MBOA Boys Orphanage - Mandalay

Founded in 1926, this boys' orphanage in Mandalay is currently home to 220 boys, aged from 4 to 19. The orphanage is run by the Myanmar Buddhist Orphanage Association (MBOA) and its operation is funded entirely by external donations.

It is through one of its main donors that the orphanage has recently been able to install a rainwater tank and associated plumbing. Staff have also recently re-painted the inside of the main dormitory and installed fly screens to protect against mosquitoes.

These are excellent examples of how simple, but well-planned and executed, project work can have a significant and direct impact on the lives of those in need. When our Project Group visited the orphanage, the general view of the team was that, although the boys had a decent living environment, they would benefit enormously if their teaching and training facilities were upgraded.

The team decided to invest in some PCs and other computing equipment, to be installed in a newly-created computer room in the orphanage. The team was delighted to re-visit the orphanage in March 2005, to hand over the new equipment and to discuss with staff their plans for upgrading the level of computer training at the school.

The team also took dozens of tennis balls and several soccer balls, and distributed them to the boys during the visit. What had been a fairly quiet and restful afternoon was immediately transformed into a melee of sporting activity, as the boys celebrated noisily. Once again, we were reminded of just how effective such simple, hands-on support and aid can be.

Recent good news - one of the resident boys, trained in the computer room, has won a place at a local University to study Computing Science, marking another small but significant milestone in the history of the MBOA Orphanage.