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Oxfam in Myanmar

Children investigating an Oxfam poster about safe hygiene on the wall in Than Phat Kyaung Su village. Photo: Aye Zaw Myo

From our staff

Nay Zin Latt, Programme Manager

 I can still remember the first day I came to the Oxfam office for my interview. I immediately felt that I wasn't a stranger to Oxfam, and people's hospitality was very warm. I started work as a programme officer, and now manage our programme here.

Our focus is on pushing for improved governance, through projects which help promote women into leadership roles, develop civil society organisations and help people earn a living in ways that are more secure. All of this work is very much adapted to the local context and the particular situation in Myanmar.


Full details of what Oxfam is doing in Myanmar (PDF, 211KB)

In 2010-11 Oxfam helped:

150,000
people in
Myanmar

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Snapshot of Oxfam in Myanmar

Photo 1/10 photo by: Thant Zin Win

Public health volunteer Nyein Nyein paints the name of her village on a new Oxfam water tank. “When we heard that Oxfam was building a Rain Water Collection Tank here all the villagers were very pleased,” she explains. “When the dry season comes we don’t need to worry much about drinking water. We are collecting rain water in this tank during the monsoon season.”

  • Public health volunteer Nyein Nyein paints the name of her village on a new Oxfam water tank. “When we heard that Oxfam was building a Rain Water Collection Tank here all the villagers were very pleased,” she explains. “When the dry season comes we don’t need to worry much about drinking water. We are collecting rain water in this tank during the monsoon season.”
  • As well as ensuring people have access to safe water supplies, we also promote safe hygiene practices to help prevent the spread of disease. Here, Win Myint washes her daughter’s hands beside water jars provided by Oxfam. Handwashing with soap can reduce diarrhoeal deaths in children by 40% and is one of the most inexpensive ways to prevent the spread of disease.
  • When Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in May 2008 many families lost their homes and means of making a living. Our emergency response included providing shelter to some of those most in need. Pyone Pyone and her daughter received materials to build a new home. “When I found my name on the list to get a house I was happy… Now I feel more secure. When it rains this will protect us.”
  • Involving women in our work is very important to Oxfam. Here, women participate in a community meeting to discuss disaster preparedness. We work closely with communities to develop emergency action plans and install radios to provide early warnings if the weather changes. “If another cyclone comes, we plan to run to the new concrete school built by Oxfam. It was designed to be a shelter in times of a cyclone,” explains Daw Than Myint.
  • Here, farmer U Sein Kan harvests rice in Than Phat Kyaung Su village. Oxfam has provided families in this area with farming and fishing tools to help them develop their livelihoods. We also work with local authorities to provide training on sustainable agriculture such as organic farming techniques and compost.

The impact of our work

 I've received farming tools, a bucket and a latrine. After the cyclone we had nothing left and I couldn't afford to buy anything so I'm very happy to have received these things.


U Sein Khaing, beneficiary of Oxfam's Cyclone Nargis response