What began as a simple prayer has grown into a home of hope for vulnerable children in the Diocese of Hakha. The “Amay Eain” (Mother’s Home) programme was founded by Sr. Faustina Sung Nawn to provide love, care, and a safe home for children who have been abandoned or neglected by their families.

The idea began many years ago when Sr. Faustina was travelling to Yangon. During the journey, she met several children from Chin State wearing rosaries. When she asked where they were going, they told her they were on their way to an orphanage.

Knowing that there was no Catholic orphanage for Chin children in Yangon, Sr. Faustina felt deeply saddened. She worried that Catholic children placed in orphanages run by other denominations might gradually lose their Catholic faith. From that day, she began praying that God would provide a Catholic home for orphaned and abandoned Chin children.

A Leap of Faith

In 2012, while serving as the Superior of St. Joseph Community in Hakha, Sr. Faustina saw a house that she believed would be a perfect place for the children. Although the owner initially refused to sell the property, she continued hoping and praying.

A year later, the owner agreed to sell the land for 300 Lakhs MMK. Even though Sr. Faustina had no money at the time, she trusted that God would provide.

Her faith was rewarded in 2014 when a Catholic businessman from Yangon, together with his wife, generously donated 300 Lakhs to purchase the land after learning about the orphanage project.

Although the land had been secured, there was still no building. Two years later, with support from the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, construction of a small home began. In 2016, the “Amay Eain” programme officially opened its doors.

Sr. Faustina said the home was established with complete trust in God, inspired by Psalm 68:5, which reminds believers that God is the Father of the fatherless and the protector of widows.

A Home, Not an Orphanage

The name “Amay Eain,” meaning “Mother’s Home,” was suggested by Bishop Lucius Hre Kung of Hakha Diocese. Instead of calling it an “orphanage,” he believed a more welcoming name would protect the children’s dignity and help them feel accepted. For the sisters, the home is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

The programme operates with the approval of the Sisters’ Provincial Leadership and the Bishop of Hakha Diocese.

Children Who Need Love Most

Sr. Faustina explained that the home is not only for children who have lost their parents through death. Many children still have living parents but have been abandoned or are no longer wanted. She believes these children need special care, love, and a sense of belonging.

Since opening, the home has cared for 14 children. Some have completed their education, some have married, others have found employment, and several are still attending school. The sisters continue to grow vegetables and rely on donations from generous benefactors to support the children’s daily needs.

During the first three years, Sr. Faustina lived alone with the children while caring for them. Later, more sisters joined the mission, and from 2026 the community has been fully staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition.

A Dream for the Future

“Our dream is that these children will one day build happy Christian families of their own,” Sr. Faustina said. “We want them to experience the love they never received and pass that love on to the next generation.”

Now 63 years old, Sr. Faustina continues to lead the “Amay Eain” programme. Before establishing the home, she served as a formator in the Little Way Sisters Congregation, founded by Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Mang Thang. Her mission remains focused on giving abandoned children a loving home, hope for the future, and the opportunity to grow in faith and dignity.

In a world where many children feel unwanted, “Amay Eain” stands as a testament to the power of faith, compassion, and the enduring love of a mother’s heart.

By RVA Hakha Chin Service