Cyclone Nargis prompts new healthcare plan

Published Date: December 21, 2010

MYANMAR: Bishop John Hsane Hgyi of Pathein diocese, priests and Religious nuns, 43 doctors, nurses and health workers helped organize a diocesan medical team and health knowledge sharing program on that began on Monday and will end tomorrow.

Monsignor Maurice Nyunt Wai, vicar general of Pathein diocese, said the cyclone Nargis triggered the healthcare idea that originated 10 years ago.

“We organized the medical team with the aim of networking between church-run clinics in Pathein and health workers from different parishes to carry out effectively in healthcare awareness,” Father Henry Eikhlein, director of Karuna Pathein Social Service (KPSS) told ucanews.com.

MY12564.1633

Church builds cyclone shelter in Myanmar

A cyclone-proof school and storm shelter built by the Church would have saved lives when typhoon Nargis tore through the Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar, local villagers say.

“We do really thank the Church for helping us regardless of religion,” said U Tin Aye, a Buddhist farmer from Marlargone village, one of the hardest-hit places by the cyclone.

He added that Nargis destroyed all the village houses and floods have swept away 283 out of the village’s 519 residents.

Father Henry Eikhlein, Karuna Pathein Social Service (KPSS) director, said they took the example from Bangladesh’s disaster risk reduction strategy and built a primary school that can serve as a shelter.

He added that although KPSS, the local Catholic Church’s social service agency, had assisted villagers with food items, clothing, medicines and housing, shelters are the most important aid to be given to them.

An engineer explained that while the structure is designed as a primary school, more than 200 people can take shelter in it in case of natural disasters.

About 200 people attended the cyclone shelter’s opening ceremony held in Marlargone village on Nov. 17, including the KPSS director and his staff, local authorities and the villagers.

Library helps youngsters to improve in English

Pathein diocese in Myanmar has been operating a library service to help young people improve their English language skills.

The Church-run Millennium Center library distributed English books to 20 local primary schools this year, said chief librarian, Kyaw Swa Lwin. “We try to collect the books from schools and exchange them with other books, every month,” Lwin said.

Since 2009, the library also distributed primary level English books from the British embassy to schools.

“We feel very happy when the unexpected books arrive,” said U Soe Win, principal of a government run primary school in Pathein. “I do really believe that these books will be very useful and helpful for our children.”

His school has now arranged their timetable to provide students with 75 minutes each day for reading, Win explained.

Daw Shwe In, 53, a teacher from the school, said about about half of the school’s 400 students are interested in reading English books.

“The children have improved both their English and general knowledge.They have also acquired the habit of reading,” said Shwe.

Currently, the library has about 300 members, four staff and opens every day except Friday.

The diocese directly operated Millennium Center from its opening in 2004 until last year when Karuna Pathein Social Service took over the responsibility. Karuna Pathein Social Service is Pathein diocese’s social service agency.

Myanmar Church builds up kids’ self-confidence

Karuna Pathein in Myanmar is organizing a series of “child participation days” for parishes still recovering from Cyclone Nargis.

Up to 100 children have joined the program each month in five selected villages of Pathein diocese. Karuna Pathein is Pathein diocese’s social service agency.

“The program aims to uplift the children physically and spiritually through games, songs, dances and competitions,” explained, Jerome, 26, a diocesan child protection officer.

“Our main intention is to help children be brave and dare to speak with others, to have unity and mutual understanding among themselves and to become future leaders,” he said.

Peter Soe Min Oo, another Karuna staff member who deals with psycho-social problems, added that the program uses methods of meditation, reflection and imagination as part of the trauma healing process.

“We let the children draw pictures to get in touch with their own feelings and we then spend time talking with them individually so that we can know their difficulties,” Min Oo said.

Prize giving and nutritional support are also included in the program, which participants say they enjoy.

“I never dreamed of celebrating Child Participation Day in my village,” said 14-year-old dance competition winner Htet Htet Lwin.

U Pein 54, a Buddhist farmer from the Irrawaddy delta, said that villagers are happy to see their children becoming less introverted and enjoying the program.

The monthly program will continue until December 2010.

Farmers reap benefits from organic farming

Farmers in Nargis-affected areas in the Irrawaddy Delta are enjoying positive growth by making and using natural fertilizers following a training course run by Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS).

The social service agency’s intention is to make farmers understand that by using natural fertilizers instead of chemical ones, they can preserve the fertility and richness of the soil, said John Ngwe, a KMSS trainer.

“This helps the environment increases their yield, and improves their quality of life” he said.

“We showed them how to make natural fertilizers from cheap and readily available materials that anyone can get hold of,” he added.

The Catholic agency invited 40 farmers from Nargis-affected areas and trained them in organic farming methods back in June. It also selected fields for cultivation in 21 villages, said Raymond Soe Lay, a Karuna Pathein Social Service worker.

Farmers are already seeing positive results.

“All my betel plants are growing well after I started adopting all the methods I was taught,” said U Aung Naing, a Buddhist farmer from Aima.

“Some of my friends are using old methods and a lot of their crops have died,” he said.

Making natural fertilizers doesn’t’ take long and is very good for the soil, allowing it to get more out of it, he added.

One farmer says he’s conducting his own experiment before he’s fully convinced.

“I’m using a small plot to grow organic crops and I’ll compare what I get there with what I’m growing on the rest of my land,” said John Bosco Myo Win.

Karuna says it intends to give further training, not only in Nargis affected areas, but also to farmers from 10 selected villages in Pathein, Myaungmya and Hinthada parishes from Sept 27 to 30.

Myanmar diocese expands youth program

A Myanmar diocese has expanded a youth volunteer program providing teaching assistants in remote villages by also including young Buddhists and Baptists.

The program began in 2002, but only Catholics were invited to join the program at first, said Matthew Kyaw Swa Lwin, an education project officer in Pathein diocese.

However, the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis exposed a greater need for volunteers so we decided to encourage Buddhists and Baptists to join the program, he said.

“Our main aim is to provide primary education among children living in poverty,” said Kyaw Swa Lwin.

The diocese has sent 100 volunteers this year to serve with government appointed teachers.

The volunteers all attended a one month course, where they learned different teaching methods and ways to attract children to attend lessons, Lwin said.

“It’s a great feeling teaching children, despite the fact I receive no salary,” said Than Than Moe, a Buddhist volunteer teacher.

Than Than 22, is working in Phyangone, a small village along with two government-appointed teachers. The relationship with the villagers is going well and they arrange food and lodging for the volunteers, she said.

About 100 children are studying in the village, but the greatest challenge is getting parents to send them to school, she said.

Most parents here never encourage their children, Than Than added.

The expansion of the project has also seen an attempt to introduce a new teaching method.

Volunteers have instructed community teachers to try and use the Child Centered Approach, Lwin said.

However, many are still using the old Teaching Center Method, he said.

The CCA is a new method so it will take time for teachers to get used to it, he added.

List of Beneficiaries

Financial Highlights

Future Planning

Achievements (Success Story)

About KPSS

About Organization

Karuna Pathein Social Serivces (KPSS), now also known as KMSS-Pathein is a Diocesan Caritas and was established as a social arm of diocese of Pathein in 2001. It was founded in coordination with Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), National Office under Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCM) in Yangon.. It is a non-profit organization as well as a faith based organization, delivering social services in the diocese of Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy Delta, in southern part of Myanmar. Since its foundation, KMSS-Pathein has been rendering social services to different needs of the people in the diocese, especially in the time of 2003 flood in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta, in time of 2004 Sunami affected victims in Labutta area, in time of 2007 flood in West Pathein district area, and particularly in great natural disaster of Nargis Cyclone in May 2008 and in 2012 emergency flooding in Pathein District during month of August. Today the main office of KMSS- Pathein is located in Pathein town having forming five sectors, such as Livelihoods, Education, Health, Social Protection and Emergency Preparedness. The mission of KMSS-Pathein is to empower the livelihood of the vulnerable people in many aspects so that they can take their own responsibilities and it also to build up for the wellbeing of the people and society. It has also been involved with the Nargis relief and rehabilitation activities in under the umbrella of Myanmar Disaster Response Committee (MDRC), funded through Caritas Internationalis from 2008-2011, and corporation with WFP, Caritas Thailand, KMSS National Office, and also with local communities. Now Karuna Pathein has partnership with Caritas families like KMSS National Office, Catholic Relief Service (CRS), MISEREOR, Caritas Italy, Caritas Thailand and other organization like Enfants du Mekong, MISSIO, Missions Etrangeres de Paris and Italian Bishops Conference (CEI).  

Organizational Chart of KMSS Pathein

Governance Structure

1. President is the Bishop of Pathein Diocese, who is also supported from Advisory Board and have meeting half yearly.
2. Advisory Board is composed of Vicar General and three Deans of ecclesiastical zones in the diocese of Pathein (Pathein, Myaung Mya and Hinthada zone) and assist the President and Director in policy making.
3. Director responsible for overall management or the organization and appointed by the President and Advisory Board. Each term is for five years. And Executive Director is accountable for both beneficiaries and Diocese.
4. Deputy Director is the one who assist the Executive Director in daily management and implementation. The Deputy Director is directly reported to Director.
5. In the Program Department, it is composed of Programme Manager, Project managers and sector field staff. Sectors: Livelihoods, Education, Health, Social Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Each sector is headed by sector heads who are playing also roles of project managers and accountable to programme manager.
6. Financial Department consist of Accounting and Reporting Unit as well as Admin, Logistic and IT Unit.
7. M& E Department is consisted of a team which is responsible for monitoring and evaluation of the activities against it, outputs, outcomes and impact of the programmes or projects implemented. They are to be accountable to Director and Deputy Director. They are to work closely with programme manager.

Vision: (Fullness of Life)

The poor and vulnerable people in the diocese of Pathein, Ayeyarwaddy Region, become fully developed and empowered, freely and equally sharing and enjoying the fullness of life.

Mission:

Uplift the life of the poor and vulnerable communities in the diocese of Pathein, Ayeyarwaddy Region, regardless of gender, race, and religions, with approaches of integrated services of physical, moral, and psychological supports ensuring their sustainable developments in all aspects.

Overall Objective:

“Uplifted the living standards of the poor and vulnerable people in the diocese of Pathein, Ayeyarwddy Region, regardless of gender, race and religions, by targeting on poverty alleviation and eradication activities within time bound set up by the organization”

The specific objectives of the Karuna Pathein are:

 

1. To have the poor and vulnerable communities increased in job opportunities and livelihood incomes by being provided with technical, materials and networking activities
2. To have increased enrolments, appropriate school supports in primary schools and quality education ensured and promoted by deploying volunteer teachers while working in cooperation with village communities, Education Ministries and local authorities.
3. To have basic health care awareness and supports appropriately provided to the poor and vulnerable people including people live with HIV/AIDS
4. To have the poor and vulnerable people socially well protected from violation of basic human rights and live with human dignity in safe human environment.
5. To have disaster mitigation and emergency preparedness plans and activities ensured and strengthened both in community and diocesan level in the whole region of Delta in Emergency Response

Targeted Groups

The targeted groups are the poor and vulnerable children, older people, and women, famers, fisher men and disable people who are in need of basic humanitarian assistance regardless of gender, race, and religions. Geographically, the targeted groups are included of 15 townships in Ayeyarwaddy Region in Myanmar. The diocese of Pathein is situated in those 15 townships. The diocese is ecclesiastically composed of 34 parishes governed in three zones such as Pathein zone, Myaung Mya zone and Hinthada zone.

About Myanmar

About Ayeyarwaddy

About Diocese of Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy Region