Myanmar Minute #7. People in rural areas often live with their extended family. Each family member not only contributes to the plate and the family meal, works to prepare the meal, and carries their own job, but has to contribute financially to the family budget to pay for groceries and other necessities.  Rice is consistently eaten for lunch and dinner in Myanmar. It's served with curry, or a fish, shrimp, or chicken dish. Mohinga, a fish/noodle soup, is a delicacy.  Another delicacy is the green tea that usually accompanies the meals.

ADC has been supporting ZMF since 2007 to reduce poverty through microfinance. For information about making a donation to ADC or becoming a member, email info@adc.org.nz

Our latest profile is of a “light giver” who owns a petrol generator for electric lights.  Capital was used for lubrication oil, wiring, and upgrading the dynamo.  
The generator powers electric lights for around 70 homes in the area beginning at dusk and running for 3 hours.  Our client faces competition from a larger company supplying power, but currently customers prefer her electricity as it is more reliable.  Her dream is to replace the current 10kw dynamo with a 20kw model and expand the number of customers she services.  Once business reaches capacity, our client would like to take out a fourth loan for a weaving business during the day.

ADC has been supporting ZMF since 2007 to reduce poverty through microfinance. For information about making a donation to ADC or becoming a member, email info@adc.org.nz

Myanmar Minute #6. Chinlone – The Traditional Myanmar Sport.
Chinlone is a combination of sport and dance, a team sport with no opposing team. The focus is not on winning or losing, but how beautifully the game is played. A team of six players passes the ball back and forth with their feet, knees and heads as they walk around a circle. One player goes into the center to solo, creating a dance of various moves strung together. The soloist is supported by the other players who try to pass the ball back with one kick. Some of the most difficult strokes are done behind the back without seeing the ball as it is kicked. When the ball drops to the ground it is dead, and the play starts again.
The ball is woven from rattan, and makes a distinctive clicking sound when kicked that is part of the aesthetic of the game. Chinlone games are a featured part of many Buddhist festivals. Live music from a traditional orchestra inspires the players and shapes the style and rhythm of their play. The players play in time to the music and the musicians accent the kicks.

ADC has been supporting ZMF since 2007 to reduce poverty through microfinance. For information about making a donation to ADC or becoming a member, email info@adc.org.nz

Myanmar Minute #5 - The Zo People - part 2. The term Zo is an indigenous usage that dates back to antiquity, or (at least) pre-modern history. Before the Zomi society evolved from clan-based lineages to tribe-based identity, historical records referred to them as Yaw, Jo, Chou, and Zhou. Such references are found in the Shan (Pong) Chronicles from AD 80—1604.

At another level, Zo (literally meaning "highland") has geographical as well as genealogical connotations. In fact, local poets get inspiration from the hilly landscape of the Zo habitat; they are never tired of praising the beauty of their vales, dales and hills. Even after centuries of shifting cultivation devastated the land of the Zomis, the romantic tradition of praising their "beautiful" hills still continues.

ADC has been supporting ZMF since 2007 to reduce poverty through microfinance. For information about making a donation to ADC or becoming a member, email info@adc.org.nz

This week's profile is of a client who runs a tea and bread shop. She is on her third loan, supporting her family of 4, and has increased her daily income more than 2.5 times. Capital was used for a better roof for the shop, and for permanent furniture. Our client has also saved up and installed a well in her garden, meaning she is now able to access fresh water at her house without having to walk long distances. Another great success story.

ADC has been supporting ZMF since 2007 to reduce poverty through microfinance. For information about making a donation to ADC or becoming a member, email info@adc.org.nz

Our next client used his first loan to buy a trishaw.  Previously about one third of his income went on rental  payments to the owner.  He used his second loan (combined with the proceeds of his trishaw and a loan from family members) to buy a motor-rickshaw taxi from another family member.  He now has paid more than half of the moto and wants to pay the rest off as quickly as possible.  There are a number of challenges facing our client's business, including fierce competition from other taxi drivers and government registration fees for his taxi, but he continues to make his payments on time   If our client didn't own the taxi, he would have to pay 100,000 kyat a month to rent it.  Andrew and Stefan made good use of his services when in Kalaymyo in late 2011!

ADC has been supporting ZMF since 2007 to reduce poverty through microfinance.  For information about making a donation to ADC, email info@adc.org.nz

Myanmar Minute #3 - The Flag.  Myanmar adopted a new state flag on 21 October 2010 to replace the former flag in use since 1974.  The new flag was introduced along with implementing changes to the country's name, which were laid out in the 2008 Constitution.  The design has 3 horizontal stripes of yellow, green and red with a five-pointed white star in the middle.  The colours are meant to symbolise solidarity, peace & tranquillity, and courage and decisivenss.  The design revives the triband colours used by the country from 1943-45, during the Japanese occupation.

ADC has been supporting ZMF since 2007 to reduce poverty through microfinance.  For information about making a donation to ADC, email info@adc.org.nz

Our third client profile is that of Thit Thit, a long time client of ZMF who has taken out three loans to date.  The first loan helped her purchase a new weaving machine.  The subsequent loans have helped to buy raw materials to make the garments.  Thit Thit now employs 5 staff, all women from the local community.  She said that before taking out her first ZMF loan, she could barely make ends meet to cover her costs of living.  Now she is running a successful business which not only has lifted her standard of living, but the standard of living of her 5 staff and their families.  She praised ZMF for all the help it has given her to date and will remain a ZMF client in the future.

This week's client buys fruit from the North East of Myanmar and sells it at the local bazzaar. She has been a ZMF client for just under a year and has only a few weeks left on her first loan. Because of her ZMF loan, she has outgrown her new stall and now has to use additional temporary tables to display her produce to keep up with demand. Our client will take out another loan with ZMF as soon as the first one is finished and plans to move into a bigger market stall to help keep up with the growth of her business.