Sprouting Seeds Learning Centre

Dear Friends and Family,

Here in the mountains of Shan State, in the small town of Kalaw, the seasons are changing as the cold winter winds set in. December also brings national elections, and like many across the country, we are unsure how the outcome may affect Myanmar and our work. The uncertainty we face here feels connected to the wider challenges felt around the globe.

Despite this, we continue our efforts steadily and with purpose. As we close yet another year, we hold hope for brighter days ahead, and we’re excited to share that several new young staff members have joined us to help lead upcoming projects in Kalaw.

Our training centre, Sprouting Seeds, has weathered difficult times amid political and economic instability. We are grateful that Kalaw remains a relatively safe community, sheltered from much of the daily conflict affecting other parts of Myanmar. With the New Year approaching, we are preparing to welcome a new group of interns to the café.

With a refreshed menu, expanded skills training, and strengthened capacity-building programs, we’re adapting to the needs and realities young people face today. Travel remains difficult and sometimes unsafe for youth, but working closely with trusted local partners helps ensure their wellbeing.  With our Director Jim recently completing his Master’s Degree and continuing his PhD research, we are expanding our curriculum to include more holistic training. Alongside natural building, participants will be introduced to regenerative design, systems theory, and holistic approaches to education and community development.

As we look ahead, we’re filled with renewed hope for the coming year—new projects, new growth, and new opportunities. Thank you for staying connected with us. We look forward to sharing more updates soon.

Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday season,

The Sprouting Seeds Family

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope this message finds you healthy, safe, and well. As many of you know, the situation here in Myanmar remains extremely challenging. Most recently, the country was struck by a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28th, which brought widespread devastation across central Myanmar.

While the epicenter was in the dry zone near Mandalay and Sagaing—two of the hardest-hit areas—the tremors were felt as far away as Bangkok and across Southeast Asia. Closer to home, the Inle Lake region was also heavily affected, and Kalaw experienced some minor damage. Unfortunately, two months after the initial quake, a 5.0 aftershock caused our kitchen building at the Whispering Earth Training Centre to collapse completely.

Thanks to the generous support of our partner organizations, we were able to distribute much-needed food supplies—such as cooking oil, peanuts, and dried fish—to around 200 families in affected villages, coordinated through our teacher training network in the Sagaing region. While the road to recovery will be long, we are grateful we could respond in some small way to the immense needs.

Despite the continued hardships, our team has remained focused on what we can do. We’ve been actively supporting youth, community leaders, and teachers through our ongoing training programs. Our apprenticeship program at the café also continues, though not without challenges. As we've mentioned before, many families are understandably hesitant to allow their children to travel during these uncertain times.

As we look ahead to the upcoming winter season, we hope Kalaw continues to be a small refuge of safety and calm amidst the wider turmoil. We hold hope for a more peaceful season ahead—not only for Myanmar, but for all corners of our shared world.

We are deeply grateful for your continued care, encouragement, and support. We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the months to come.

With love and gratitude,
The Sprouting Seeds Family