OUR STORY

Welcome to the heart of the SONNE Social Organization (SSO). We are a locally registered NGO (No.: local-0135) that has been rooted in Myanmar since 2016. Our story actually goes back even further to 2008, when we first began our journey as the Myanmar Professional Social Workers Association (MPSWA) and forged our enduring partnership with the Austrian non-profit SONNE-International.

SONNE stands for Support Organization for Non-formal Needed Education. From day one, our mission has been simple, unwavering, and built to last: to provide secure, promising lives through accessible education and healthcare for vulnerable and marginalized children and youth in Myanmar. We believe true community development is built entirely on inclusivity, transparency, and genuine collaboration with local village communities—always operating beyond religion or politics.

While we proudly operate as a fully independent, local entity right here in Myanmar, we work hand-in-hand with our mother organization, Sonne-International in Vienna, Austria. Together, we share a global commitment to education and health—with sister projects reaching communities in Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, and Malawi—while keeping our feet firmly planted on the ground here at home in Yangon and the surrounding areas.

Riding Out the Storms Together

Our path hasn't always been straightforward. In the late 2010s, we experienced wonderful, sustainable growth—helped along by our Austrian project coordinators Sabine Ebner and Maria Schaunitzer—welcoming more children into our centers and expanding into vocational training programs.

Then came 2020, hitting our programs hard with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed closely by the political turmoil starting in 2021 that brought everything to a temporary standstill. But our team stayed remarkably determined and resilient. We didn't have to terminate a single staff member or cut a single educational offering. In fact, we managed to keep our regular healthcare programs running. By 2023, we were back on a growth path, opening our doors to more students and launching additional low-threshold community services.

We have also faced extraordinary challenges together. A defining milestone in our recent history came after the devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck upper Myanmar on March 28, 2025. Our small team stepped up to coordinate the rebuilding of 100 houses at Inle Lake and provided vital emergency support for 1,800 families in the area. (We will share more stories about these relief efforts soon!)

Healthcare Beyond the Classroom

Beyond our core educational spaces, we also bring free healthcare directly to communities with restricted or zero access to affordable medical care. Through our mobile health camp, we reach internally displaced person (IDP) camps, orphanages, Buddhist monasteries, and nunneries (which double as children's homes), as well as the bustling slum areas where our daycare centers operate. You can learn more about this part of our mission in the “Healthcare” section of our site.

the Sonne Family

Organizations are built on walls and paper, but our soul is made of people. Beyond our core team in Yangon, our social workers, teachers, cooks, and trainers are the true heartbeat of the SONNE family.

We all share a single vision: helping disadvantaged children build a future of real opportunity. Our team is daily proof that regardless of title, background, or social status, it ultimately takes a big heart, hard work, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to get things done.

Where We Stand Today

Today, our family has grown to over 30 dedicated employees—more than 80% of whom are women, and many coming directly from the very communities we serve. Every single day, we care for more than 300 children and youths, providing free education, healthcare, counseling, and nutritious meals.

And we are growing still! This November 2026, we are beyond excited to open the doors to our newest facility: Daycare Center 4. Built out of bamboo, this warm, welcoming school will provide a safe space, formal and non-formal education programs, and a vibrant community hub for an additional 50 children.

Want to follow the progress of our new school, catch up on field updates, or peek behind the scenes of the SONNE Myanmar universe? Check out our brand-new [Blog] and sign up for our [Newsletter] to stay connected!