On 1 May, the Jesuits in Myanmar prayed for workers all over the world remembering, in particular, the millions who have lost their jobs due to the current crisis. The poor are the hardest hit economically and socially. As Jesuits, we need to be submerged and immersed in the midst of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters to know the poor Christ. In Yangon, Christ incarnate is among the urban poor in Pan Yite.
Pan Yite is a slum area in Thingangyun inhabited mostly by daily wage earners, who make an average of 500 kyat (under $1) per day by selling goods or operating tricycle taxis. The Covid-19 lockdown has posed serious challenges to their daily lives and dignity. The congested settlements force families to leave their cramped houses and gather with neighbours on the only paved street in the area, thereby exposing themselves to infection. The government’s awareness raising programmes and assistance for basic needs have been insufficient.
On 2 May, our Jesuit community in Yangon together with staff from the Thingangyun Slum Social Project extended our service to the people in Pan Yite. With a contemplative spirit, we wanted to show solidarity with them in an incarnate way. Along with our collaborators and volunteers, and with the help of Pan Yite’s head officer, we delivered relief goods consisting of rice, onions, oil, sardines, beans, noodles, and chilli powder. Our local volunteers distributed them house-to-house. We followed the medical advice to use masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer.
Incredibly, despite the chaos and the crowd, the delivery was successful. Social distancing was close to impossible because of the lack of space for so many families, but many waited their turn for the packages. Some children followed to watch us, while other people went about their daily business. We managed to deliver all the packages in less than two hours, reaching 485 poor families.
The joy and happiness of the people energised us and helped us to work without feeling tired in spite of the heat, rain, and hunger, having had no time to eat before or during the delivery. The people were grateful for the love and generosity shown to them. The activity was a sign of our relationship with the poor and reflected good teamwork among ourselves, collaboration with our partners, and cooperation with the authorities. We continue to seek ways of reaching out to the most vulnerable communities outside Yangon and ask you to keep all of us in your prayers.
Myanmar Scholastic John Bosco Oo SJ is in his second year of Regency serving the Thingangyun Slum Social Project.
Vietnamese Scholastic Vincent Pham Van Doan SJ is in his third year of Regency in Myanmar, also serving among the poor in the Thingangyun Slum Social Project.