Khun Maung Mya, a 38-year-old resident of Nam Yin Village, shares his home with his wife and two daughters. With a third-grade education, Khun Maung Mya works diligently to provide for his family, farming 10 acres of corn and rice and operating a tractor and tiller. Together, these efforts bring in an annual income of [...]
A chance meeting between a Burmese tour guide and two Americans backpacking through Southeast Asia forever changed the destiny of so many villagers in rural Myanmar. When founders Tricia & Mike Karpfen and their guide, Thar Nge, first visited the remote, mountainous villages of the Pa-O ethnic tribes in 2004, they found gracious communities of [...]
Hey everyone! My name is Stella Potemkin, and I just wanted to take a second to introduce myself as the newest member of the Shanta Team. I was born and raised in Durango and then went off to get a double major in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science and Social Policy Analysis at Rice University. [...]
Imagine turning a struggle into a success story. Daw Nang Pauk, a 44-year-old resident of Htee Phoo village, did just that. She and her family have always struggled financially, but everything changed when they joined a ginger cultivation project organized by Shanta Foundation. Daw lives with her husband, adult children, and a grandchild. Her adult [...]
Parents in Hti Kan Laung village lack the education and resources to nurture their children as much as they would like to. Their primary focus is providing meals and emergency care when the children are unwell. Rural parents often struggle to earn enough and must take their children to work, affecting their health, delaying learning, [...]
Jeff and Laura Branson inspire me. Laura is a retired nurse and Jeff is a retired property caretaker. Once or twice a year we meet, and they want to hear detailed updates on what is happening in Zambia and Myanmar. They ask a lot of great questions, especially about our female empowerment programs and how [...]
"The seller has arrived! Dry noodles, cheroot cigars, eggplant, tea leaves!” Every two days, her voice is heard throughout the community. Ma Ei Khaing, an entrepreneurial young woman from Ye Ka Daw, harnessed her energy and started a mobile grocery as an added income for her family. Ma Ei Khaing has faced many personal struggles [...]
Shanta hosted 8 adventurous supporters on our Inaugural Zambian Insight Trip in September for 10 days, combining impactful time in our partner villages with tourism to some incredible sights, including Victoria Falls and South Luangwa safaris. We asked participants to share their thoughts on the trip, and here is what they said: You Guys Nailed [...]
Most community members, particularly women, in rural Myanmar villages lack adequate knowledge of family planning. A lack of effective child-care practices, difficulties obtaining healthcare services, too many children with insufficient space, and malnutrition all contribute to elevated morbidity and mortality among children, as well as an increased family burden to care for them. Nang Nu [...]
Despite unstable conditions, travel and trade restrictions, and runaway inflation, our Pig Farm Project has achieved significant success due to Shanta’s long-term village partnerships and emphasis on training. This success can also be attributed to the project's significant income generation and suitability to the local climate and culture. The villages’ strong leadership has enabled them [...]
Khun Maung Mya, a 38-year-old resident of Nam Yin Village, shares his home with his wife and two daughters. With a third-grade education, Khun Maung Mya works diligently to provide for his family, farming 10 acres of corn and rice and operating a tractor and tiller. Together, these efforts bring in an annual income of [...] 
A chance meeting between a Burmese tour guide and two Americans backpacking through Southeast Asia forever changed the destiny of so many villagers in rural Myanmar. When founders Tricia & Mike Karpfen and their guide, Thar Nge, first visited the remote, mountainous villages of the Pa-O ethnic tribes in 2004, they found gracious communities of [...] 
Hey everyone! My name is Stella Potemkin, and I just wanted to take a second to introduce myself as the newest member of the Shanta Team. I was born and raised in Durango and then went off to get a double major in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science and Social Policy Analysis at Rice University. [...] 
Imagine turning a struggle into a success story. Daw Nang Pauk, a 44-year-old resident of Htee Phoo village, did just that. She and her family have always struggled financially, but everything changed when they joined a ginger cultivation project organized by Shanta Foundation. Daw lives with her husband, adult children, and a grandchild. Her adult [...] 
Parents in Hti Kan Laung village lack the education and resources to nurture their children as much as they would like to. Their primary focus is providing meals and emergency care when the children are unwell. Rural parents often struggle to earn enough and must take their children to work, affecting their health, delaying learning, [...] 
Jeff and Laura Branson inspire me. Laura is a retired nurse and Jeff is a retired property caretaker. Once or twice a year we meet, and they want to hear detailed updates on what is happening in Zambia and Myanmar. They ask a lot of great questions, especially about our female empowerment programs and how [...] 
"The seller has arrived! Dry noodles, cheroot cigars, eggplant, tea leaves!” Every two days, her voice is heard throughout the community. Ma Ei Khaing, an entrepreneurial young woman from Ye Ka Daw, harnessed her energy and started a mobile grocery as an added income for her family. Ma Ei Khaing has faced many personal struggles [...] 
Shanta hosted 8 adventurous supporters on our Inaugural Zambian Insight Trip in September for 10 days, combining impactful time in our partner villages with tourism to some incredible sights, including Victoria Falls and South Luangwa safaris. We asked participants to share their thoughts on the trip, and here is what they said: You Guys Nailed [...] 
Most community members, particularly women, in rural Myanmar villages lack adequate knowledge of family planning. A lack of effective child-care practices, difficulties obtaining healthcare services, too many children with insufficient space, and malnutrition all contribute to elevated morbidity and mortality among children, as well as an increased family burden to care for them. Nang Nu [...] 
Despite unstable conditions, travel and trade restrictions, and runaway inflation, our Pig Farm Project has achieved significant success due to Shanta’s long-term village partnerships and emphasis on training. This success can also be attributed to the project's significant income generation and suitability to the local climate and culture. The villages’ strong leadership has enabled them [...]