WHO WE ARE

In 2002, Ian and Anne Love and their two daughters were on a family holiday in Myanmar. Quite by chance, while visiting the town of Mingun, on the banks of the Irrawaddy near Mandalay, they came across an old-people's home, administered by a charismatic Burmese nurse called Thwe Thwe Aye. They chatted to Nurse Thwe about her work, and took some photos, promising to send her copies once the family was back home in Singapore. Inspired by Nurse Thwe's sincerity and commitment to her difficult task, the Loves sent not only a photo, but a few dollars to help her buy medicines and other provisions for the old folk in the home.

That was just the beginning. The Loves wanted to do more for Nurse Thwe, and began to enlist the help of like-minded friends to raise additional funds. Such was the response that this small group of friends was able to return to Mingun in early 2004 with sufficient funds to purchase bedding for every resident, and to make a contribution to the building of a brand new medical clinic in the home.

The group began to look around for other worthwhile causes in the Mandalay area. Soon, they had identified two orphanages - one for boys and one for girls - which needed support. And so, back home in Singapore, the group resolved to work together, not only to raise a bit more cash, but also to collect useful provisions for the orphans, such as clothes, toys and sports equipment. They also resolved to return to Myanmar in 2005, to make additional contributions and to see at first hand how their previous donations had been used. From these simple beginnings, the Mandalay Projects initiative was born. In subsequent years, additional projects were identified and the work of our Project Team is continuing apace, with several new projects scheduled for 2007 and 2008.