Who We Are

We are a small international group of friends and volunteers who have worked closely with monastic communities across Myanmar, especially with Buddhist nunneries, for several years. In 2020/21, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, we launched the successful campaign “Food for Nuns in Yangon, Myanmar”, raising over €14,000 to support basic food needs for hundreds of nuns. This new campaign is a continuation of that compassionate connection — born out of deep gratitude, respect and care.

The team consists of Ven. U Viveka (Canada), Juan Pablo Ortiz (Colombia), Maria Amaya (Colombia), Daw Thet Thet Aung (Mandalay, Myanmar), and Markus Baude (Germany) plus many volunteers who are going to support us.

Why We're Raising Funds Now

On March 28, 2025, a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, leaving thousands dead and many more injured. A month later, the devastation continues: hundreds of nunneries lie in ruins or are structurally unsafe, and the women who dedicate their lives to community service and spiritual refuge are now living in temporary shelters, exposed to weather, food scarcity, and disease.

While government aid is focused on repairing state infrastructure, support for religious communities—especially Buddhist nunneries—has been minimal or nonexistent. Rebuilding will take not just months, but political and economic stability that remains uncertain.

What We Are Doing

We are now focusing on supporting nuns who have been left without shelter, food, and safety. We are collaborating with a local grassroots group in Mandalay who has already identified a large number of nunneries in the Mandalay region that have received no international aid so far. These include communities of elderly nuns, orphaned novices, and women who provide crucial spiritual and educational support in their villages. For now we have decided to focus on 10 nunneries. At the moment we have limited ourselves to ten nunneries, but if funds allow, we would like to add more nunneries

We are also seeking to coordinate efforts with other small international initiatives—because the need is far greater than any one group can meet alone.

How the Funds Will Be Used

Your donations will go directly to:

Temporary Housing – providing basic materials (tents, bamboo, tarps, matting) to create safe living environments

Food Supplies – monthly delivery of rice, oil, lentils, and vegetables

Sanitation – buckets, and hygiene items

Medical Essentials – basic medicines and health kits if available in the region

Transportation & Coordination Costs – to reach remote nunneries and oversee distribution

We are planning for at least three months of sustained support to help these communities stabilize and recover. Every euro counts: just €20 can provide a week’s worth of food and supplies for a small group of nuns.

Transparency and Updates

We are committed to full transparency. We will share frequent updates through this GoFundMe page as well as our dedicated Instagram where you’ll find photos, reports, and messages from the communities we support.

Instagram: food for the heart

With Gratitude

Many of you reading this supported our campaign in 2020/21 (https://www.gofundme.com/f/food-for-nuns ). Your generosity made a real difference then — and we hope you’ll join us again. The nuns have always opened their hearts to others. Now, they need us to open ours to them.

Together, we can offer not just aid — but dignity, stability, and a path toward healing.