World Vision’s sustainable learning initiatives restore hope for earthquake-affected children

“The earthquake struck while the school was open, with children sleeping inside. Children woke up due to violent shaking, and we sprinted to protect them with our bodies,” says Yin Oo, a teacher at the ECCD school in Amarapura Township, supported by World Vision in partnership with the local community.

The school’s buildings collapsed, and dust from the rubble blinded Yin and the children. “I feared the worst,” Yin recalls. “We tried to find an exit but were trapped. We shouted for help, and the community came to our rescue.” Miraculously, no children were harmed.

After the earthquake, Khin Thida Oo, a development field officer for World Vision’s Amarapura Area Program (ended September 2024), led a team to assess damage in operational areas. “We found the ECCD school, funded by World Vision UK, had collapsed,” Khin says. She met with teachers and school committee members, offering vital psychological support during this challenging time.

While the earthquake spared the children physically, it left emotional impacts. “The students weren’t injured, but they feel sad and discouraged due to the tragic event they encountered on that day,” Khin explains. 

World Vision is committed to supporting earthquake-affected communities with rehabilitation efforts.

Another school in Aung Myay Thar Zan Township, Mandalay, was also not exempted from the impact of the earthquake, where ten-year-old Wai was attending.  The library and reading spaces where children gathered for stories were brought down, disrupting their learning.

“The earthquake damaged our library and reading club, so we were stuck at home. I missed my friends and our story times,” Wai says.

The earthquake has kept children at home, leaving them unhappy. To help resume their learning, World Vision swiftly launched learning activities. “To restore damaged libraries and learning spaces, we set up child-friendly libraries as an emergency priority to keep children learning,” says Shwe Sin Chal, World Vision’s Education Program manager.

These activities provide access to education and prepare children for the upcoming school season. Children are also provided with psychosocial support, allowing them to read stories and learn with teachers in a safe environment.

“Children need safe spaces and communities that understand their feelings and emotions in such situations. We are committed to meeting these needs through our child-friendly libraries,” Shwe says.

For children like Wai, these spaces are vital. “I hope we get more fun libraries, reading clubs, and story times,” Wai says.

World Vision’s Education Program supports and promotes sustainable learning for children facing disruptions. Through these initiatives, we ensure all children’s participation in education.

The 7.7 earthquake, that hit Myanmar on 28 March caused widespread damage to homes, schools, health centres, and public infrastructure in Mandalay and Sagaing. The earthquake compounds an already dire humanitarian situation where nearly 20 million people already needed humanitarian assistance across the country due to prolonged conflict, recurring natural disasters, and economic collapse. Children and their families who have lost their homes are now dealing with extreme heat and expected rain or thundershowers, further deepening those already critical needs, especially for shelter.

World Vision is providing life-saving relief assistance to the children and their families affected by the earthquake. Through our humanitarian efforts, both immediate relief and long-term recovery, we aim to support 500,000 people, including 172,000 children.