From 17-18 July 2026, KESAN’s Community Based Livelihoods Initiative (CBLI) team conducted a capacity building training with the Mo Po Mu (Mommy Daughter) Women’s Group at Ei Tu Hta Village, Bu Tho Township, Salween Peace Park, Mutraw District, Kawthoolei. With more than 30 Mo Po Mu members joining, the training aimed to build the capacity of Mo Po Mu members to help them establish their own livelihoods and generate income to meet their basic household needs.
On the Mo Po Mu Women’s Groups, the CBLI Program Director stated that, “We established this project to address the lack of local employment by creating income-generating opportunities for women. Our goal is to empower women by equipping them with the skills and opportunities they need to earn a sustainable income. Many women in the community struggle to start businesses due to limited business knowledge and a lack of financial resources. Through this initiative, we aim to provide the training and support they need to improve their livelihoods and meet their household needs.”
During the two-day training, participants learned financial management, banana chip making, tea preparation, dish-washing liquid and shampoo production for household use, and product packaging. The workshop successfully taught participants key skills in business management, enabling women to generate income through women-led livelihood projects using local natural resources.
Mo Po Mu Women’s Group Background
After international support for Ei Tu Hta IDP Camp suddenly ended in 2017, life became much more difficult for the people living there. Job opportunities for women were especially limited, and many residents expressed a desire to create livelihoods that they could start within their communities. One idea was to produce and sell banana chips, as bananas are abundant in local gardens. In response, KESAN supported the establishment of the Mo Po Mu Women’s Group in 2019 to help support these small business ventures.
These groups work by strengthening women’s economic roles within their households, increasing their participation in community decision-making processes, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for women. KESAN also supports the groups by helping them cultivate small organic gardens. Today, the Mo Po Mu Women’s Groups continue to expand, with a total of six Mo Po Mu Women’s Group operating in five clusters across Kawthoolei.