Summer camp brings hope in Myanmar

“Displacement often makes children feel invisible.” shared Thawn, who held a camp for over 250 displaced children in north-west Myanmar. 

In recent months rising tensions between the military and rebel groups have forced families to flee to other villages, forests and across the Indo-Burma border, leaving behind all that they own and taking with them the deep wounds of trauma.  

Thawn, Project Director at our Sophia Project, saw the great need of refugees for healing and decided to act, transporting the hundreds of children to a safe zone where the camp was held.  

“For children navigating the profound instability in our area the trauma extends far beyond physical displacement. Holding our moral and spiritual camp served as a vital ‘psychological anchor’, helping them find a sense of continuity in a world that feels increasingly fragmented.” -Thawn 

During the camp the children enjoyed times of quiet reflection to start the day calmly, games to build teamwork and trust, art therapy to help process feeling without words and singing and dancing. Each activity was designed to provide a spiritual, emotional, psychological or physical benefit to the children. By addressing the "invisible wounds" of war, the camp aimed to prevent the cycle of trauma from hardening into long-term resentment, ultimately preparing these children to be the peacemakers of Myanmar’s future.  

“In the eyes of a displaced child, a small gesture of kindness isn't just help—it’s a bridge back to the person they were before the world changed.” -Thawn 

The camp had a tremendous effect on the children, who left with a renewed sense of joy and hope, even amidst their difficult circumstances.