Shanta’s model is innovative, replicable, sustainable and cost-effective

Alleviating poverty is not a simple goal. Rather than develop a model based on theory and then trying to implement it, our model has grown directly from our experience partnering and working with villages to build sustainable futures.

Shanta’s ability to help begins with our belief in the existing agency of villagers; that they have the potential to identify and solve their own problems. And our innovative model works effectively at the grassroots level with an entire village to build a path out of poverty.

Essential to the success of our six-year village partnerships is our local Myanmar team of skilled and compassionate Burmese staff who have been personally mentored and developed for the first 10 years by our founders, Mike and Tricia Karpfen.

In 2023, Shanta Foundation partnered with the People’s Action Forum to replicate our proven model of poverty reduction in Zambia with 3 pilot villages.

SHANTA FOUNDATION MODEL

5 STEPS TO CREATING SUSTAINABLE VILLAGES

Shanta’s ability to help begins with a belief in the existing agency of villagers; that they have the potential within themselves to identify and solve their own problems.

EVOLUTION OF MINDSET

Villagers go from seeing themselves as having their life defined by extreme poverty to experiencing the ability to choose, influence, and contribute to the creation of new opportunities for their family and village.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Shanta partners with the community to build capacity and create village-wide opportunities in education, local health care, livelihood, leadership, and infrastructure.

Trust-building between Shanta staff and villagers occurs as the partnership progresses. Village interactions transform from hierarchical decision-making in small groups to large group activities that promote inclusivity and value input from all community members.

LISTEN

We listen to build trust, gauge interest, and understand the village’s unique goals and concerns.

PARTNER & PLAN

Once we both agree to a six-year partnership that includes a co-investment of funds, Shanta helps villagers organize into teams and committees, create a shared future vision, and identify common goals.

ACTIVATE & ENGAGE

Shanta builds capacity by empowering local leadership through trainings, coaching, and support.

ACT AND LEARN

Villagers accomplish their development goals, learning new skills and critical thinking through successes and challenges along the way.

CELEBRATE & TRANSITION

At the completion of our partnership, Shanta staff join the villagers to celebrate successes, create long-term strategies for developing independently, and agree to a supportive monitoring schedule.

“The beauty of our model and the six years we spend with villages is that when we step away, it’s because a village doesn’t need us anymore.”

–Anna Pool, Board Member

Cost Effective

An annual investment of just $27 per person provides life changing opportunities at an impressive cost-benefit ratio.

Program Areas

Our holistic approach to creating bright, sustainable futures

6

Leadership

10

Healthcare

8

Livelihood

2

Education

4

Infrastructure

To encourage ongoing and thoughtful review of Shanta’s methods and processes, we developed an innovative M & E strategy that tells us what’s working, what impact we are having, and how we can improve.

Our model requires long-term commitment from the villages, from Shanta, and from you. Make
your commitment here