Rising from Small Grocery Shop to Diverse Variety Store

Kyi Kyi, 40, is from Pyigyitagon township in the southern part of Mandalay in Myanmar.

In 2017, she first met with a VisionFund staff, who explained its various financial services, including non-financial services like financial literary training.

"We started with an 18x11 square feet shop selling a few items. We had big dreams for our store, but my husband, U Nann, and I were initially hesitant to take out loans. The thought of paying interests was a burden we didn't want to bear," shares Kyi Kyi, reflecting the common fears of many small business owners.

 

She was later convinced that partnering with a reliable financial service provider like VisionFund Myanmar would be a way to expand their business. Since then, she has been receiving loans from VisionFund Myanmar.

She took her first loan of 2 million MMK (US$952) and invested it in their small shop. Subsequent loans followed, and she bought two more shops in the marketplace. 

Handcrafted bamboo products for sale at Kyi Kyi's store.

Kyi Kyi is now on her 11th-cycle loan. Through the years, the family has not only been able to expand their business, but they were also able to undertake some repairs to their shop and their house.

From earning around 15,000 MMK daily, they now earn about 120,000-150,000 MMK. From a shop selling just a few items, Kyi Kyi now offers over 1,500 items, including needles, nail products, groceries, home decor, carpets, clothes, clay pots, toys, bamboo hats, and food items.

A variety of decorative vases and pots neatly arranged on shelves at Kyi Kyi's store.

Kyi Kyi's oldest daughter is studying pharmacy and aspires to become a chemist. She is also honing her computer skills and plans to open a copier shop, a testament to the family's entrepreneurial spirit and potential for further growth.

Kyi Kyi's family is among the thousands of families supported by VisionFund Myanmar, who expanded their business and improved their children's well-being.

In the Impact Survey conducted by VisionFund Myanmar in March 2024, at least 99 percent of borrowers who support children reported an improvement in their children's well-being. VisionFund Myanmar said that the child well-being outcome that improved the most is that children could stay in school or training because the fees were paid.

“Our dream is to open the biggest wholesale and retail store in our township,” shares Kyi Kyi.

VisionFund Myanmar has a broad geographic footprint, covering 12 of 14 states and regions. It is uniquely positioned at the intersection of banks and non-profit organisations, offering financial and non-financial services to underserved and conflict-affected communities.

Click the video below to learn more about Kyi Kyi’s journey.