The Staff of Muditar

Our History

In 2004 . . .

A chance meeting between strangers -a Burmese tour guide and two Americans backpacking through Southeast Asia – forever changed the destiny of more than 12,000 villagers in rural Myanmar.

When Tricia & Mike Karpfen and Thar Nge first visited the remote, mountainous villages of the Pa-O ethnic tribes in 2004, they found gracious communities of subsistence farmers living a difficult life without electricity, clean water, motorized vehicles or any available health services. Women gave birth on the floor of their kitchen without skilled attendants, children only attended primary school for two or three years, and family income was not sufficient to provide the most basic essentials. These families were trapped in serious poverty with no realistic opportunities, government support, or outside aid. The three were very touched by these hardships and formed Shanta Foundation in the US and Muditar Foundation in Myanmar to partner with these villagers to sustainably address their needs.

Mike & Tricia Karpfen and Thar Nge outside the school Muditar & Shanta built in Yim Bya village, the first partner village, in 2007.

Today. . .

Thousands of village women take leadership roles, receive qualified prenatal care, and have opportunities to earn an independent livelihood. The average child enjoys better nutrition, drinks clean water, and reaches the 9th grade. Homes have solar lighting, metal roofs, with pigs, chickens, and vegetables for added income.

You are the first group to help us in any way. The Myanmar government doesn’t help us. The PNO (tribal government) doesn’t help us. We have been alone. Now we are very happy. Ma Chu – Yim Bya village, 2009

One of the first preschools built by Muditar and Shanta.

The first of three dental clinics held by Shanta and Muditar in 2007. Tom Grams, the volunteer dentist from Colorado, treated 140 children and adults!

In 2009 we held our first training for traditional birth attendants, utilizing local midwives trained by the government to support the training.

Our Staff

WAI EI PHYU – FINANCE OFFICER

“Working in Muditar is very particular. It simply aims for the development of marginalized people, unlike from the profit companies, I see merit in it. It also becomes a driving force for me in Muditar. Stimulating and giving the chance to the staffs for the initiative and innovative ideas also boosts my courage to try as much as I can. Caring, sharing, giving advices and positive push, which are related not only with work, but also with personal and social issues, is also the very significant and lovely part of Muditar. I feel very blessed for being with Muditar as my contribution is not for the individual’s profit but for our community development in many effective ways.”

KHUN AUNG SEIN – M & E OFFICER/PROGRAM COORDINATOR

“I love to be a family member of Muditar for its spectacular activities. Some of them are partnership with village, participatory need assessment with villagers, transparency among organization, care and support to staffs and expressing kudos to colleagues for good performances. Seeing what and how the villagers develop, hearing their appreciation and their words of satisfaction always make me feel wonderful and worthwhile. The impressive and incredible one is that Muditar’s value to its staffs and its focus on the staffs’ capacity building based on their existing and potential capability. These all inject a lot of energy and motivation to me in continuing my journey with Muditar.”

NANG NWE WIN- FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

“I live in Wan Bae Inn village, Nyaung Shwe Township. I graduated from Taunggyi University with BA Economic degree in 2015. I have been working as a volunteer and part-time project staff as an accountant in HIMM, a local NGO in Nyaung Shwe for four years. I am really interested in data, accounting, and finance. I look forward to learning from the Muditar staff as I support the team’s goals.”