Myanmar in Crisis: Protecting children with Early Childhood Education

Children on the Edge support Kachin communities who have been displaced by conflict and are living in camps in northern Myanmar (Burma). We provide education, play and expert care for young children aged 3-6 years old. 

The current crisis in the country is creating huge uncertainty for people here, but our preschool centres are providing a much needed safe haven for the youngest children, ensuring Early Childhood Development (ECD) at a crucial time in their development.

​Read on to find out more…

CURRENT CRISIS

Two years on from the February 2021 coup in Myanmar, when the military junta (Tatmadaw) arrested the country's elected civilian leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, the country is still in crisis. Most areas are in a state of war with dozens of military groups are now engaged in a patch-work resistance to the junta.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, adding to those already displaced after decades of conflict and violence. Those affected include ethnic minority areas in the northern part of the country, including Kachin State, where Children on the Edge have been working for a decade. 

Civilians in these areas are regularly shelled by the military and there are widespread documented human rights violations. In October, a festival in Kachin was bombed, killing nearly a hundred people, many of them children.

Children on the Edge support displaced communities in the most remote mountain camps in Kachin State, Myanmar.

LIVING IN CONFLICT

The displaced Kachin communities we support are currently surviving day by day in an active warzone, with no hope for an end to armed conflict and aerial attacks. There are just over 13,000 displaced people living within the camps we work in. 

People are unable to return home and remain trapped in remote mountain camps, where they continue to be cut off from basic supplies, like food and fuel. The increase in market prices and the inflation of local currency are crippling, with local experts estimating this level of hardship is likely to remain for years to come.

Air raid bunkers have been built near every household in the camps, and by some of the preschool centres we support. Their presence is a frightening reminder of the reality of war for the children that attend each day. 

There are no other organisations working in this region offering humanitarian relief and these displaced Kachin communities are largely ignored by the international media. 

Air raid bunker at preschool centre supported by Children on the Edge

CRISIS RESPONSE

To respond to the worsening crisis in the last year, we have been providing extra funds to ensure healthy meals at our preschools each day, and the children have particularly enjoyed the additional snacks. We have also given our teachers increased stipends, to support them with rising costs.

In addition to this year's provision of rain clothes, all 484 children were given a set of warm clothing for the winter months, including a jacket, trousers, hats, boots and socks. 

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 “I LOVE THE WARM CLOTHES, BOOTS ETC, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME. I AM HAPPY TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PLAYING MATERIALS THAN AT MY HOME. I LIKE TO HAVE SNACKS AFTER NAP TIME”. (KAWN JA HTOI TSIN - AGED 5)

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Children happy with new warm coats

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HELPS CHILDREN TO THRIVE

​It is against this bleak backdrop of conflict and humanitarian crisis that Children on the Edge continue to support a high quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme in Kachin State, offering a vital safe space for displaced children in in eight of the most remote, outlying settlements.

Partnering with two local organisations; Kachin Development Group (KDG) and Kachin Women’s Association (KWA), over the past decade, our 15 preschool centres have been welcoming places, where nearly 500 young children  can find safety and care. 

Despite recent challenges, these preschools have been maintained as bright, colourful spaces that inspire learning and fun for the children, and much needed hope for their parents. 

Children playing at one of our preschool centres

TEACHERS ARE TRAINED FROM WITHIN THE CAMPS... delivering exceptionally high quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) environments, despite being cut off from resources. In recent months the preschools have received extra learning materials and teachers have attended fresh training courses to develop their skills. 
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They also enjoyed a ‘Storybook competition’, which gave them the chance to write stories for the children based on their experiences and local context. They crafted the books themselves, and the winning entries were printed, to be used across all our preschool centres.

Teacher sharing her Storybook

The winning Storybooks

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS SUPPORTED BY PARENTS who, through local committees, maintain the preschool buildings, create play materials and learn about parenting and child protection through workshops and training sessions. 

 “ACCORDING TO THE VARIOUS PARENTING STYLES I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT, I HAVE BEEN TOO AUTHORITARIAN. AFTER ATTENDING THIS SESSION THREE TIMES, I KNOW THAT I HAVE CHANGED MY DAMAGING BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS MY CHILDREN. ALL OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD KNOW  MORE ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATION.” (PARENT FROM DUM BUNG CENTRE) 

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​Families have been heartened to see their children progressing thanks to their attendance at the centres. ​

“MY CHILD IS BEING CLEVER! WE PARENTS COULDN’T HELP OUR CHILDREN TO BE PERFECT, BUT HAVING AN ECD CENTRE IN OUR CAMP ALLOWS THE CHILDREN TO DEVELOP IN A HOLISTIC WAY. CHILDREN HAVE LEARNT EVERYTHING THROUGH PLAYING, FRIENDSHIP AND CONVERSATION IN THE CENTRE.” (HPAULA HKAWN JA FROM SHA-IT YANG II CENTRE)

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Parents tell us that when their children come home each day, they excitedly describe what they have done, which friends they have played with, which songs they have sung and what kind of lessons they have learnt.

“I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY BECAUSE I’M VERY HAPPY TO PLAY, SING SONGS, DRAW PICTURES, WITH FRIENDS. TEACHERS GAVE FRUITS AND PRESENTS TO ME. I LIKE TO LISTEN TO STORIES EVERY DAY.” (NHKUM AWNG MAI, AGE 4, DUM BUNG CENTRE)

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Children love their teachers. Mading Bawn Win, age 4 from Sha-it Yang Centre says, “My teacher is very kind and beautiful. I love her. She always says kind words to us. There are many toys, playing materials and friends. I like to play and dance with my friends”

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

​By the time a child reaches five years old, 90% of their brain has developed; meaning their experiences from birth to this age are the most important of their lives. Children need to grow up eating nutritious food, interacting with parents and other children and have the chance to play in a safe space, under the loving care of a parent or caregiver, for healthy brain development. 

This is even more crucial for children living in conflict or humanitarian crises, who are more likely to suffer stress, a lack of stimulation and learning opportunities, along with reduced health services and nutrition. 

It’s why we work to create protective environments for children and deliver high quality Early Childhood Development and support, to offer a buffer to protect children from the negative effects of what they have been through. This goes beyond simple education. To ensure healthy development at this vital age, a safe, nurturing environment can help children bounce back and develop resilience, protecting them from the risks of toxic stress, which can damage their brains irreversibly.

Read more about Early Childhood Education and Development >>

FUTURE OUTLOOK

It is difficult to predict the outcome of the crisis in Myanmar. The military has maintained its hold on power and shown little willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with the civilian leaders or the international community.

Children on the Edge remain committed to the Kachin communities, and to supporting their dedication in giving their children the best possible start in life. With the help of our supporters and funders, we will continue to provide safe spaces for young children for as long as needed. 

However, the need for quality early childhood education goes beyond the 15 preschools we currently support and if funds allow, we are ready to expand our programme to new camps which do not yet have early years provision for young children.

Could you support our programme with a donation or grant funding?

If you are from a Trust or Foundation and wish to discuss how you can support our programme in Kachin State, please contact our Grants Manager, Sophie Poore: sophiepoore@childrenontheedge.org ​

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HEAR FROM THE CHILDREN...
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MEET KAWN JA HTOI TSIN

​Five year old Kawn Ja Htoi Tsin has three siblings and is mainly cared for by her mother as her father is unwell. Read her story to see how her behaviour transformed after starting at Maga Yang centre.

READ HER STORY >>

MEET SHARI BAWK AWNG MU HPA

Four year Shari Bawk Awng Mu Hpa old and attends junior class at Pa Jau ECD centre.  His father spends a lot of time away with the army. Read his story to see how much of a positive impact the centre has had on him.

read his story >>