ADORE is a youth-led mental health organisation that offers a hybrid online and offline approach that provides peer support, trauma-informed care, safe spaces and healing, catering to local communities and diaspora groups in Myanmar.

What Others Can Learn

ADORE stands out as a youth- and women-led initiative delivering accessible mental health support in Myanmar. Its flexible, low-cost model combines counselling, creative therapies, awareness workshops, and training, both online and offline. Strong local knowledge, volunteers, and partnerships enable wide outreach. ADORE demonstrates how young leaders can respond creatively and reduce stigma amid political instability.

Partnership With Ember

The Challenge

ADORE had built an agile, accessible model, but its rapid growth was outpacing its organisational systems. The team needed a clearer programme model and strategic direction, stronger planning and evaluation, a sustainable funding approach, and greater attention to staff wellbeing. These pressures intensified after the March 2025 earthquake, when ADORE rapidly expanded its services.

 

What Ember Did

• Helped ADORE map its programme model, clarify priorities, and strengthen vision and planning.
• Built team skills through leadership, case-study, and storytelling support through Photography project to communicate their work visually. 
• Boosted ADORE’s visibility through a Mental Health Innovation Network spotlight.
• Supported the team to attend the Global Mental Health Action Network conference in the Philippines.
• Enabled a collective retreat where the team reflected on its needs and began developing a wellbeing strategy.

 

The Outcome

ADORE now has clearer direction, greater confidence in its model and impact, and stronger systems for planning and communication. With a more connected and resilient team, it is better positioned to grow accessible mental health services across Myanmar while sustaining the people behind the work.