Win Win Khaing
I am Win Win Khaing, 45 years old. I have graduated from University of Geography. I married a taxi driver and I have two children. I heard about ASA Myanmar in my neighbourhood. I decided with my husband to contract a first 100,000 MMK microcredit loan in September 2014. At the time, I was a tailor, the micro-loan allowed me to afford renting a sewing machine and buying fabrics to make clothes. After the first cycle came to the end, I decided to borrow again, and this money helped me to invest in a new business, as I opened a shop selling food and vegetables. My family thinks ASA Myanmar has a positive impact on our living conditions.
Hla Mya Thein
My name is Hla Mya Thein. I am 48 years old. I am a member of “C1” group of ASA Myanmar, Hlaing Thar Yar branch. I have been operating a small tailoring and cloth selling shop. I started with only 200,000 MMK capital in 2013. Initially, my husband and I both were working in the same tailoring shop with only one swing machine, and our sales were too poor to survive with my family members. I took 140,000 MMK loan from ASA Myanmar in 2014, then I bought another swing machine and hired one worker at 60,000 MMK per month.
Now, my daily net income is more than on average 10,000 Kyats and day by day it is increasing. At present, I can meet my daily five members’ family expenses smoothly form our income of this business.
Aye Mar
My name is Aye Mar. I am 52 years old. I am member of “Pyin Oo Lwin” group at ASA Myanmar, Mingalardon branch. I own a watercress (vegetable) project. Before taken the loan from ASA Myanmar, I was a small vegetable seller at Mingalardon market and started with only 20,000 MMK capital. I was in very hardship. I couldn’t bear the 7 member family expenses from that inadequate income. I took 80,000 MMK loan from ASA Myanmar in May 2015 for the first cycle. Then, I leased a small piece of land (10 decimal) for one year and started watercress cultivation on it. My husband and I both work in my project. After that, I took 120,000 MMK for the 2nd cycle loan in October 2015. I have taken another piece of watercress cultivable land (15 decimal) and started the same project on this land as well.
Now, my daily average net income is around 10,000 MMK. At present, I can meet my seven member’s daily family expenses smoothly from our income of my watercress scheme.
Nwe Ni Hlaing
I am Nwe Ni Hlaing. I have a five years old boy and my husband was unemployed. Before I contracting a microcredit loan from ASA Myanmar, I was a baker and working with my brother at a bakery receiving daily payments but I dreamt of business ownership. In August 2016, we took a small business loan of 800,000 MMK from ASA Myanmar Bago 2 branch. We used this money to rent a house for the factory and buying raw materials to make biscuits, breads and cakes, later resell to shops as well as to direct consumers. After the 1st cycle loan came to end, I decided to borrow again, received a 2nd cycle of 2,000,000 MMK. Then, I extended my business. I invested the 3rd cycle loan of 2,500,000 MMK received on September 2018 to purchase extra raw materials and hiring new staff. Our monthly sales have grown to 2,000,000 MMK with 1,000,000 MMK in profits. My family think microfinance had a positive impact on our living conditions, as we now have more capital for private expenditures.
Shwe Tin
My name is Shwe Tin. I am 54 years old. I have three children. I am expert in making plastic baskets, because this is a family business. So, I decided to start basket manufacturing, but I did not have enough money to do well. The income from my husband’s business was very little and it was hard to survive with five family members. In March 2016, I took a loan (160,000 MMK) from ASA Myanmar’ Nyaunglebin branch. I used the money to purchase raw materials to make the baskets. I could later resell to shops. The business initially generated 25,000 MMK per week. After the 1st cycle ended, I took 2nd cycle for expanding the business. On March 2019, I took 500,000 MMK in the fourth cycle loan. I invest this money in purchasing extra raw materials and hiring new staff. Now we are very happy and satisfied with our business and we thank ASA Myanmar for a positive impact on our living conditions.