Zar Chi Lin is a 23 year old from Mandalay, Myanmar. She is the eldest daughter in her family and has always been driven by the ambition to contribute financially to her household expenses. Her family has been struggling with her father’s unstable source of income as a carpenter.
Zar Chi has a particular form of physical disability which has unfortunately caused her to get bullied and humiliated by her classmates during her school days. This in turn, broke her self esteem and confidence and stopped her from going out and socialising like everyone else.
BRAC Myanmar organised training sessions in her community and encouraged people with disabilities to take part. Chi heard about this initiative and joined the training programmes, from there onwards, her life began to change for the better.
Zar Chi attended various sessions including life skills, business development, capacity building, and technical skills enhancement which prepared her and gave her the confidence to start her own business. She took a loan of 500,000 MMK (USD 358) and also received grant support of an additional 500,000 MMK (USD 358) from BRAC Myanmar Microfinance programme to start her business of a clothing shop.
“BRAC Myanmar has given me the confidence to work towards my dreams,” Chi says. “I hope to become a big shop owner in the biggest market in my city.”
