The War And Poverty Have Robbed The Lives Of Displaced Children

By Author: Avoda Foundation
Total Articles: 1
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When the Sound of Bombs Destroys a Generation's Future
In some parts of the world, children wake up to the sound of alarm clocks to go to school. But on the other side of the border, many children wake up to gunfire, explosions, and the screams of people fleeing for their lives.
One night in Karen State, Myanmar, an eight-year-old girl was carried away from her home in the middle of a blazing fire. She couldn’t remember grabbing anything with her—only the clothes on her back and her mother’s tightly gripped hand. When they reached the Thai side, she no longer cried. She was too exhausted to have any tears left. That marked the beginning of a new life with no home, no citizenship, and no word for “school.”

That child has a name... but no future. She doesn’t know the word “teacher,” has never held a book, never stood in line for the national anthem, never heard the school bell ring. No one has ever asked her what she wants to be when she grows up—because the adults around her are just trying to survive each day.

The years-long war in Myanmar has pushed tens of thousands of children into ...
... the status of “stateless children” and “out of school.” They are forced to grow up in refugee camps or remote border villages. Many have to haul water, wash dishes, or take care of younger siblings before they’re even ten years old. Some fall victims to human trafficking. Some die from preventable diseases.

They are stripped of parents, homes, dreams, and even more painfully stripped of “the opportunity to be just a child.” The sounds of bombs that we don’t hear still echo in these children’s minds every day. If no one extends a helping hand, that silence will consume them forever.

A School Filled with Hope and Teachers with Heart
When the entire world of children is confined to small villages on hilltops or in forgotten refugee camps, their definition of school may be nothing more than wooden planks and a blackboard. No desks. No books. No nationality. No choices. And seemingly, no one recognizes their needs.

In the context of border education, the Avoda Foundation has firmly stood and established the Avoda Learning Center for children who cannot attend school within the Thai state system because they are undocumented, stateless, and lack legal opportunity. This learning center is likened to a "school for stateless children," filled with understanding, love, and faith in the potential of children who have been overlooked by the world.

Children here learn Thai, Burmese, English, mathematics, and life skills. They receive primary healthcare, are cared for by teachers who understand the context of refugees, and above all... they have come to believe again that “they are valuable.”

This is a school surrounded by fencing for safety—but there is no segregation, no judgment. Only the hearts of teachers are filled with love and hope for the futures of these children. This is one of the tangible expressions of the Christian mission in education.

Learning That Heals and Transforms Lives
Educating which gently heals the scars of war, poverty, and abandonment. A child once silenced from the trauma of war begins to smile again when drawing a picture of home.

A child who once dared not make eye contact now raises their hand to answer questions in front of the classroom. A child who once did not even know the alphabet now reads, writes, and dreams of becoming a teacher—because she wants to return to her hometown to help others.

“Before I came to class, I didn’t know the alphabet at all. Now I can read. I want to be a teacher. I want to return home and teach the younger children.” — A girl from the Learning Center.
Teaching here does not focus on competition, but on understanding, nurturing courage, fulfilling potential, and opening the door to hope—allowing children to overcome fear.

More than 200 children are currently studying at the center, and Avoda has set a goal to care for 500 children within five years. This is not merely a number—it is 500 lives of great worth, each of whom may grow up to become good citizens, witnesses of love, or servants in the future. For we believe that God restores the brokenhearted to become leaders of the land.

“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes...” — 1 Samuel 2:8
A Small Light That You Can Help Ignite
Avoda believes that ending the cycle of poverty, violence, and the Burmese war crisis can begin with a “small classroom” filled with love, faith, and hope in God. But we can never do this without you.

You Can Help:
-Support a Scholarship
Only $10/month can help one child continue their education.

-Donate School Supplies
Notebooks, pencils, clothing, shoes — even the smallest act of kindness can be of great value to refugee children.

Join in Prayer and Share This Article
So, the world will not forget that the hope of borderland children is still waiting for a response.

No act of help is ever too small. No kindness is ever meaningless. When you reach out your hand, one child will no longer have to cry alone in the darkness.
Because even in the darkest places… there is still a “ray of hope”— if we help each other to light it. And God is always at work through the hearts of those who refuse to look away.

Click here to start child sponsorship
https://www.avodafoundation.org/learningcenter
You’re not just giving. You're walking with us.