Botstiber Aid to Vulnerable People
As a boy, Dietrich Botstiber personally witnessed the suffering of civilians in Central Europe during and after World War I. The war and its aftermath displaced millions of people and wiped out many traditional ways of life. Young Dietrich had vivid memories of strangers standing near his home, mute, helpless, begging for food. Now, nearly a century later, the same cruel conditions persist around the world.
The Aid to Vulnerable People Program of the Botstiber Foundation began as a spontaneous response to the devastation of the tsunami that struck off the coast of Indonesia in December, 2004. Within weeks, Foundation funds and staff were sent in support of the work of an Indonesian non-governmental organization which delivered food and medical aid to the devastated town of Meulaboh on the west coast of Sumatra.
After the tsunami, the Foundation turned its attention to the long-standing problems of suffering and hunger in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). In the “dry zone” of central Myanmar, raising enough food to eat with very limited water is a chronic problem. In the remote hills and mountains of the country life has long been very hard for people living there. Armed conflicts in some parts of the country make it all but impossible for rural populations to grow food. Commendably, opium growing has been eradicated in parts of Shan State, but those who grew it have little arable land on which to grow alternative crops.
Starting in 2007, the Aid to Vulnerable People Program of the Botstiber Foundation provided funds to local and international NGOs to support projects that address the problems of suffering and hunger in Myanmar. The Foundation provided support for small village health, water and sanitation projects in various parts of the country. It contributed to the relief efforts after cyclone Nargis devastated the rice growing lowlands of the Ayeryawaddy River delta.
After a long assessment of the needs in Myanmar, the Foundation began to focus its work around the area of Lashio, a town in northern Shan State. For many years this region was inaccessible because of armed conflicts. Since 2000, international agencies have provided relief and development assistance to a growing number of communities as conflicts have ended in cease fire agreements with the government. Now, much of Myanmar's commerce with China flows through Lashio along the route of the fabled Burma Road.
In response, the Aid to Vulnerable People Program of the Botstiber Foundation has supported the Lashio Livelihoods Improvement Project implemented by its partner, CARE Myanmar. The Lashio Project has provided clean water to people living in target villages. Community hygiene has improved with the construction of fly proof latrines. Villagers have started home gardens and some are raising pigs. They have learned to address common health problems through training, aided by equipment such as mosquito nets and basic health kits. Village development committees have helped guide and manage the projects, aided by training from staff of CARE Myanmar. These results have demonstrated a pattern of assistance that can be built on and replicated in other villages.
The Foundation recently completed an assessment of the Lashio Project and is planning to continue its support for food security work in Lashio for the next three to five years.
The Foundation’s projects in Myanmar are based on humanitarian principles. The Foundation is strictly non-political. It takes no stance on political issues. The Foundation operates under a license issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. When required, the Foundation exercises expenditure responsibility over projects in Myanmar by periodic visits to the country and financial audits of the projects