Shanta Foundation

Village Development Project MyanmarShanta Foundation is pioneering a holistic, community-led, sustainable development model (Village Partnership Model VPM) that equips local people to permanently solve local problems; this approach fosters independency rather than dependency. Moreover, by placing local villagers in control of the partnership, the vestiges of colonialism (so ubiquitous in how international development is commonly implemented) are erased and the voices, choices, and sovereignty of local people are centered in the project design.When Shanta partners with a village (usually for six years), we begin by facilitating a process whereby the entire village elects a Village Development Team that will design and oversee the implementation of their villages development path. Our approach is not prescriptive. Rather, we believe that the villagers themselves know their context, complete with its opportunities, resources, and challenges, better than we ever will. As such, we facilitate a process whereby the villagers set their development priorities, actually choosing what projects will or wont be pursued. The VDT leads this work and begins by establishing a community bank. The community bank offers low interest loans to villagers, and they usually borrow to buy agricultural inputs. This accomplishes two things: first, each family s farming efforts are more profitable because their cost of capital is usually cut in half; second, with each successive loan cycle interest accumulates in the community bank, eventually growing to the point that villagers can withdraw money the funds needed to implement a new project or maintain an existing project.Once these core projects are established, we offer villagers a menu of additional projects (alternate agriculture, womens empowerment, clean water, school improvement teacher housing, healthcare, etc.), but villagers can also choose projects that are not It is their village, so the choices are 100% theirs to make.These are some of our accomplishments in Myanmar in 2023In 2023, Shanta began five new village partnerships, and 105 projects from 19 different project types were implemented across 15 villages in Southern Shan State, Myanmar. These 19 project types fall under five main programs: Leadership, Womens Empowerment, Education and Health, Income Generation, and Infrastructure programs.1202 households and 5438 population were beneficiaries of 2023 annual projects and programs.In both regions, there are 179 Village Development Team members (67 women and 112 men) throughout 2023.mAll of these VDT members volunteer their time, energy, and commitment to various projects. VDT meetings are held three times a year on average in each village. In 2023, project teams can help VDT improve in the following areas:oTransparency in information, finances, and action plans oInvolvement of all villagers in decision-making for priority selection and problem-solving.oEnhancing womens leadership participation and self-confidence among female leadersoAdding new members and supervision, along with leading other village development projectsoCoordination between VDT and village leadership in project management, as well as coordination with the local authority.The Community Bank (revolving fund) was established in five new partnership villages and the total fund in all 15 villages is $ 54,453 until the end of December 2023. The funds growth varies by village due to payment pattern, interest rate, receiving an additional extension of the fund, and using interest for village development activities. A minimum of 3% to a maximum of 41% of interest has been used for village development activities such as building schools, school maintenance and purchasing school furniture, teacher house maintenance, village road repair, water system repair, and adding new books to the school library. The total amount of interest earned is $ 30,093 spent on village development activities is $ 9,237.Under the Women Empowerment Program, (1) Women Self-Help Group (SHG) project, (2) Women Group Discussion about Child Nutrition & Immunization, and Reproductive Health Knowledge sharing, and (3) Women Group Business projects were accomplished, which benefited 791 women and 3378 of their families members in 12 villages.oThe SHG saving project has been instrumental in empowering women in various communities. Currently, 20% of SHG members actively participate in village development teams, health committees, Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR), rice banks, scholarship programs, pig farming, community banking, accounting, finance, meeting note-taking, auditing, and village health education. oTen villages are part of the VHE (Village Health and Education) projects in Southern Shan State. There are 34 VHE members and 24 health committee members. The number of members selected per village varies depending on the size of the village. 97% of eligible reproductive women received coverage for reproductive health topics. As for the Immunization, Child, and Nutrition topic, 82% of eligible women aged 14-60 participated in small group discussions. The health committees of nine villages (90%) have established a strong relationship with sub-center midwives, allowing them to access health services on a regular basis.oIn Southern Shan State, Shanta provided technical assistance for small business management. They coached five SHGs in developing business plans and supported each group with ~$1,000. There are eight self-help groups in both townships, and 114 women participate in small businesses. Three out of the eight groups are doing group businesses with their own funds without support from Shanta.oThere are 8 group businesses and two individual businesses. Four group businesses have already started generating profits in a short period of time, while the individual and the remaining 3 group businesses are still in the investment process. The 8 SHG group members possess knowledge of small business management, profit generation, and investment fund management. They also maintain proper records of their businesses. Moreover, doing business together promotes group harmony, transparency, and lively discussions among the members.For Income Generation & Economic Development, (1) the Soy Bean project, (2) the Ginger project, and (3) the Pig Farming project were accomplished in 7 villages and benefited 128 farmers with 397 of their family members. oThe soybean pilot project was initiated in 2023, with a total of 28.5 acres of land owned by 31 initial farmers from three different villages. oThe ginger project is currently operating smoothly in two villages with 31 farmers. As of December 2023, the farmers have earned $4,272 and profited $1,642. The farmers are expected to gain more profit after the final harvest.oThe pig farming project is being effectively managed in two villages with 50 farmers. In 2023, the project generated an income of $36,727 and a profit of $13,203.In 2023, three infrastructure projects, two road renovations, and one primary school building were completed, which directly benefited 650 people, including students, and indirectly benefited 893 individual communities. In all projects, villagers contributed not only cash but also labor like digging drainage, spreading red ground, and carrying materials and sand. The VDT and construction committee of three villages can manage the whole process of construction and they are able to organize the villagers and check the quality and other procedures. In 2023, our Education Program benefitted 202 students and 553 community members through 3 school libraries, 1 preschool, 2 summer English classes, and 2 scholarship funds. Shanta provided scholarships to 15 exceptional high school students, enabling them to board at a private school in the city and pursue professional pathways in the future.Two villages, named Htee Phoo and Htee Whr Mue, have successfully completed their six-year partnership with Shanta. As a result, they have graduated and are now capable of leading community development efforts independently. They have secured sustainable sources of funding, developed strong and skillful leadership, and fostered full participation with the entire community.

Sustainable Development Partnership with the Village Aid Project (VAP) at Fort Lewis CollegeShanta Foundation continues to work closely with VAP to bring water, road, bridges, and sanitation solutions to remote villages. VAP is a collective of FLC engineering students, engineering faculty, and other community members in Durango, Colorado. Relying on Shantas village selection process, VAP slots into Shantas more holistic model by bringing funding and expertise to bear on difficult infrastructure problems. In retrun Shantas provides an overarching sustainability framework, ensuring that villagers are trained, equipped and empowered to contribute time and money to project implementation and project administration and maintenance. Given the ubiquity of abandoned or broken development projects, Shanta and VAP are perfect partners. VAP brings the technical expertise needed to address critical infrastructure needs, and Shanta organizes the village to invest in and maintain these projects.This year, Shanta and VAP will be implementing a large infrastructure project in Zambia. The project will include two borehole wells, a residential water distribution system, and two bridges

Village Development Project ZambiaZambia is our newest operational area and has four active village partnerships. We are currently implementing our Village Partnership Model (VPM) there in a similar fashion as we do in Myanmar. The difference is that we are intentionally adapting it to better fit the village context in southern Zambia. For example, child marriage is a significant problem in Zambia and contributes to a host of other social ills like extreme poverty, gender-based violence, high drop-out rates, etc. As such, and at the behest of our village partners, this issue has been centered in the Zambian adaptation of our VPM. Similar to Myanmar, in Zambia Shanta Foundation is pioneering a holistic, community-led, sustainable development model that equips local people to permanently solve local problems; this approach fosters independency rather than dependency. Moreover, by placing local villagers in control of the partnership, the vestiges of colonialism (so ubiquitous in how international development is commonly implemented) are erased and the voices, choices, and sovereignty of local people are centered in the project design.When Shanta partners with a village (usually for six years), we begin by facilitating a process whereby the entire village elects a Village Development Team that will design and oversee the implementation of their villages development path. Out approach is not prescriptive. Rather, we believe that the villagers themselves know their context, complete with its opportunities, resources, and challenges, better than we ever will. Our job is to equip them to change their reality in whatever way they choose. AS such, we facilitate a process whereby the villagers set their development priorities, actually choosing what projects will or wont be pursued. The VDT leads this work and begins by establishing a community bank. The community bank offers low interest loans to villagers, and they usually borrow to buy agricultural inputs. This accomplishes two things: first, each family s farming efforts are more profitable because their cost of capital is usually cut in half; second, with each successive loan cycle interest accumulates in the community bank, eventually growing to the point that villagers can withdraw money the funds needed to implement a new project or maintain an existing project.Once these core projects are established, we offer villagers a menu of additional projects (alternate agriculture, womens empowerment, clean water, school improvement, teacher housing, healthcare, etc.), but villagers can also choose projects that are not on this list. It is their village, so the choices are 100% theirs to make. These are some of our accomplishments in Zambia in 2023In 2023, Shanta Foundation partnered with Peoples Action Forum (PAF) and initiated community-led development projects in the Siyowi region of Mazabuka to promote the development and empowerment of the local communities. These projects are being executed in three villages: Nachili, Siyowi, and Kabanje. The combined number of households in these three villages is 171, and the total population is 1038.After May 2023, a six-year partnership process was conducted, and the community selected 33 village development team members, including 14 women (42%), and identified the communitys needs. The leadership project and Community Bank project were completed in 2023.The Community Bank (CB) is a core community-led development project being implemented in Siyowi as part of the PAF/Shanta initiative. It was launched in June 2023 to prepare and disburse loans to community members. Shanta contributed 150,000 Kwacha ($6,000), and the villages contributed 45,000 kyats ($1,800) to establish a community bank, which amounts to 30% of the required funds.The project directly benefits 166 households and indirectly benefits 814 people through loans managed by village development teams. In the first year of the Community Bank, it was able to reach 88% of the total population, which provided the opportunity to lend.The borrowers borrowed to invest in livestock such as Goats, cows, and Chickens, farming investments, bicycles, and solar panels. The beneficiaries who received loans from the CB are now able to make profits from their businesses, which was previously difficult due to minimal capital. The loans have empowered women to run their businesses more effectively, and they are now participating in meetings and voicing their opinions as women. Shanta has provided capacity-building training to PAF about the Village Partnership Model, Six Guiding Principles, and Project Cycle Management in a Result-Based approach.