Executive Directors and Board members from six UNICEF National Committees visit Myanmar

From 21-23 October 2018, Executive Directors and senior Board members from six UNICEF National Committees from the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain, visited UNICEF’s programmes in Myanmar to understand how UNICEF is supporting the Myanmar Government to meet the needs of children in the country. Their visit included both development and humanitarian programmes to understand first-hand what it means to be there for every child, no matter what their ethnicity, community, religion or language.

Executive Directors and Board Members of six UNICEF National Committees together with UNICEF Myanmar Representative and staff at U Thant (3^rd UN Secretary General) House Museum, Yangon Myanmar 

©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Fre Yilma

They started their visit with an inspiring visit to U Thant House, learning how the values of ‘peace’ and ‘tolerance’ shaped the legacy of Myanmar’s own 3rd UN Secretary General, U Thant.  The delegation then travelled to Sittwe Township in Rakhine. Their first stop was the Mingan Quarter where they observed UNICEF’s WASH in Schools Programme in Basic Education Primary School (BEPS) No. 1 and talked with teachers, students and members of the Parent-Teachers Association.

Students from BEPS 1 demonstrate handwashing steps 2018
©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/ Aye Kyaw

The first pilot model of WASH in Schools (WinS) in Rakhine State includes the construction of basic WASH facilities in 22 schools such as sanitation facilities, drinking water supply, as well as hygiene education in schools. This programme is now benefiting 4,287 school children in three townships.

The delegates then visited in Mingan Quarter the Non-Formal Middle School Education Programme in BEPS 11 - a key intervention to support education for the most marginalised children in Rakhine State where adolescents who have dropped out or never enrolled in formal school are supported to enrol, or be re-admitted to schools.

Ms Vivien Maidaborn, Executive Director of UNICEF New Zealand observes as students learn Geography in BEPS 11 schools
© UNICEF Myanmar/2018/ Aye Kyaw

Then they travelled to Baudupha 1 IDP Camp, one of the IDP camps set up after the conflict between Buddhist and Muslim communities in central Rakhine broke out in 2012. There, they witnessed UNICEF’s support in providing health and nutrition activities such as primary health care consultations, Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) services and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling.

Suzanne Laszlo, Executive Director of UNICEF Netherland, talks with a mother who came to screen her children for malnutrition at an Out-patient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) Centre in Baw Du Pa 1 IDP Camp
©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/ Aye Kyaw

In Bawdupa 2 IDP Camp, another similar camp, they observed the Child Protection interventions including a UNICEF-supported ‘model family programme’. Implemented through a partnership with Save the Children International, the programme engages both parents and children through an intensive and participatory curriculum that is intended to improve relations within a family as a way of reducing the exposure to violence and aggression.  

Antonia Meszaros, UNICEF Hungary, and Georg Von Waldersee (UNICEF Germany) interact with children at a Child Friendly Space (CFS) in Bawdupa 2 IDP Camp where children receive psychosocial support including games exercises and paintings
©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/ Aye Kyaw 

A total of 19,525 children attend psychosocial activities in targeted locations across Rakhine State.  More than 800 children are supported by INGO case management systems receiving individual support for gender based violence, violence against children, children in contact with the law due to migration with no documentation, children in psychosocial distress, and children in labour situations. 

At the end of their brief visit to the IDP camps, it was apparent that although UNICEF is delivering lifesaving interventions, without additional funding and continued support to UNICEF’s education, WASH, child protection and health and nutrition programmes, vulnerable children will be further exposed to serious child protection risks, reduced access to safe learning environments, waterborne and sanitation-related illnesses and preventable diseases.  Investing in children, developing their skills, understanding of human rights principles, and instilling values including respect for diversity and tolerance, will also promote greater social cohesion, stability, and prosperity.