Hosanna Community Center sits a little North of Yangon, in a quieter area of the suburbs. The community stands testament to how orphanages can transform into beneficial pillars in their communities.
Before Hosanna Community Center were two entities, Hosanna church, and a small children’s home called Hosanna orphanage. After a number of years taking care of the children in Hosanna orphanage, the director realised that children were not developing well physically or mentally, and were also being socially isolated. From a conference he attended and through a change in donor policy he learnt that family is the best for children to grow up, and that only parents (and other dedicated parental figures such as adoptive parents, aunties and uncles) can provide effective mental care to their children. As all of his orphanage children had either one or both parents, he decided to send all fifteen children back to their families.*
Before sending them back, the director faced a big challenge thinking through what could be done with the leftover building and resources that the orphanage had accepted before. A lot of money had been donated to the directors for the orphanage, and the foreign donors wanted to ensure that there was a more positive way that their money could be used in the community.
At the end of the day he managed to get advise from some experts in the field, who showed him that a good solution would be to establish a community centre. The result was a centre which has a church, a pastors home, space for after school activities, and training rooms.
Some of the students handiwork
Tailoring and Fancy Accessories
One of the courses run at the centre is a tailoring course. Mary and her husband teach three adolescents for three months at a time. During this period students learn the basics of sewing, and also have the opportunity to make ‘fancy’ accessories, which includes jewellery making and accessory decoration. Mary and her student’s crafts are available for purchase through their Facebook page 'Great Hero.'
Students practise hair styling
Beauty
Another course offered by the centre is beauty. Here students are taught hairdressing, hairstyling, makeup application along with many other beauty skills. Currently the school has three students, who will stay until the end of the three month course. After the beauty course has been completed, students are helped to find relevant work. Seventeen students have already gone through the course!
Beautiful dress patterns
After School Activities
In the Myanmar school system parents are often required to pay for after school tuition in order for their children to receive the full curriculum. This is difficult for some parents. At the community centre, students are able to attend after school activities for free. This not only greatly helps the parents, but provides a safe space for children to spend their afternoons. After school activities at the centre aren’t all about work, students also have the chance to learn many fun skills, from dancing to flower arranging. After afternoon classes have finished, children are sent back to their families for dinner, laden with stories from the days activities.
Church
Hosanna Community Centre was founded by local pastors, and so it is only fitting that the heart of the centre is a church. The small congregation of around fifty members meets every Sunday to read the Bible and pray together for their community.
Using Hosanna Centre’s Example For Future Orphanage Closures
One of the questions we’re often asked is what will be done with the leftover resources once an orphanage is safely closed down. Donors often pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into orphanages before realising that their institution is causing more harm than good. Thankfully these resources don’t all need to go to waste. Founding a community centre is an excellent example of how resources like buildings can be put to good use after an orphanage closes. Orphanage staff also need to be considered during the closure of an orphanage. Many rely on an income that comes from taking care of children in the home, and it is necessary to help staff to find new roles after an orphanage closes. If a community centre is founded, it is likely possible that staff can simply transition into working for the centre.
Situations will differ between organisations, but what needs to stay consistent is an open and honest use of resources. With so many needs in Myanmar and around the world, it is vital that any resources given for the purpose of empowering children and communities is used as such.
*Kinnected Myanmar is currently partnered with Hosanna Community Center, but was not involved with the organisation during the time period that Hosanna Church ran an orphanage, and reintegrated children with their families.