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Maintaining Latrine In a small village in Myanmar's Southern Shan State, one woman's journey from daily worry to quiet confidence is reshaping what health looks like for her family and her neighbors. Lwe Saung Village sits more than 54 miles from the nearest large town and is home to just 61 households. For Daw Nyein, [...]
Each April, people across Myanmar celebrate the arrival of the new year with the Thingyan Water Festival, a tradition filled with joy, reflection, and deep cultural meaning. It is a time when streets come alive with music and parades, and water is splashed freely between friends, families, and spectators. While it may look like a [...]
Ball Toss Game Before a single project begins, before a plan is written or funds are distributed, something more foundational takes place: people come together. When a new village begins its partnership, the elected Village Development Team (VDT) gathers for a very important training, not just to learn roles and responsibilities, but to experience what [...]
International Women's Month (AKA Women's History Month) Wrap Up! As International Women’s Month comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the strength, leadership, and determination of women across Shanta’s partner villages, and within our own team. This month, we heard from Khai, our Global Program Manager, and Janet, our Zambia Program Manager, whose voices remind [...]
Collecting Water In the hills of southern Shan State, Myanmar, the village of Nawng Ker Kei is home to 80 households from the Pa-O ethnic community. Like many rural villages in the region, families work hard each day to support themselves, yet opportunities remain limited. Nearly 87% of villagers rely on daily wage labor, often [...]
From Doubt to Confidence: U Bau’s Journey with School Accounting When Kan Lone village set out to build a new school, excitement was tangible, but so was the pressure of managing the project’s finances. For U Bau, a 53-year-old farmer of pigeon peas, rice, and groundnuts, the role of treasurer felt overwhelming at first. “I [...]
At Shanta Village Partners, we believe the most lasting change comes from within the community itself. That’s why our work is shaped by six guiding principles that center dignity, local leadership, and long-term impact. Community-Led Development We don’t prescribe solutions, we partner with villages to realize their vision. Community members lead every step of the [...]
In May 2015, the village of Kaung Khae began a transformative journey in partnership with Shanta Foundation (now Shanta Village Partners). Nestled high in the mountains, Kaung Khae is accessible only by a narrow, steep road, painstakingly built by the villagers themselves over several years using only hand tools. At the time, it was among [...]
Introducing Shanta's model to a new community in Myanmar At Shanta Foundation, selecting a new village for partnership is more than just a checklist; it’s a thoughtful, community-first process grounded in trust, listening, and respect. Each year between August and November, our regional teams set out to identify new village partners. These are some of [...]
The Thein Lay Pyar Village Women’s Self-Help Group was formed in September 2023 with 16 members. Within a month, they began launching small businesses by investing $553 in phone top-up cards (adding minutes to cellular phones) and snack crackers using funds from their savings group. They recognized that engaging in business was more advantageous than [...]
