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The Karpfen's in 2007 with friends, Po Ja and Meyune Words carry weight. The names we choose for the work we do reveal something essential about what we believe and why we show up. At Shanta Village Partners, our name and the name of our partner organization in Myanmar aren't just labels. They are a [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
For Nang Win Kyi, childbirth was once filled with fear, uncertainty, and financial strain. Today, it tells a different story; one of preparation, partnership, and confidence made possible through community-led health education and shared responsibility. Nang Win Kyi is a 30-year-old mother of two from Myauk Hti Bwar Village. She and her husband [...]
Working Together Beyond financial support, these groups create a space for learning and connection. Women share ideas about health, livelihoods, leadership, and family well-being, often discussing topics that rarely have space elsewhere. Over time, these conversations help women grow in confidence and strengthen their ability to make decisions for themselves and their households. The ripple [...]
Witman Panel In December, Shanta’s Global Program Manager, Khai, was invited to participate with a team to teach a one-week intensive class at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. Joining Anna Taft, Executive Director of Tandana Foundation, and Madjalia Seynou, Executive Director of Farm Sahel, the team gave students an opportunity to learn concretely how [...]
Until just a few years ago, Nan Khan Raim never imagined herself sitting in a village meeting, let alone speaking up, managing funds, or helping guide major community projects. At 33, she juggles life as a farmer, a wife, and a mother of three in Ham Phoe Pay village. Her family grows corn, pigeon peas, [...]
Our partnership villages in Zambia launched the Women Action Group (WAG) initiative, a program adapted from Shanta’s long-running Women’s Group Discussion model in Myanmar (active since 2010). Shanta’s Global Program Manager, Khai, first trained our Zambian staff in May 2025, who then equipped 16 local women leaders to begin facilitating the program. The response was [...]
A gaggle of girls on a dried-up soccer field in the late afternoon laughing and dancing might look like a group of kids just being kids, but these groups can serve a greater purpose than fun just for the sake of it. The girls grab each other’s hands and step backward, all the while joyously [...]
Typically, women in rural Myanmar households manage the finances of their families. With an annual household income of approximately $700, little to no funds are available for emergency health care or other family needs. Through our women’s empowerment programs, each village forms female groups with members taking leadership roles. An example would be Shanta’s Self-Help [...]
