Recently, AHF Myanmar launched a five-day vocational training for Girls Act members—offering more than just practical skills, but a real path toward self-reliance. Held at the Department of Social Welfare’s Vocational Training Center for Women, the workshop taught 25 young women the art of hand-weaving baskets from locally sourced plastic strips, promoting treatment adherence and HIV prevention through economic empowerment.

Led by professional artisans, the training combined daily hands-on instruction with creativity and purpose. Each girl completed at least one functional, hand-woven basket, contributing to a collection of 115 pieces—many of which are now proudly displayed and sold at local shops. Within a month, 25 baskets had already been purchased.

But the project goes beyond weaving. Young women with limited economic opportunities face a higher risk of STIs/HIV and unplanned pregnancy due to factors like transactional sex and reduced access to healthcare. These young women, many of whom have faced barriers to traditional education or employment, are now equipped with a marketable craft, and a sense of confidence that can’t be measured in dollars. By turning local materials into beautiful, functional products, Girls Act is helping members stitch together futures filled with dignity, creativity, and economic empowerment.