MyHope aims to help people living in Myanmar struggling with extreme poverty, infection and disease, a lack of resources, and more.
doTERRA Wellness Advocate MaryAnn Cherry embarked on a journey of service when she and her husband Chuck hosted a doctoral student from Myanmar in their home in 2006. For three years, the student, Palal, lived with the Cherrys, eventually bringing his wife and son to America to live in their home also. As they learned of the difficult challenges facing the people of Myanmar, and grew to love Palal and his family, MaryAnn and Chuck felt a deep desire to put that love into action.
With this desire in their hearts, MaryAnn and Chuck started the nonprofit, Myanmar Hope Christian Mission (called MyHope for short), to help people living in severe poverty in Myanmar. After Palal returned home, the Cherrys kept in contact with him to stay well-informed of everything happening in the country.
Though MyHope has served many people in Myanmar, they work closely with the Chin tribe—specifically with the Kuki people. Among many struggles, these people suffer from extreme poverty, which often leads to disease and malnutrition. The majority of the Kuki live in small, remote villages that lack electricity, running water, or sanitation—making it difficult to prevent against infection and disease.
People in Myanmar are commonly infected with mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue Fever and Malaria. In addition to these diseases, Myanmar is among the list of Asian countries with the highest rate of HIV infection.1 Aside from the infections and diseases that come as a result of poverty and lack of sanitation, the people that MyHope serves lack most of the amenities associated with a modern lifestyle. Most children drop out of school as early as second and third grade to help their parents in the fields, while some children never go to school at all.
Using donations, MyHope has launched several projects to help the Kuki people. They’ve provided food, clothing, and shelter after natural disasters, and built a new well to provide clean, fresh water. They have even improved educational resources by starting the Hope Boarding school, which serves 30 students.
MaryAnn is preparing to make her seventh trip to Myanmar to help with MyHope’s ongoing projects. She says, “I love that I am able to use my abilities to help the needy on the other side of the world, in a place where there is discrimination, oppression, and little to no help from the government.” To help the cause of MyHope, visit their website: www.myanmarhope.org/Donate
