Make A Difference in Yangon

Today the tour will start at 09:00.

Meet with the guide at the hotel and drive to ‘Amazing Grace’ in Yankin Township. This is a social enterprise training people with hearing and physical disabilities to make handmade fashion accessories using recycled materials. Learn about the business’ social mission before taking part in a 1-hour crafts workshop led by one of the trainers to produce a lovely piece of male or female jewellery to take back home with you as a souvenir with a personal touch. (Note: The workshop is open from Monday to Saturday).   

After spending time in the workshop it is time to take a break with a 1-hour massage at Myanmar’s first Shiatsu Centre – ‘Balance’was opened by a team of deaf students who have been trained to a professional standard. Shiatsu is an antique discipline founded on manual pressure applied to vital points. The centre is supported by the Mary Chapman School for the Deaf. (Note: The centre is open every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday only from 10:00-16:00).

The next stop is at another social business which is the location for lunch. ‘LinkAge Restaurant & Art Gallery’ serves delicious Myanmar food on the first floor of a small building in downtown Yangon. It is run by the social development organization Forever Human Development that helps support street children and generates income for a shelter, along with other education and training programs. When the children are old enough they can work as trainees at the restaurant. (Note: LinkAge is closed on Sundays).

Following the satisfying lunch a short walk brings the tour to one of Yangon’s most popular spots for ‘shopping with a conscience’. ‘Hla Day’ is a beautiful crafts marketplace that partners with disadvantaged groups and small local businesses to design, develop and sell quality handmade products with a contemporary twist. There is a wide range of interesting and stylish products suitable for all, making it the perfect stop for gifts for yourself and to take back home for friends and family. On top of that, all profits are reinvested to empower the community of producers, and while browsing you can learn about all of those producers’ stories.

With (recycled paper) bags full of handicrafts the car will be waiting to lighten the load for the transfer to Chinatown to visit a gold workshop run by the NGO ‘Turquoise Mountain’ where artisan goldsmiths are making an ethical comeback. There is a reason why Myanmar is nicknamed the Golden Land, the colour is everywhere. However, machine-made jewellery is killing the traditional goldsmith’s craft. This NGO is working with the most skilled artisans from Ramree Island in Rakhine State and here one can learn about their craft and witness their skills up close and personal. (Note: The workshop is open from Monday to Friday).

Then, explore Chinatown on foot for a while before transferring further west to ‘Htwe Oo Myanmar’ for a traditional puppet show at 17:00. The unique show lasts around 1 hour and gives the small audience an opportunity to see the puppeteers work their magic on the stage, as well as time to test their own skills at the end of the performance. Puppet theatres are an important tradition in Myanmar culture and Htwe Oo helps preserve the tradition by creating job opportunities for young puppeteers from universities in Yangon and Mandalay, as well as offering financial and medical assistance to old puppeteers.

After the evening’s entertainment, return to the hotel. (L)

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

Notes:

The workshop is open from Monday to Saturday).   

After spending time in the workshop it is time to take a break with a 1-hour massage at Myanmar’s first Shiatsu Centre – ‘Balance’was opened by a team of deaf students who have been trained to a professional standard. Shiatsu is an antique discipline founded on manual pressure applied to vital points. The centre is supported by the Mary Chapman School for the Deaf. (Note: The centre is open every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday only from 10:00-16:00).

The next stop is at another social business which is the location for lunch. ‘LinkAge Restaurant & Art Gallery’ serves delicious Myanmar food on the first floor of a small building in downtown Yangon. It is run by the social development organization Forever Human Development that helps support street children and generates income for a shelter, along with other education and training programs. When the children are old enough they can work as trainees at the restaurant. (Note: LinkAge is closed on Sundays).

Following the satisfying lunch a short walk brings the tour to one of Yangon’s most popular spots for ‘shopping with a conscience’. ‘Hla Day’ is a beautiful crafts marketplace that partners with disadvantaged groups and small local businesses to design, develop and sell quality handmade products with a contemporary twist. There is a wide range of interesting and stylish products suitable for all, making it the perfect stop for gifts for yourself and to take back home for friends and family. On top of that, all profits are reinvested to empower the community of producers, and while browsing you can learn about all of those producers’ stories.

With (recycled paper) bags full of handicrafts the car will be waiting to lighten the load for the transfer to Chinatown to visit a gold workshop run by the NGO ‘Turquoise Mountain’ where artisan goldsmiths are making an ethical comeback. There is a reason why Myanmar is nicknamed the Golden Land, the colour is everywhere. However, machine-made jewellery is killing the traditional goldsmith’s craft. This NGO is working with the most skilled artisans from Ramree Island in Rakhine State and here one can learn about their craft and witness their skills up close and personal. (Note: The workshop is open from Monday to Friday).

Then, explore Chinatown on foot for a while before transferring further west to ‘Htwe Oo Myanmar’ for a traditional puppet show at 17:00. The unique show lasts around 1 hour and gives the small audience an opportunity to see the puppeteers work their magic on the stage, as well as time to test their own skills at the end of the performance. Puppet theatres are an important tradition in Myanmar culture and Htwe Oo helps preserve the tradition by creating job opportunities for young puppeteers from universities in Yangon and Mandalay, as well as offering financial and medical assistance to old puppeteers.

After the evening’s entertainment, return to the hotel. (L)

Time: 09:00-18:30.

OPTIONAL DINNER: For those that want to continue giving back to Yangon at night a dinner at ‘Shwe Sa Bwe’ is the ideal option. Located in a beautifully decorated mansion to the north of Inya Lake, this fine-dining restaurant also operates as a vocational training school for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The intake of around 20 students per year is trained in both front-of-house and kitchen skills under the guidance of French chefs. The menu changes every few weeks to keep mouths watering and the trainees challenged. Please ask your Travel Consultant for further details and pricing. (Note: Shwe Sa Bwe is closed on Mondays).

Note: This tour is available for a maximum group size of 10 to optimize the morning craft workshop experience.