Sprouting Seeds Learning Centre

Dear Friends and Family,

With our cold winter finishing up here in Kalaw we make the drastic transition from chilly winter days to scorching hot summer months! Here are our café we have been able to bring in our new batch of interns for yet another 3 months program. This time, we are working with young girls from the village surrounding our Whispering Earth training centre on the outskirts of Kalaw. 

We have been able to open the café to a normal schedule opening 6 days a week and providing lots of new trainings for our interns as we prepare for the upcoming Water Festival and biggest holiday season of the year. 

Here at Sprouting Seeds, we have also opened our new Little Star English School. We are providing 2 levels of English classes for local children as well as scholarship programs for youth from the village. The classes have been very well received by the local community and we are so excited for this first test run 3-month program. 

Our classes are providing our interns as well as local youth with valuable English classes focusing on speaking, reading and writing. However, as per most of our work here at Sprouting Seeds we aim to make the classes fun and practical to engage and support lifelong learning! 

With the global economic situation worsening, here in Myanmar we feel the impacts changing daily. Life gets more and more challenging for local families to make ends meet. We continue our work in capacity building through both of our training centres in order to support as many as we can. Your contributions and support through these prolonged challenging times is greatly appreciated! 

Warmly, 

Sprouting Seeds Family

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