ChildFund at work in Myanmar

Political isolation has left Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) the poorest country in South-East Asia. With a quarter of the population living below the poverty line, the challenges for children and youth are immense.

This is a snapshot of the situation for children in Myanmar:

• One in 15 children in Myanmar dies before their 5th birthday.
• Only half of all children in Myanmar complete primary school.
• Over a third of children aged 7-16 in Myanmar are estimated to be working. Poverty is the main driver of child labour, with many families relying on wages earned by their children for basic needs like food and shelter.
• Thousands of Myanmar children are trafficked each year, mainly to China, Thailand and, more recently, India.

ChildFund Australia is working through local partners in Myanmar to address the needs of vulnerable children and youth, including street children, trafficked children and children living with HIV and AIDS, particularly in the areas of education, health and child protection. With the support of the Australian Government, ChildFund is currently supporting 16 communities in six states across Myanmar, which is benefiting more than 13,000 children and young people.