SERVING THE VULNERABLE IN MYANMAR

by Taylor Lemmon

The following report comes from AMS International Programs Officer Taylor Lemmon after meeting with Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in Thailand. The Sisters coordinate the Anti Human Trafficking Project in Myanmar, dedicated to providing skills training to vulnerable young women and migrants.

The conditions the Sisters work under are extremely challenging. With constant pressure from the Junta it is harder and harder for them to continue delivering their projects. They have had to close their kindergarten project. Just recently, the Sister had to close their health project: as international organisations are no longer allowed to work in the region, their health project funder had to leave Kawthaung and with their departure, cancelled funding.

Imports to the region have been cut off for about 2-3 weeks now and daily requirements such as food and water are becoming more scarce and what is available becomes more expensive by the day.

The Sisters are extremely brave providing an opportunity to the young women in the region to gain skills that will support them to find work in a debilitated economy and with work be able to support their families. The sisters also provide pastoral support to many community members, who have no were else to turn. They risk their lives to support their community.