Aye Lei Tun learns how Oxfam’s training is helping people affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar to develop new skills and improve their income.
“Incredible” was the word that 40-year-old Min Zaw uttered when asked about his current life after joining Oxfam’s occupational skill training in January last year.
“It is quite incredible – the two-month program has really guaranteed a steady income for the rest of my life,” Min Zaw said, referring to the Machine Repair and Maintenance Training provided by Oxfam as part of its programmes for those whose livelihoods were destroyed or affected by Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
Min Zaw was one of ten participants in a training programme which he confirmed has changed his life. Before Cyclone Nargis, Min Zaw sold maize, but when the cyclone devastated the agricultural sector, small traders such as Min Zaw were particularly hard hit. By increasing his skills, more work opportunities have opened up, allowing him to continue to earn an income, and to work from home so that he can now take care of his disabled daughter – a very important step for him.
In the past, Min Zaw would go to his client’s house and check and repair only small machines. Now he can work at home because he has more customers and they are confident in his competence, so they approach him to repair larger machines as well. “This way, I can look after our daughter. Otherwise, my wife will be occupied with her while also taking care of our grocery shop, cooking, and other household works. Our life is getting better now.”
Min Zaw already had basic knowledge about mechanical devices and repairs, but he believes the training has improved his skills and built up his confidence, which in turn has gained him trust from his customers.
“I think the rate of work has increased after that. My customers are not only from our village, but also from other villages nearby. We earn at least 2,000 kyat (approx $2 US dollars) a day and at most 10,000 kyat ($10 US dollars).” Together with his wife’s income from the shop, they are doing quite well and can also afford medicines for his daughter, who has been mute since birth.
Another participant, Thuya, 19, from Kyone Dar Chaung Village, also said he is more confident about his job since the training.
“Before the training, I sold maize. I learned how to repair machines by watching other mechanics do their work, and became their assistant for minor repairs,” Thuya told Oxfam. “Now I have confidence to be a professional mechanic. Because of the training, I was able to really understand about machine repairs and how they work.”
Nine months after the training, Thuya has found that the number of people asking him to work has significantly improved. He has started dreaming about the future: having his own business.
For big repairs, Thuya makes at least 10,000 kyat (approx $10 US dollars), and 3,000 or 4,000 kyat ($3 or $4 US dollars) for smaller pieces. He usually repairs agricultural and fishery machinery. Thuya used to earn about 500 kyat ($5 US dollars) from selling maize.
“I’ve earned about 150,000 kyat ($150 US dollars) already. I want to set up a welding business. For that, I think I need to invest about four or five lakhs (approx $400-$500 US dollars). I expect my dream will come true in two or three years,” he said with a smile.