MAY 2010 Shanta Foundation Newsletter

Dear Shanta Supporter,

Mike and Tricia Karpfen, co-founders of Shanta Foundation, have just returned from Myanmar.
                   · Find out about our economic & education progress
                   · Hear about Dave's experience with our Lending Fund
                   · Read about Shanta's goals for 2010
                   · See our latest photos on www.shantafoundation.org

 
A message from Mike           

Dear Friend,

'Chanda' is a Burmese word meaning prosperity on all levels - health, family, financial and spiritual.  That's where we got the name 'Shanta'.  It's also what's happening to our villages.  Read on!'Chanda' is a Burmese word meaning prosperity on all levels - health, family, financial and spiritual.  That's where we got the name 'Shanta'.  It's also what's happening to our villages.  Read on!

BUILDING A THRIVING ECONOMY
"It's late November and time to plant the dry-season wheat crop.  Since I don't have the money to buy seed and fertilizer, I walk an hour to Pa Mon village, take a van to Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, and borrow $35 from a lender.  I will owe him 10% each month until I can repay him in June when my crop comes in. That'll be 60% interest.  I am also then obligated to sell him my wheat at a rock bottom price."

That was the plight of a typical farmer until Shanta co-developed a Community Loan Fund program in six villagesto change all that.  For good. 

Each family contributed about $8-10 over a 6-month period to a Loan Fund until each village collected $1000 that Shanta matched.  They set up committees that Shanta trained to manage and set guidelines for the loan fund, and by December of 2009 all funds had been lent out at a much more reasonable rate than from the city lender.  A real bonus for the village is that 50% of the interest earned will go towards a Village Improvement Fund to pay teachers, provide emergency hospital grants, and other village needs.  What a breakthrough!

PIGS FOR PROFITS 
Shanta's pig farms are awash in piglets.  Each of our 10 sows has given birth to about 8-9 piglets and most have been presented to new families already to begin raising on their own.  The families are very proud of their farms and are caring for the piglets like they were precious family members.  Soon the original sows will be sold for a profit of about $75 each, a 75% increase in their annual income.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP!
Up until recently, you would never ask a child what they wanted to be when they grew up.  You would only get a blank stare.  It was almost an impolite question, because it implied they had a choice.  A farmer was the only thing they could be.  Choice was unimaginable, as 90% of the children didn't make it past primary school.

This past March we had a lengthy conversation with a young man in his first year of high school.  (HS is only for 2 years)  He is dead-set on going to university to become an engineer and returning to his village to help with its development - even though his family cannot afford the $800 per year.  Hopefully, Shanta will be able to help with the cost.

A 9-year-old girl's mother, Machu, told me that her daughter cries if she has to miss school due to illness and she wants to become a doctor when she grows up.  Machu looks at her hands as she tells me she works morning and night to save enough money to send her daughter to high school and hopefully, university.

Currently, Shanta offers a matching scholarship to all students boarding at one of the 3 area high schools.  Shanta's cost is $12.50 per student/month.  The students are also required to provide community service, such as helping with preschools on the weekends or giving talks to middle schools.  In school year 2010 (begins June), 35 students will be attending high school, twice the number as last year. We expect it to double again in 2011.  An education renaissance in the making!

And, Shanta's 8th primary school is being completed this month!

Plus, five pre-schools each have about 30 children attending!

Also, 14 villagers underwent cataract surgery in December!
 
In 
gratitude,

Mike,   Executive Director