Overview:
Our partner works in the sprawling urban slum areas in the outskirts of Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar. Due to poverty, children from the slums are vulnerable to being trafficked. Local police estimate 20 cases of trafficking of 12–18-year-olds monthly – mainly young girls for sexual exploitation and boys for child labour in local tea-houses and restaurants. Having expanded its community centres from 5 to 9 in the past year, our partner is perfectly placed to deliver strong anti-trafficking awareness programs to these vulnerable communities. Around 500 children are reached through these hubs on a daily basis. It involves training parents and children of the risks, prevention strategies and procedures to follow should trafficking occur, including access to legal advice.
What we like about it:
We are impressed with our implementers’ experience and their desire to protect children, the most vulnerable group. We like that they work closely with the local police and community leaders to protect children and families to bring about change in communities. We also appreciate the collection of data on trafficking to assist them in pinpointing effective strategies, together with the participation of volunteers from the slum communities.
Budget:
$20,430 for a one-year project. This covers teacher training, materials for distribution, trafficking awareness and prevention events, as well as monitoring and evaluation.
The Need:
Myanmar has suffered from 50 years of military rule and remains a country unsettled by government forces. Resources are limited and slum areas and poverty are common-place with one of the slums mentioned cramming in a million people and others 200,000. Children as young as five are often involved in the care of their younger siblings or are forced to work, leaving them highly vulnerable to traffickers who live within the communities.
Life Change:
