Identifying New Partners in Burma (Myanmar)

The Foundation recently conducted a visit to Burma and Thailand to meet with current grantees and identify new potential grantees.  The Foundation is interested in working with and through monasteries and nunneries to support sustainable community development and innovative projects that help support  the ongoing needs of monasteries and nunneries. We will be working closely with our partners to understand their needs, the context, and how Foundation resources might help transform their lives.

Although Burma has a rich and enchanting culture, the impact of poverty and lack of opportunity due  to years of repressive government throughout the country is clear. Nevertheless, we were wholly inspired by the efforts of many of the leading abbots and nuns we visited to provide for their communities through creative and sustainable initiatives. Most of our meetings with such individuals revealed their enthusiasm and genuine desire for the Foundation to get involved. Our potential programs focus on monastery and nunnery led community development, women’s empowerment, income generation to support operating costs of monasteries and nunneries, and rebuilding middle-income jobs in Cyclone Nargis affected areas.

We were impressed by the creative use of current grant funds and the ideas our partners presented for projects that they wish to undertake to support the expenses of running their monasteries and nunneries in the future and supporting these expenses in sustainable ways. With the Foundation’s resources and vision, and the Burmese peoples’ commitment towards a better future,we are excited about the potential for positive relationships among communities in Burma.