During these unusual and unpredictable times, not everyone is waiting for the uncertainty to end before they get back on track. Khiri Travel is using the time to diversify and create success in new avenues. Read on to find out how.
Instead of doing nothing or reducing staff, Khiri Travel Myanmar decided to use this down-time in a positive way. MD, Edwin Briels explains: “in March we foresaw that the coming 3-6 months wouldn’t be busy with tourists, so we brain-stormed for ways to use our current assets; a downtown office, a very good team and a network around the country”. We split the team into 2 project groups who each have to learn and manage on the spot how to set up a social business from scratch. Knowing the immediate generosity of the Myanmar people will help victims of Covid-19 on the short term, Khiri Travel’s aim for each social businesses is to create something positive for the long term for communities in Myanmar.
They are currently setting up these 2 social businesses:
Kumel Volunteer Connection
An organisation that brings Myanmar volunteers in contact with local organisations that are looking for volunteers. Compare it to a recruitment website yet purely for volunteers. Currently the organisation has 14 vacancies ranging from teaching, cleaning and feeding the animals at a rescue centre, and patrolling and protecting temples at the Bagan heritage. Their Facebook page and the website www.kumelmyanmar.org (under construction) are the best way to get in touch.
Kumel is currently looking for more volunteers and more vacancies around Myanmar so please do share with your colleagues. Want to get an impression how volunteering looks like? Have a look at their video of the first volunteer at an animal rescue centre in Yangon.
No time to volunteer but you want to help? At the moment Kumel is not charging anything to the volunteers or organisations and all overhead costs (website, communication, electricity, office space, transport, manpower, etc) are donated by Khiri Reach – the not for profit organisation form Khiri Travel. To be sustainable in the long run they are looking for sponsors through GoFundMe.com – please do consider sponsoring as part of your CSR program or personally.
Honeybee Arts & Crafts
The Khiri team came up with the idea to set up a social business that creates job for communities and uses sustainable Myanmar materials to create something beautiful and useful for local and the international market. We have started to sell gifts, souvenirs and wraps, boxes and other packing materials to support this project. One of the more popular items currently are the washable, cotton facemasks with logo from your company. Other items we’re working on are bamboo and coconut lights for Thadingyut festival, cut-out longgyi letters to sew on t-shirts, bags etc,
We are currently looking for companies that want to order products to use as give-away presents for their clients in the future (for example a wine bag, face mask with company logo etc). Some of the products are currently sold at Shop.com.mm as well as on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/communitysouvenirs. All products are delivered at home (a cooperation with a new local start-up company doing deliveries). The website https://honeybeemyanmar.com/ is currently under construction. Once finished it will be possible to order each item online (and pay by credit card or on delivery in Yangon). The social business is looking at options to deliver overseas in the future.
If you want to help or support get in touch with Edwin via email at [email protected].
