Hla Day Myanmar Artisans Programme
Hla Day: Empowering Myanmar Artisans Through Craft Training
Factbox
Location
Yangon, Myanmar
Grant Period
April 2017 - March 2018
Grant Amount
USD 23,550
Beneficiaries
400 artisans
Focus Area
Overview
Hla Day Myanmar Artisans Programme supports independent craft producers across Myanmar by providing training, design guidance, and access to fair trade markets. Through skills development and entrepreneurship support, the initiative helps artisans strengthen their livelihoods while preserving traditional crafts for a modern marketplace.
Impact At A Glance
- Training programme designed to support 400 new artisans across Yangon and rural Myanmar
- Skills development in business management, accounting, and craft design
- Support for local craft producer groups building sustainable businesses
- Promotion of traditional Myanmar crafts adapted for contemporary markets
The Challenge
Many traditional craft artisans in Myanmar struggle to survive in a rapidly changing economy.
Myanmar’s economic transition has attracted foreign investment and new business opportunities, but many small craft-based enterprises have been left behind. After decades of isolation and limited market access, many artisans lack the design, technical, and business skills needed to compete in today’s marketplace.
At the same time, handmade products face increasing competition from imported machine-made goods. Without the ability to adapt their crafts to modern consumer demand, many artisans from disadvantaged communities face declining incomes, putting long-standing cultural traditions at risk.
The Solution
Hla Day equips artisans with the skills and market access needed to build sustainable craft businesses.
Established as a craft hub in Yangon, Hla Day works with independent artisan groups to develop new product ideas, refine design concepts, and connect producers with buyers through its retail store. By combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary product design, the organisation helps artisans reach new audiences while preserving Myanmar’s cultural heritage.
As demand for support grows, Hla Day is expanding its training efforts to reach more craft communities across the country. The programme equips artisans with practical business and entrepreneurial skills while strengthening their ability to develop competitive products for modern markets.
The Grant with AirAsia Foundation
AirAsia Foundation’s grant enables Hla Day to formalise and expand its artisan training programme across Myanmar.
- Train 400 new artisans in Yangon and rural communities using adapted training materials from the Afghan Artisan Training Toolkit
- Provide instruction in business, accounting, and design skills
- Implement a two-phase Train-the-Trainers programme for Yangon and rural artisans
- Develop the capacity of a local management trainee to support long-term programme sustainability
Through these initiatives, Hla Day aims to strengthen artisan livelihoods while preserving traditional craft knowledge across Myanmar.
Gallery
The Organisation
Hla Day Myanmar
Hla Day was established to help independent artisans build profitable and sustainable craft businesses in Myanmar. Since 2012, the organisation has trained more than 50 producer groups in areas such as product design, creative thinking, financial management, and English literacy. Through its retail store in central Yangon, Hla Day provides artisans with access to a marketplace where locally made products can reach both tourists and local customers.
Team Leader
Ulla Kroeber
Ulla Kroeber is the co-founder behind Hla Day’s mission to strengthen Myanmar’s artisan sector by supporting independent craft producers. Through her work with the organisation, she has helped develop programmes that combine skills training, design innovation, and market access to enable artisans to build sustainable businesses while preserving traditional craft heritage.
Social Enterprise
