Context

YounSone was born from the realization that it is not enough to provide training to disadvantaged young people, but that it is important to give them access to employment. The project was initiated by Julia Naw within the movementFondacio in Myanmar.Fondacio provides training and development opportunities to young people from all regions of Myanmar and helps seamstresses advance with the support of Opportunity for Women.

YounSone means "colorful" in the Burmese language. It expresses the diversity of cultures, ethnic groups, ages, religions, and origins of people and aims to create a synergy that allows for respectful living together.

Creating jobs for Burmese women

In Myanmar, women have even fewer educational and employment opportunities. They are further marginalized. Many of them migrate illegally to work in dangerous jobs or become victims of human trafficking. YounSone trains them and provides them with stable, sustainable employment. Some join the team full-time and can develop new skills. Others work from home and can care for their families while earning a steady income and avoiding long and costly transportation.

Create modern objects inspired by Burmese traditions

YounSone preserves the tradition and culture of Myanmar by transforming traditional fabrics intoclothesAndcontemporary decorative objectsThis work highlights cultural heritage while adapting it to modern tastes, thus strengthening the pride and confidence of women from these provinces.

All regions of the country have aremarkable textile heritage, with traditional clothing that carries history and identity. This cultural richness is reinterpreted in each creation. The patterns used on the longyis take up the emblems of the different Burmese ethnic groups, notablyKachin,Chin,RakhineAndShan.

Our areas of development

YounSone's revenue increases every year thanks to local and European sales. The team develops numerous partnerships and constantly innovates to address challenging situations. The extensive product range allows the seamstresses to progress steadily. They also have the opportunity to learn and practice English and engage in administrative tasks that grow with the development of the business.

“I want to offer other women what I received: training, an income, the right to create and to hope.”

Testimony of Monica Moe Moe Aye – Manager of the Youn Sone workshop

"I was born in Dala, a very poor neighborhood on the other side of the river from Yangon. My family, of Indian origin, is part of a minority often discriminated against in Myanmar. There are eight of us at home, and even at over 70, my father still has to work to support us.

We couldn't afford to let me continue my studies. I had to drop out right after middle school. Here, without a diploma, the future is almost always the same: exhausting factory work with no prospects.

In 2018, I had an unexpected opportunity: joining the Youn Sone workshop thanks to Fondacio Myanmar. That's when everything changed. I discovered a dignified workspace, solidarity among women, and the opportunity to learn and share my knowledge.

Today, I run the workshop. It's a dream come true. I want to offer other women what I received: training, an income, the right to create and hope .

But we can't go it alone. Without sales, we can't survive. Every purchase supports a woman, a story, a life. Thank you for believing in our work."

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