2025.01
Myanmar (6th) Business Project Self-reliance News
The 6th Myanmar Business Project, which began in October 2024, is progressing smoothly. Through this project, a total of 16 families have been paired up, and each family has been able to start a small business to become self-reliant.
Even in the difficult situation where security is unstable and prices have risen significantly due to the civil war in Myanmar, the sponsored families are faithfully running their own businesses and nurturing hope. Tiny Seeds continues to provide assistance through regular monitoring. We will share the news of several families becoming self-reliant.
DAW MA CHO
Mr. Macho prepares for business every morning with his younger brother. It takes several hours to prepare the food and make a day's worth, but when the store opens at 2 p.m., it is quickly sold out to customers. In particular, during the rush hour, people flock to the store and the ingredients run out.
“At first, I didn't know how much I had to prepare, so I wasted a lot, but now I know when and how much I'll sell, so I'm preparing without wasting ingredients,” said Macho with a bright smile.
Mr. Macho regularly visits the store to check if the business is going well and to think of better ways to do things together. “If I had been alone, it would have been difficult to run the business so steadily. Thanks to the constant checks and help, I don't have to worry about failure.”
Although it is a small store, it is a solid foundation for Macho to take care of his family. Macho feels rewarded every day and dreams of a better future.
DAW KHIN MA CHI
Mr. Khim Ma Chi runs a small shop in the market and is responsible for the livelihood of his family. The shop is lined with fresh eggs and various sweets, and business is going well as customers keep coming.
“We sell about 300 eggs a week. We sell them for 380 won to 500 won each, and thanks to our regular customers, our sales are stable. In particular, sweets are always popular with children.” She told us about the store with a bright smile.
The TinySeed business project helped her to start her business in a stable manner. Regular monitoring and advice were also a great help. “Every time you tell me that business is going well, it really gives me strength. I'm always grateful for your careful attention to any shortcomings.”
Saw Nyunt Swe
At dawn every day, 74-year-old Saw Nyunt Swe rides his bicycle about three miles (4.8 km) with his goods on it. Considering that the average life expectancy of men in Myanmar is 65.9 years, it is a miracle to travel five kilometers every day to do business. To support his wife, who suffers from dementia, and make a living, he sells food to factory workers and lives faithfully every day.
“I sometimes earn more than 20,000 won a day. The factory workers keep coming to me, so my business is stable.” Seo Nutshe said with a bright smile. Through the Tiny Seed business project, she received support for the cost of converting her cart into a bicycle and for initial business expenses. Thanks to this, she was able to move her cargo much more efficiently and travel farther to meet more customers.
“Since I got the bike, my work has become much easier. I save time and can sell more to my customers. Thanks to this, I have more time to take care of my wife, and my mind is much more relaxed.” Mr. Seo continues to ride his Hope Bike and work hard for his family every day.
The Shelter for Children in the Red Light District, Sonagachi Education Center
The Sonagachi Education Center is filled with the bright laughter of children and the enthusiasm for learning. The teachers at the center care for children who do not receive enough parental care in the red light district with warm love. Here, children feel secure for the first time and grow healthy day by day.
At 11:30 in the morning, the lower grades come to the center after finishing school. At 3:00 in the afternoon, the upper grades also gather at the center after finishing school. Everyone sits down and concentrates on the lesson. In particular, in Ms. Soni's English class, the children are learning to read and speak in English, and are building their confidence. Children who couldn't even speak Hindi properly in the past are now reading and writing in Hindi and learning English as well.
Children who grow up in red-light districts often use slang or behave rudely, so the center is working to teach them proper speech and basic etiquette. Along with this, it is also providing language education and socialization education to help children learn better expressions and behaviors and learn to be grateful.
In addition, the center provides snacks such as eggs, fruits, and milk every day to support the healthy growth of the children. As the teacher said, “I want them to learn to be grateful, not take everything for granted,” the children are growing both physically and mentally through the joy of learning.
The Sonagachi Education Center is bringing about new changes not only for the children but also for the women of the red-light district. The women are deeply grateful for the environment that the children are provided with to stay safe and learn at the center.
The women's hearts began to open little by little with the Christmas event. As a result, seven women voluntarily gather every Friday to continue the small meetings. This meeting has become a precious time for them to share their stories and support each other, beyond just meeting.
Most encouraging of all is that many women are now coming to the center to learn new skills and dream of a better life. Women who previously had no hope of escaping their reality are now beginning to find the courage to do so for the sake of their own futures and their families. The Sonagachi Education Center is shining a light of hope on women and making positive changes in the community.
The education center is filling in the necessary items one by one so that more children can learn in a safe and pleasant environment. Currently, the Sonagachi Education Center needs desks, six laptops, air conditioners, and bathroom construction costs. Please share your thoughts with us so that the Sonagachi Education Center can continue to be a place of hope for children and women.
