned children, where our doctors from MAM are able to help by providing medical care and general support.
If you have any questions about the situation in Myanmar, please do not hesitate to contact me (schroff@sanni-foundation.ch).
382 abandoned children
The Yellow Generation Wave 89-Mile Orphanage (the name comes from the fact that it is 89 miles away from Yangon on the way to Mandalay) houses 382 children from all over Burma who have been abandoned by their parents or other caregivers because they felt unable to care for the children. The orphanage, which is run by monks, does not receive continuous funding, and due to the large number of children compared to the caregivers, the children are in urgent need of medical and also other help, from minor health problems to routine check-ups to psychological care and trauma management. For this project, SANNI Foundation cooperates with the organisation “Vereinlife”, which provides support mainly in the form of food packages.
The team from our partner Medical Action Myanmar has been providing medical and counselling support for some time. However, we want to expand our help in the future to improve the well-being of the children.
During the last visit in February 2023, medical examinations and treatments, awareness-raising work and an analysis of the general situation were carried out. Most of the health problems are related to poor hygiene and malnutrition of the children, as nutritious food such as meat and beans are usually not available. Despite the precarious situation of the children, some successes were achieved, such as psychological counselling and educational talks with the children and adolescents.
In addition, we had vital medicines, hygiene items and pastes that combat malnutrition delivered to the orphanage.
Finally she can smile again!
There are some saddening stories among the children that the doctors were able to save:
When we first visited the orphanage, we found a 9-year-old girl who had been abandoned by her mother and father. Therefore, the child was brought to the orphanage in November 2018, but due to the lack of caregivers at the orphanage, she was extremely neglected. That is why we decided to bring the girl to our own “Motherhouse” in Yangon to provide her with the necessary treatment and also individual care.
When the girl was admitted to our Motherhouse, she weighed 6.7 kg. After a few weeks, she now weighs 12.4 kg, is clinically healthy, alert, smiles and can stand up with the support of her carer.
Once her health is stable, we will bring her back to the orphanage and continue to monitor her until the health is clinically stable and full weight has been reached.
The young girl when she arrived at the “Motherhaus” (above) and one month later after treatment by the MAM team (below).
In an ideal world, there would be no orphanages. As Dr Frank Smithuis (Head of MAM) says: “The most beautiful orphanage is an empty orphanage.” Yellow Generation Wave’s orphanage is not a perfect home for the children, far from it. However, for most of them there is no better alternative and that is why we strive to make the best of it.
Thanks to your support, we are able to provide medical, psychological care and food for the children.
Do you want to donate and change the life of a child too? Read more about it on our website: https://sanni-foundation.com/en/projects/saving-children/
