Sittwe orphanage struggles as donations dwindle in pandemic times

By Mrat Swe 04 Dec 2020

Mrat Swe | DMG
4 December 2020, Sittwe

An orphanage in the Arakan State capital Sittwe has been facing difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lack of donations, the facility said.

The ABC Foundation’s orphanage in Sittwe’s Mingan Ward looks after children ranging from infants to 13-year-olds.

The ABC Orphanage’s administrator, U La Min Kyaw Thu, said some staff who had been looking after the orphans were temporarily laid off as donations coming into the facility have dwindled.

“There have been no permanent layoffs so far. However, some staff have had to be laid off temporarily. We have 13 staff members who have had to be laid off. It had to be done because of the imbalance between costs and expenditures. We find it difficult to provide the staff members’ salaries,” he explained.

The school takes care of 56 orphans, with 35 staff employed to look after the children and administer the facility. With 13 staff members laid off, those remaining say they are stretched thin.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, donations amounted to between K200,000 to K300,000 daily, according to orphanage officials.

U La Min Kyaw Thu said in these lean times the orphanage is getting between K50,000 to K100,000 a day — and there are days without any donations at all.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no ‘regular’ donations but when the donors did come, it was somewhere between K200,000 to K300,000. The amount varied depending on the donors. However, during the COVID-19 time, there are days when no donors come to the school. The donation amount dropped to between K50,000 and K100,000,” he said.

The foundation has been relying on donations to provide for the food, education and healthcare of the orphans. As donations are no longer sufficient, the foundation has had to supplement costs with its reserve funds, according to orphanage sources.

Facility supervisor Daw Saw Hmone Yi said she was worried that the remaining staff members might be laid off if donations don’t pick up enough to sustain the facilities operating costs.

“I am really sad for some staff that have to be suspended. Even we could be on the list to be laid off. It depends on the donations. We are concerned about this. Our livelihood will be difficult,” said Daw Saw Hmone Yi.

Daw Aye Khin, who has been working at the orphanage for nine years, said she was concerned about the fate of both the staff and the children amid the downturn in donations.

“During this COVID-19 period, we want more funds. We are also worried about the staff who have been suspended. Even I am not sure if/when I will be suspended. It is due to fewer donations. And we are really concerned about the kids. We want the school to get donations,” Daw Aye Khin said.

Responsible officials at the facility said the daily operating cost to provide for its 56 kids and to cover other expenditures is about K150,000.

Established in 2010, the orphanage celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.