The two women are connected to the pig via a fabulous micro-credit scheme run by the Methodist Church in Mandalay at Nanthamyen, a ‘leprosy village’ a ninety-minute drive out of Mandalay.
In 1892 Methodist missionaries in Mandalay began caring for leprosy sufferers and it developed into a substantial piece of work as the disease was widespread. In 1960 all overseas missionaries were obliged to leave but the families in that community remained together until 1990 when the military government decided it did not want the leprosy sufferers and their families in the city and they were taken to this empty land forty miles away and each of the 300 households was given a plot measuring 60’ by 40’ to build a house. They remain there to this day.
60 families have found their lives transformed by the micro-credit scheme developed and run by Revd Henry. The woman on the left works with 8 families who have taken out loans to develop handicraft projects, they mainly do tailoring and sell the clothes they make to make a living. The woman on the left works with 15 families who are using their loans to grow sugar, beans or groundnuts which they then take to market in Mandalay. The scheme is totally self-financing as the 3% interest pays these workers.
A brilliantly empowering helping hand. A hard life for the inhabitants but also an inspiring place to visit.
I didn’t want to leave.
Steve Pearce | Partnership Coordinator Asia and the Pacific | World Church Relationships
Christian Communication, Evangelism & Advocacy Cluster | The Connexional Team
020 7467 5161 (Direct line)
The Methodist Church
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR | 020 7486 5502 [Helpdesk]
www.methodist.org.uk Registered charity no. 1132208
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