Meeting the kids from the Immanuel Shelter Children Home

They would like to become soccer players, boat constructers, boxers, singers, actresses, cosmetic workers, one would love to fight in a ring as a wrestler. Most of them have seen it in the TV, some of them are singing in the local shelter band. They have their dreams and passions and it is important that they know, that in life everything is possible. Also leaving the Myanmar orphanage and still achieve something.

Everyone knows how to run, bike and swim. They don’t know the country where I started running, they try to remember basics about Europe. In school they like math and English the most. Thanks to the chance they got in the orphanage they have the chance to be educated and become someone. Their future is insecure and the journey will be difficult, however they still have a chance.

They sing, and dance and it is piteous to watch how they enjoy every word and move, with closed eyes… so much openness you won’t see anywhere else. Watching their smiles and honesty is heart-breaking but inspirational the same time. Heart-breaking, because you would love to save every single of them… inspirational, because they give you so much life energy and strength.

Most of them have several siblings, the average between four to six, maximum eleven. One of them has only one. Brothers and sisters, spread in other orphanages across the entire country, without any contact. Most likely, they will never see them again. Some of them without parents, some of them with one parent and some of them with both, but poor enough to be not able to take care of their own kids. Sad reality of Myanmar’s society, too many families living on the edge of their existence, often required to give up on their own children.

The financial situation of the orphanage makes it possible to deliver only one meal to the kids per day. Fried rice and curry every day. During our visit on Saturday the kids are talking about a „nutritious meal“ – that means no meat that day, only rice and vegetables. One meal per day… That means, that most of the day they are hungry. They don’t know what it means to open the fridge when they want and take out what they want. They are asking what I am eating, being so huge and tall. My answer – fried rice. 🙂

We are asking them, whether they are happy and satisfied with the life in the orphanage. Without hesitating, all of them raise the hand and answer YES. During the entire meeting they are very nice to each other and you can feel they are sticking together and love each other.

I am requested to tell them something at the end. It is important for these kids to know, that also they can have a future. That their future will be soon in their hands only, reflecting their choices and decisions. It important for these kids to know, that they can become soccer players, boat constructers, boxers, singers, actresses, cosmetic workers, or even wrestler fighters. They will need to fight hard to make it up to the top, but they can do it!

Their honest smiles and eyes are telling me they will do all in their power to achieve it.

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Share Mercy activities with these kids are crucial for their current, but also future situation. The organization is educating the kids in the main areas of the civic life, such as:

• How to become a citizen who can request his basic human rights
• Civic skills – the basic legislation awareness, communication skills, presentation skills etc.
• Action based life planning reflecting their specific skills – future planning based on the predisposition and talent of the child (music, sport, languages, …, whatever what is the strength of the kid)

In future, Share Mercy would plan to establish for the orphanage a small farm with bakery. The kids would learn how to grow the vegetables, fruits, bio chicken, bake bread for the orphanage’s needs. A piece of land is already arranged and to be rented, but they need more resources to kick-off the project (estimated one-time costs are 3-4K EUR). However, under the current circumstances, when the main priority is to get under control the basic life conditions of the kids (enough food, drinking water etc.), this remains a dream for the future.

Do you want to help the kids? Read here HOW.

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Also read:

Help for Share Mercy

Myanmar democracy in reality