Hope through nutrition: Pyae's journey
Pyae, a 17-year-old boy, lives with six family members, including his grandparents, parents, and sister. His family's income is unstable, relying on his parents' odd jobs such as drying fish or making brooms.
Most days, they can only afford simple meals, often just fried eggs or duck eggs. On difficult days, they must share whatever food is available, sometimes leaving some family members hungry.
Pyae shared his experiences, "My mother often feels weak and dizzy due to her low blood pressure, and my father struggles with stomach issues from eating leftovers. I often get stomach aches and feel constantly tired. My younger sister is always the first to fall ill whenever sickness spreads in the village. We know our unhealthy diet is the cause, but we have no other option - food is costly, and our income is barely enough to get by."
Finding hope through nutrition
One day, Pyae’s mother heard about a community meeting organised by World Vision. Hoping to find ways to improve her family’s situation, she decided to attend. During the meeting, she learned about the importance of nutrition and how to prepare balanced meals using the limited resources they had.
She also discovered that World Vision offered support to families like hers, providing essentials like rice, cooking oil, and eggs to help malnourished children.
A few weeks later, World Vision volunteers visited their home. They measured and weighed Pyae and his sister, confirming that both were undernourished. The volunteers gave the family a small supply of rice, oil, eggs, and a packet of nutritional peanut paste. While Pyae’s mother was grateful for the assistance, she wished they could receive such support more regularly.
Over time, Pyae’s family began to see small improvements. His mother started using the knowledge she learned from World Vision to prepare more nutritious meals, even with limited ingredients. Pyae and his sister fell sick less often. However, the family knew their struggles were far from over. Many other families in the community faced the same challenges.
Pyae shares his dream, “I dream of a future where no child in my community has to go hungry. I hope that one day, global leaders will recognise the struggles families like mine face and provide the support needed to ensure every child can grow up healthy and strong. Until then, I am grateful for the small acts of kindness that make life a little easier for my family.”
Pyae’s story highlights the challenges faced by families in Myanmar due to poverty and malnutrition, while also showcasing the positive impact of community support and awareness programmes. It emphasises the need for continued efforts to improve nutrition and health for vulnerable populations.
World Vision is standing alongside children in calling for Governments to listen to their concerns, experiences and solutions on nutrition. Stand with us. Take action on what children are calling for. Together, we can ensure every child has ENOUGH access to healthy and nutritious food.