Myanmar: Pig keeps boys in school
Cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar in 2008, flattening homes and hopes alike. For many, tuition fees were just too expensive and their children had to drop out of school. But Daw Lay Lay’s two boys were able to keep studying, thanks to help from a most unusual source.
Never in her life had Daw Lay Lay imagined how much money a pig could make. But when Cyclone Nargis almost swept away her boys’ chances of finishing high school, she cashed in her “piggy bank” and solved the problem.
Daw Lay Lay lives with her husband and five children in a village near Yangon. Her husband’s work as a hard laborer yields some income. But life is still a challenge, especially with two children in college and three in high school.
New livelihood
Daw Lay Lay got her first pig the year before the cyclone hit. In September 2007, she had heard that World Vision was providing piglets to families who were interested in trying their hand at breeding. Excited, she rushed down to register for her chance.
Daw Lay Lay took her piglet home and began to care for it. Things started poorly, when the piglet fell ill. She did not know what to do, but after consultation with her neighbours who were facing similar challenges, she nursed it back to health.
After that, the pig became stronger and stronger day by day. Strong enough to fetch an excellent price when Daw Lay Lay most needed to sell.
Staying in school
"When Cyclone Nargis hit, even though other families were in trouble, I could still send my sons to school and pay tuition fees with the help of the money from selling my pig," says Daw Lay Lay with a smile.
She could even buy another piglet with the remaining money. This time, she hopes to keep the pig long enough to raise her own litter of piglets. "Then I will try to share the piglets with other families," she says hopefully.
Meanwhile, the children next door are thoroughly enjoying the new little pig.
"We played hide and seek with the piggy," say nine-year-old Ku Ku and Win. "It is so much fun!"
"I hope that World Vision will bring more and more successes like this in the future,” says Daw Lay Lay with a bright smile.
