It has now been more than seven months since torrential rains swept Myanmar, causing severe floods in 12 out of 14 states in July/August 2015. The flooding destroyed the homes and businesses of thousands in Kalay Township, where ZMF’s microfinance operations are based. Because ZMF works with the poorest members of this community, many of its clients were among the worst affected. Thanks to those who contributed to ADC’s emergency Givealittle appeal, ZMF staff were well-placed to respond to immediate needs once waters had receded. Care packages containing clothes, rice, cooking oil and other basic necessities were provided to 650 households. In addition, cash grants were made to 76 families that had lost or suffered significant damage to their homes or businesses. Andrew Colgan and Zac Colborne’s visit in February this year gave them an opportunity to observe the recovery to date and witness firsthand the remarkable optimism and determination of the people and communities with which ZMF works. Visible “tide marks” on buildings, sometimes up to eight metres above their heads, provided an eerie indicator of the sheer volume of water that had engulfed the outlying areas of Kalaymyo, especially in Pyinta Village. We met with a number of clients whose businesses were affected by the flooding, including Myint Za Ni Phu, who runs a home shop and roadside petrol stand together with her sister and parents. Fortunately, as the floodwaters rose Phu and her family were able to hire a small boat to ferry the stock from their store and some of their valuables to higher ground. Although they lost their house and many of their belongings, they were still able to supply others in the area with essentials like food, candles, washing powder and petrol. They have also been able to rebuild their home with salvaged materials and the assistance of a government grant scheme. Phu is currently applying for a job as a public education clerk, and if she is successful she hopes to be able to put some of her income into further expansion of the family business. The effects of the flooding are still being felt, but despite this, most clients have rebuilt their businesses and started making loan repayments once more. One hundred and eight loans remain “impaired” following the flooding, however staff are confident that a majority of these will ultimately be repaid once the business are back on their feet. ZMF and their clients remain very grateful to the ADC community for its support at the time of the flooding and during the challenging aftermath. Arlo Jewellery generously donated a custom-designed Myanmar necklace for ADC’s Gala Dinner this year. We love that ZMF’s clients are supported by a fellow entrepreneur - Arlo’s Designer/Director Annelies Powell. She answers a few questions about her approach to business. Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and Arlo, how did it come to be?
A: I like to say Arlo began because I was always bad at sitting between the lines. That is to say, I didn't see romance or contrived love stories at the centre of jewellery. It was always about connecting to something raw and real. I hope the custom Myanmar necklace made for the ADC auction carries a unique story with it just like every piece designed. Q: What is it like running your own business? A: Running a business means you can be as purist as you like with your direction. You choose what matters and put 110 percent effort in. When I look back at how far Arlo has come (and it's only a small way, really) I get to be proud of the values behind it. Q: What do you like about ADC? A: ADC gives the little guy the hand up. I'm all about the underdog. They never fail to surprise. Q: As you know, ADC works primarily with women. Have you faced any gender-based issues in starting and operating a business yourself? A: I once read a quote from Marilyn Monroe. It went something like, "I don't mind being a woman in a man’s world." I take this as let people tell you what will hold you back, and then let that fuel your motivation to prove them wrong. Q: What advice would you have for anyone wanting to start a business themselves? A: My advice? If you KNOW what it is you want to do: throw yourself in the deep end, risk it all and don't look back. If you have no plan B, you'll make A count. Q: What are your plans for Arlo? A: The ultimate is to change the way people look at jewellery. Forget class, status, money. Let it be the little reminder around your neck or sitting at your fingertips of something truly valuable. Often I wear a little bear ring to remind myself to keep a wild side - freedom in a concrete jungle. Q: Do you have any heroes or people who have inspired you? A: In essence, surround yourself with soul, with that which inspires you. www.arlojewellery.com Thanks to everyone who came to support us at our Gala Dinner - it was a hugely successful evening!
Click here to view more photos from the event. March 8 is International Women's Day! Did you know that 85 percent of loans our partner bank in Myanmar makes go to women?
Read our post on Medium to learn about how supporting ADC makes a difference. ADC has an exciting line up of top quality auction items for its Gala Dinner on Sunday 13 March 2016, 6.30pm. There's something to suit everyone ..... check out the gallery below. Some tickets are still available so be in quick and email Pamela. Join us at The Maritime Room for an evening of fine cuisine, guest speaker Qiujing Easterbrook-Wong, Chief Executive and co-founder of Borderless Productions, and the chance to purchase one of the fabulous auction items. 147 Quay Street, at the gateway to Auckland's beautiful Viaduct Harbour. $100 per person. ADC is excited to announce the appointment by the Board of Zac Colborne as its new Executive Director. Mr Colborne, who is moving to Auckland from Sydney with his partner Catherine to take up the role from January 18, 2016, has previously worked in the microfinance sector with nonprofits Good Return and Opportunity International Australia. He is committed to poverty alleviation and views microfinance as a powerful tool to contribute to this vision. His passion for microfinance stems from firsthand experience in the field, seeing the empowerment it can bring people to pull themselves and their families out of poverty. Mr Colborne comes to ADC with the goal of achieving and demonstrating the significant social impact of microfinance. He would like ADC to advocate and be a leader in best practice, social performance and client protection. “ADC is in a good position, with its group of passionate staff and supportive members and donors, to empower many more people and be a leader in the microfinance industry,” he says. Mr Colborne's appointment is part of a move towards properly resourced and professional operational leadership of the organisation, seen by the Board as essential for realising ADC’s goal of transforming lives and communities through microfinance. Outgoing Executive Director Andrew Colgan will work alongside Mr Colborne until the end of March 2016, after which he intends to remain involved with ADC in a voluntary capacity. "Zac's appointment marks a significant and exciting milestone for ADC,” Mr Colgan says. “The decision to invest further in our New Zealand operations is not one taken lightly, and I'm very grateful to the ADC Board, Members and Operations team for their support for this process. “I'm confident that Zac will provide the passion, professionalism and expertise needed to take ADC to the next level. I'm really looking forward to working with him, and to the new perspective he'll bring to leading ADC's operations." We look forward to introducing Mr Colborne to you at one of the exciting events we have planned this year. In the meantime, you can follow him on Twitter. James joined ADC's Operation Committee in 2015 as Director of Business Initiatives.
1. What attracted you to getting involved with ADC? Genevieve Martin asked me. I am interested in microfinance as it: · Empowers people · Effectively leverages time and financial resource. 2. What are you looking forward to the most about being part of the ADC operations committee? Working with a driven and capable team. 3. What do you do for a job? Aeronautical Engineer. Lead the helicopter team at Airwork NZ, doing design and certification of upgrades and equipment. For example, rescue hoists for the Westpac helicopter or surveillance cameras for the Police helicopters. 4. Tell us a little about any interests/hobbies. Building things, travelling, learning, wake-skating, waterpolo, economics. 5. If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose? Elon Musk 6. What did you want to be when you were growing up? Astronaut 7. Best Book and why? The Alchemist. It is succinct, extremely insightful and beautifully written. Read it every couple of years. 8. Best Film and why? The Bourne Identity. Bourne is exceptionally clever and resourceful. He is always a few steps ahead. A very entertaining story of outsmarting and beating the incumbent. Generally I really don’t like movies/tv at all though. 9 All time hero? No one specific person. Anyone creative and smart who isn’t too constricted by rules. Kelly Johnston (Aeronautical Engineer), Elon Musk (Entrepreneur/Engineer), Richard Leaper (Chief Engineer at AIM Altitude in Auckland), Chuck Yeager (Test Pilot). 10. Top aim for the next year I only get one? Although Sian Suan Cing has only a primary school education, she is a savvy businesswoman with all the knowledge and skill needed to see a small enterprise grow and thrive.
Access to affordable start-up capital has seen her dream become a reality. After acquiring the lease on a roadside tea shop in Kalaymyo, Northwest Myanmar, she took a microfinance loan from the ZMF bank to purchase equipment and supplies. Sian Suan Cing’s tea shop is popular among locals – especially her Chinese-style fried bread – and she now employs three staff. Her income has continued to grow, allowing her to repay her loan and also to support her two sons to continue their education. She already has plans to further grow and diversify her business, and is confident of being able to achieve these with access to affordable financial services. Sian Suan Cing appears on one of two ADC cards that you can use to give the gift of affordable credit this Christmas. For $25, you can make a donation in the name of a friend or loved one and you’ll be able to give them a great card. You can also use the donation to claim an income tax credit. 2015 has been a sensational year for ZMF, ADC’s partner project in Myanmar. After many years of establishing itself, assessing the needs of the local community and piloting financial products, ZMF reached a point around 12 to 18 months ago where it was ready to scale up. This has coincided with ZMF obtaining a permanent license to operate as a microfinance institution, one of only two organisations in the region to do so.
At the end of July 2015 devastating floods swept through the Kalay region, causing serious damage to homes and businesses. Many ZMF clients lost enterprises that they had worked hard to build. These clients have shown incredible determination to rebuild their businesses, and the support they have been shown by the ZMF staff and community has been remarkable. In spite of this setback, ZMF continues to go from strength to strength. Demand for loans is high, and clients continue to report a huge impact on their livelihoods from being able to access affordable capital for small business. As the end of 2015 draws near, we are celebrating more than 2,750 loans and almost NZ$ 600,000 disbursed since ZMF began operating in 2008. This has been a truly remarkable journey so far, and it is exciting to think that it might be just the beginning. |
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