A Call for Help: Rebuilding Lives in Myanmar
- baanunrak5
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
From the very beginning of the Myanmar crisis, Baan Unrak Children’s Home, Green Island School, and AMURTEL have worked closely together to support those affected. As close partners, we are united by a shared ideology: 'We are all children of the Cosmic Family.' In times of catastrophe, our duty is not only to rescue, but also to awaken the highest expression of human sentiment — inspiring compassion, unity, and action. Our mission was to mobilize the community to stand with those in need — and we succeeded.
We were able to connect and bring good people together to carry out noble actions. We know our capacities are limited, but together we did something beautiful. Most importantly, we brought hope, inspired resilience, and helped the victims find the strength within themselves to stand up and fight to rebuild their lives.
Many organizations around the world connected and did their best. It became a network of hope that truly lifted the spirits of the victims.
After the initial loud response, things quieted down significantly. The World Food Programme is still distributing rice, but gradually, everyone else returned home, believing they had done their part. A deep silence followed. Despair settled in, hidden beneath the misery of the monsoon season.
The rainy season can be beautiful if you have a strong roof over your head and dry clothes to wear. But in Myanmar, that is not the case.
As soon as the ground stopped shaking and the aftershocks ended, the rains began. There was no proper shelter. The elderly, single mothers, and young children were left exposed to the elements, in the worst possible conditions.
In response, AMURTEL volunteers made the courageous decision to return.
Our volunteers went to share their lives with the people at the temple in Khamwekhone, one of the areas most affected. The people there had lost everything — Together with 250 displaced individuals, our volunteers lived in the same temple, slept side by side, shared the same food, and used a single toilet. They chose this life not to forget the suffering, but to find the strength to keep going — refusing to return to a comfortable life while others were still in need. Their commitment ensured that every donation would make a real, meaningful impact.
We realized that tarpaulin shelters, sufficient at first, are no longer enough. With six months of rain ahead, a solid roof is urgently needed.
Our volunteers did extraordinary work. They connected with the most vulnerable, coordinated with village leaders, assessed damage, and identified those most in need. They secured building permissions, submitted architectural layouts, and helped manage tensions in the community—because while everyone wants a house, not everyone can receive one. Our Volunteers waited for hours in long queues, under sun and rain, to gather scarce building materials. They found laborers, supervised construction, and finally celebrated with joyful photos beside newly built homes.
As a team, we realized that we could not help everyone. We had to identify the most crucial needs and focus our efforts. We targeted a small community in Mahar Aung Myae Township, where families lost their homes not only to the earthquake but also to fire. Unlike others, they couldn’t salvage a single item. And now, the heavy rains have come.
The ones who suffer the most are the children. A total of 58 students cannot go back to school—they need bags, shoes, and uniforms. With the right support, they can overcome their trauma and still build a future for themselves and their community. They are the future, capable of giving back to their people in ways our team cannot. We need to support them.
With great effort, we supported the temple at Khamwekhome by constructing four toilets. We now need to build a new shower room, which will cost 400 USD.
In Mahar Aung Myae Township—the area devastated by both earthquake and fire—we have completed two houses, each costing around 2,000 USD.
We have to build 27 more houses Mahar Aung Myae Township.
However, another township devastenly si poor—Chanmya Tharsi—also needs support, with 30 additional houses required.
With the limited resources we have left, we may be able to build four more.
After completing the next four, we will need to reach out for help to fund the remaining 53.
There are many vulnerable individuals living in Khanwekhone and Thanlattmaw (Mahar Aung Myae Township and Chanmya Tharsi Township):
34 elderly people over 70 years old
75 people aged 65–70
22 single mothers with babies
14 newborns
58 lower primary school students
35 people currently sheltering in a temple—with only one shower
What we urgently need:
53 houses: $106,000 USD
School supplies for 58 students ($12 per student): $696 USD
A proper shelter for the temple: $4,650 USD
A new shower room for the temple: $400 USD
Total needed: $111,746 USD
If you can, please consider making a donation. Every contribution—no matter how small—makes a real difference. Your kindness becomes bricks, roofs, books, and hope.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts—for reading, for sharing, and for caring.
Witness how compassion becomes action—find inspiration in our team’s efforts so far to support the 2025 Myanmar earthquake victims.
Explore the links below.
Standing Together for the Victims of the Myanmar Earthquake. https://www.baanunrak.org/post/standing-together-for-the-victims-of-the-myanmar-earthquake Update on Myanmar Earthquake Relief Efforts 2025. https://www.baanunrak.org/post/update-on-myanmar-earthquake-relief-efforts-2025
Relief Mission Report – Myanmar Emergency Response Conducted by AMURT/L in Collaboration with The Green Island Team Date: April 12, 2025.
https://www.baanunrak.org/post/relief-mission-report-myanmar-emergency-response-conducted-by-amurt-l-in-collaboration-with-the-gr We Are Back — Because We Could Not Forget Them.
Update on aid efforts for victims of the Myanmar Earthquake in 2025. https://www.baanunrak.org/post/update-on-aid-efforts-for-victims-of-the-myanmar-earthquake-in-2025
Hope in Action: Stories from the Earthquake Relief Efforts. https://www.baanunrak.org/post/hope-in-action-stories-from-the-earthquake-relief-efforts
Hope in Action: Stories from the Earthquake Relief Efforts.
You can help us continue our work by donating directly to Baan Unrak Foundation:
https://www.baanunrak.org/donation
Or, if you prefer, you can contribute to AMURT Italia:
Or, if you prefer, you can contribute to AMURT UK:
With love and gratitude,
Baan Unrak Team
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