Menu
  • Please select what you would like to do, where and for how long!

Sustainable Handcrafts from Myanmar

icon pv
 
For many people in Myanmar, tourism provides an important source of income. This is especially the case for producers of handicraft products and artwork. Hla Day supports artisans and local groups with the design and sale of their products. As a volunteer or intern you can make use of your creative skills in Marketing or Design.
 

What is your placement organisation doing?

 
For many local artisans and manufacturers of artwork in Myanmar, tourism is an important source of income. However, only few have the knowledge or technical possibilities to create contemporary products and to market them. As a result, they often live at or even below the poverty line.
 
Hla Day is a social enterprise that benefits the local artisans, disadvantaged people and small companies to develop and sell their artwork. This way Hla Day tries to improve their livelihood.
 
Local techniques and materials are combined with modern designs and design concepts.
 
Currently Hla Day collaborates with around 40 local manufacturers throughout Myanmar, and supports them with the design, quality control and development of their products and through training in basic business skills.
 
The finished products can be purchased at their beautiful shop in Yangon, and are especially loved by tourists. Hla Day offers its partners a secure and fair market place, and hereby the possibility to improve their income and life situation.
 

How can you get involved?

 
Would you like to support a social enterprise abroad and make use of your creative skills in Marketing or Design? Then this is the right place for you!
 
You are able to commit for at least 6 months and you can bring your own laptop with you.
 
Marketing: As a volunteer or intern with a specialty in marketing, you will bring prior knowledge in the marketing field (e.g. through an advanced or finished education). With your creative skills you can bring life into the Hla Day website and social media channels of the company. In collaboration with the team you will develop and expand on the marketing concept with your innovative ideas.
 
Design: As a volunteer or intern in the design field you have already gained prior knowledge in the field (e.g. through an advanced or finished education). You have a creative mind with many ideas for the design of new products. Ideally, you also have an interest in photography. Together with the local artisans and manufacturers you will develop ideas and outlines for new designs. The best time to come to Yangon for this function is during the low season (April until late September), which is when the manufacturers and artists have more time to engage together with you in the development and enhancement of their products.
 
Are you independent and flexible? Great! A little flexibility with regard to the exact field of activity is required, since volunteers and interns will also be interacting with customers and assist with administering sales etc.
Info Box
General
Location: Yangon, Myanmar
Availability: Markeing: all year, flexible start. Design: Preferably between April and end of September
Minimum Duration: 6 months
Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: English
Accommodation: Hostel
Internship
Supervision Possible: Yes
Minimum Qualification Of Intern:
Prior knowledge in the fields of design or marketing, you are expected to be able to work independently. You should see yourself as brand ambassadors who represent and support the Hla Day mission/vision internally and externally. 
Further Contribution To Project: None
Volunteering
Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: Prior knowledge in the fields of design or marketing, you are expected to be able to work independently. You should see yourself as brand ambassadors who represent and support the Hla Day mission/vision internally and externally.
Further Contribution To Project: None
Expectations: Professional attitude, Do you have the "right" attitude?
 
 

Accommodation in Myanmar

 
We will arrange accommodation for you in Myanmar that fits your budget and requirements. We cooperate with various hostels, guesthouses and B&Bs of good value in all Myanmar and also within Yangon, and we have a suitable option for every request! When we select an accommodation we pay special attention to the location, so your workplace will be easily accessible by public transport. You can choose between several price- and room categories.
 
For lunch and dinner there will be plenty great restaurants and food stalls to go to nearby. You can also prepare small snacks in your accommodation.
 
Simply tell us your choice of accommodation. We will then provide you with a suitable option! Please see examples of accommodation options in the image gallery.
 
 
 
mostpopular transparent
 
Most popular! - Room in a Dormitory: This is our budget choice that will save you money! There are dormitories with 4, 6, 10 or 12 people per room. The costs are between 6-12 USD/night/person. The shared bathroom is usually on the same floor. Usually, a simple, local breakfast is included in the price of your accommodation.

comfortplustext transp
 
Single room: If you want a bit more privacy we are happy to organize accommodation in a single room. The costs are between 20-30 USD/night. Single rooms usually also feature a private bathroom.
 
Double/Twin room: If you are traveling together with a friend or as a couple, you can of course also share a room together. The costs are then 10-15 USD/night/person.
 
Usually, a simple, local breakfast is included in the price of your accommodation.
 
 
 

I. World Unite! Service Package

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.
   up to 60 Days
61-90 Days
91-180 Days
181 Days or longer
 wu servicepackage en
1 Person
600 EUR 700 EUR 800 EUR 1200 EUR
2-4 Persons
(Rate per Person)
500 EUR 600 EUR 700 EUR 1000 EUR
 
Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies
 

The World Unite! Service Package includes:

 
  • Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
  • Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
  • Preparation Session via Skype; together with further participants
  • Arrangements of necessary documents for your visa application, but not the official government fees for them (See costs below)
  • Pick-up and Transfers from/to Rangun International Airport (RGN) on arrival and departure from/to Yangon
  • Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
  • Orientation and Introduction in Yangon
  • Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
  • 24 Hours emergency support by local support team
  • 50 USD Contribution to your project
  • Local SIM Card with 10.000 MMK air time
  • Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
  • Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
 

The Rates do NOT include:

 
  • Accommodation and Meals (see below)
  • Travel to/from Myanmar (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
  • Official fee for Visa (see below)
  • Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
  • Personal Expenses
  • Vaccinations
  • Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
  • Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.
 

II. Accommodation Costs

 
In Yangon:
 
Accommodation at Guesthouse, Hostel or Bed&Breakfast, incl. simple, local breakfast. You can choose between the following options:
 
Dorm Room bed (4-share to 12-share): 6-12 USD/Person/Night
Single Room: 20-30 USD/Night
Double/Twin Room (only available in case of 2 persons booking together): 10-15 USD/Person/Night
 
Farm-stay near Hmwabi:
 
200 USD/month/person on full board
 
At the Buddhist meditation centre Thabarwa:
 
No costs for dorm room accommodation including 2 simple meals per day!
 
Tourismus and Hotel internships:
 
With tour operators and hotels in Yangon that don't provide accommodation: See rates above ("Yangon"). Hotels in the rural area usually provide accommodation free of charge.
 

Overview of other costs:

 
  • Around 80-140 USD/Month for self-catering (lunch and dinner at affordable yet good restaurants)
  • Visa 70 USD per 70 days
  • Small local expenses (e.g. Internet, local transport): around 30-50 USD/Month (Estimate)
  • Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month

 

How do I pay?

 
Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.
 
The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.
 
 
 

Other Projects That Might Interest You:

 
 
These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more!
 

Travel Health Insurance

 
We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, work and travel, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.
 
Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.
 
 
 
 
 

Getting to Yangon

 
Karte Myanmar
 
You will book your flight to Yangon Airport (also: Rangoon; RGN). Please remember to share your flight details with us so we can pick you up at the airport and bring you to your accommodation in Yangon.
 
Even if your workplace is not in Yangon, you will spend your first few days there to acclimatize (we will organize a good accommodation for you in Yangon). In Yangon you will participate in an introduction and orientation program by your local coordinator and get to know the other participants of our program. After that you will travel by bus or airplane to your actual workplace. Buses go from Yangon to almost all corners of the country and cost around 20 USD per route (e.g. to Mandalay, a ride of 10-12 hours), domestic flights are around 50-90 USD per route and only take around 1-2 hours.
 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 
Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?
No, you can arrive at any date and you can hence, plan your trip according to your availability and the prices of flights. We can pick you up from the airport even at night.
Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?
Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.
During my stay, can I travel around the country?
Of course you can travel around during your time in Myanmar and get to know this fascinating country. If you want to travel during your time of volunteering/internship, you should ask at your placement whether your absence is ok. Probably it is better if you plan some time to travel AFTER your volunteer/internship assignment.
Is it safe to travel to Myanmar alone as a single female traveller?
As most Buddhist countries, Myanmar is considered a safe travel destination for women. Approximately 80% of our participants are female and between 18-25 years old. Not a single instance of a serious security breach has occurred. Our coordinator will advise you on how you should conduct yourself in order to avoid problems - your dressing style, valuables, and in dealing with local men. Our preparation materials elaborate on this matter. If you follow these basic rules that apply equally to many other places, the risk in Myanmar is minimal.
Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Yangon?
The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants in Myanmar, who you can meet in your spare time, if you desire so.
What vaccinations do I need?
We recommend that you ask your physician or an Institute of Tropical Medicine for recommendations. Our preparation materials also include a chapter about vaccinations and health.
Where do I live?
In Myanmar and in Yangon we cooperate with several hostels, guest houses and Bed&Breakfasts, and we have a suitable option for any preferences and standard. You will share the accommodation with other travelers from around the world or other participants of our programs.
 
We also consider the distance to your volunteer/internship assignment.
 
In Yangon, accommodation is typically in the city centre, e.g. China Town or near Sule Pagoda.
 
As a non-resident, it is not legal in Myanmar to live in private accommodation or with host families.
Can I choose my accommodation?
You can tell your room preference (e.g. single, double, dorm room) and we will suggest you the available options.
Does my accommodation have internet facilities?
Yes, the hostels usually have Wifi internet. You can also access the internet with your smartphone. We will give you a local SIM card with some initial credit, which you can top up as needed. You can easily activate a data package (around 10 USD for 6 GB).
How can I do my laundry?
You can either do your laundry by hand, or ask for laundry service at your accommodation.
I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?
Many restaurants in Myanmar at least have one vegetarian dish. At the supermarkets there are many vegetarian food ingredients.
What language skills do I need?
English language skills are widely spread in most parts of the country. Anyway, people are happy if you try at least to speak some words in their local language.
 
 
    BOOK NOW OR INQUIRE!
 

Our Partners

  • partners01.jpg
  • partners03.jpg
  • partners04.jpg
  • partners05.jpg
  • partners06.jpg
  • partners07.jpg
  • partners08.jpg
  • partners09.jpg
  • partners10.jpg
  • partners22.jpg
  • partners24.jpg
  • partners25.jpg

Programs

Auslandspraktika Internships Abroad

A wide selection of internships in many countries. Read more...

 
Volunteering Volunteering

Charitable placements worldwide. Read more...

 
World Learner World Learner

Learn your host country's knowledge. Read more...

 
Aktivreisen Active Travel

Your alternative holidays. Read more...

 
Academix Academix

Dissertations, intercultural learning. Read more...

 
Work&Travel Working Holiday

Working Holiday in Japan, China and Germany Read more...

Quick Poll!

Do you find on our website what you are looking for?

Yes - 57%
No - 21.5%
Partially - 18.3%

Login Form

This website uses cookies for navigation, language selection and other functionalities. By clicking "Accept and Close" you agree that cookies are saved on your device.