Together Growing

Together for Sustainable Development

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Who We Are

Together for Sustainable Development (TSD) is a registered Non-Government Organization in Myanmar based in Lailenpi Town of the Mara region of Southern Chin State where it serves Mara communities and beyond. TSD’s work focusses on promoting sustainable development in rural communities through four main programme areas: Education, Food security, Inclusion, and Disaster Risk Reduction & Relief. We have a particular focus on sustainable education – and view education as a part of all our work, as we empower people with knowledge, skills, and the tools they need to play an active part in the building more resilient, inclusive and delightful communities. (Read more about what we do.)

The staff of TSD are all residents from communities throughout the Mara Region, with an aim to have a good gender balance and include people with disabilities. The team is driven by its faith-based foundation, a strong sense of self-reliance, and a belief in the difference that can be made when people come together with purpose. TSD has invested in the capacity of its staff, building on their local knowledge, community mobilisation skills, and passion to serve the most vulnerable, to reach impressive achievements.

Our Core Values

Love & Sharing

“Love your neighbour as yourself” is the golden rule for TSD as a Christian faith-based organisation. TSD is inspired to turn this rule into concrete action by sharing love through our work.

Equality & Justice

We believe that everyone has the same creator and has equal rights. We aim to see social justice embodied through our work.

Accountability &
Transparency

Those we serve are our true bosses in this work. We aim to keep our commitments to them as well as our donors, and we are eager to learn from our mistakes. We are open with the community members we serve, our partners and donors.

Our Story

Together for Sustainable Development (TSD) was born out of the community’s recognition of its own needs during a time of great hardship for the Mara ethnic minority population of southern Chin State, Myanmar. This remote mountainous region has long struggled with the challenges of geographic isolation, lack of infrastructure, poor access to services, and food insecurity. (Read more about where we work.) In 2003, Mai Ki, the region’s first woman minister felt a calling to lead her community “to be Blessing for Others” by creating education opportunity for children by joining in the Service & Development Department of the Mara Evangelical Church.  (Read more about Mai Ki’s story.)

Mai Ki, together with a small, hardworking team of staff – largely working voluntarily in the beginning – mobilised community members to work together towards positive change in their communities. Early activities ranged from constructing rural roads by hand to installing community rice mills to starting women’s self-help groups. They overcame numerous obstacles, almost no outside support and little funding. The organisation began its work when this region of Myanmar was completely cut off from international visits or communication. As such, they developed a strong sense of self-sufficiency early on and a commitment to community ownership and sustainability.

As of 2017, TSD became an independent NGO, separate from the church. The organisation has grown in professionalism and scope, while holding on to its original passion and strong community roots. Togetherness has been a key theme throughout TSD’s journey, and the work today is only possible through the support of communities, the church, close collaboration with community-based organisations and other local actors, and support from international partners.

Our Partners