Survey on displaced Myanmar children [Myanmar]
About three million people are displaced internally and forcibly migrate outside the country since the military coup in 2021 in Myanmar.
SEEDS Asia is implementing a project to support children who forcibly migrated to outside Myanmar in education continuity and enhanced response capacity to various risks.
As part of the project, a survey was conducted since the 6th of June, 2024, to collect information on situations surrounding those children, with the help of our partner school. We will discuss the preliminary figures in this article, based on the responses by 130 students from Grate 10 to 12. We are hoping to use the results to strengthen our support to ensure the safety of as many children as possible.
1. After the coup, the number of students at schools accepting immigrants tripled
Our partner school has to decline enrolment requests due to a lack of resources (teachers and facilities).
In the survey, the question “Were you born in the town where you are now?” was asked, to which 30% of responding children answered “yes” and 67.7% “no,” indicating almost 70% have fled to this new location. Additionally, 2.3% of the children declared they were born in a refugee camp. The school population which tripled in number since the coup comes from diverse backgrounds.
2. One in 10 children said they have “no one to talk to when in trouble” and about 80% “feeling isolated and depressed”
Forcibly displaced children are seeking protection in exchange for social connections – friends and neighbors. In the questionnaire, the question was asked whom they can consult when they encounter crises, to which 63.1% answered “family”, 29.2% “friends”, and 3.8% “school teacher or other trustworthy people.” However, remarkably 13.8% answered “I cannot consult anybody” claiming over one in 10 children struggling to talk about their challenges in the harsh environment while seeking asylum. To another question “Whom did you come here with?,” 13.8% responded that they migrated with non-family members. Furthermore, 7% “always feel isolated or depressed,” and 69% “feel isolated or depressed” to a question. It highlights the need for environments and relationships that allow those children to feel comfortable to rely on and talk to others.
3. Variety in familial and residential environment
Many of the families seeking asylum have crossed borders (rivers) illegally, placing themselves in legally precarious positions. Some cannot sign a lease agreement when they are financially unstable, and this results in multiple families residing in a house. The question “How many people do you live with?” exposed a variety in responses from two to 10. It is assumed that approximately 3,000 children who have lost and/or cannot live with their parent/s for various reasons and live in care facilities. Our partner school have children commuting from those facilities.
4. 63.8% “wish to pursue tertiary education”
Over 63.8% respondents stated that they wish to study at university. 19.2% responded “not sure,” and 16.9% answered they do not wish to pursue higher education.
5. What the children want to learn
To the question “Do you have anything you want to learn aside from the learning at school?” 73.8% answered “yes.” Specifically, “language/s (English, Thai),” “Computer and IT skills,” “self-defense,” “dance,” “singing,” “valley ball,” and “drawing/painting” were listed. In this project, we provide computers to the participating students, through which multi-risk-responsive training will be provided to students in Grade 5 or upper. It is hoped that the scope of their learning will broaden as a result.
6. 93.8% respondents have a mobile phone
It was identified that almost all students in Grade 10 or higher possess a mobile phone. Few share with other family members or do not have any.
7. Crimes and violence surrounding children
13.1% respondent reported that they frequently witness or hear about thefts in their surroundings. 59.2% reported they sometimes witness/hear, and 10% have seen or heard once. Except for the 17.7% who never had witnessed or heard about thefts, over 80% participants had been exposed to some forms of crime. Additionally, almost 80% respondents had seen or heard about violence, 14.6% out of which answered “I frequently see or hear about violence in my surroundings.”
8. Police, a reason for fears
Myanmar, unlike sea-locked Japan, shares its borders with many other countries. This allows many immigrants/emigrants to cross borders, legally and illegally, whether it may be for evacuation or other purposes. Even one’s travel across the border may not be illegal, still, living in another country could be restrictive in terms of freedom of movement. 54.6% of the respondents of the survey revealed that they can’t freely move in town. Reasons for this were “the police” (50.8%), “traffic accidents” (24.6%), “infectious diseases (malaria and dengue)” (13.8%), “nature-induced disasters (such as flooding)” (6.9%), and “fires” (3.8%).
The above is the summary of responses to the questionnaire conducted on 6th of June 2024, collected from Grade 10 – 12 students. We shall continue to hear the real voices of students in Grades 5 – 9.
The survey was conducted online as the students in Grades 11 and 12 had learned computer skills last year. However, Grade 10 students who are anticipating to learn it this year, seemed to struggle with answering the questionnaire.
Some respondents commented “There are so much we have to do to make our environment safe” and “I don’t know what we should do when we finish Grade 12.”
How to protect the safety and hopes of children who are exposed to multi-risks while taking refuge – the survey taught us the big challenges and responsibilities we need to take on through effective project implementation. We shall continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders and address those.