THE Ratana Metta Organisation, a local non-government Buddhist organisation, will hold ongoing sewing courses for women living with HIV starting from September 24 to help provide them with a source of income, a senior official from the group said.

U Thein Swe, the organisation’s project manager, said it is the first vocational training course provided by Ratana Metta.

He said the courses will be taught by HIV-infected patients seeking treatment at the organisation’s clinic in Yangon’s Bahan township.

“Each course will last one month and will be limited to eight students,” he said, adding that the organisation will provide sewing machines and will also try to help students find sewing work after the course is finished.

U Thein Swe said the courses will help women with HIV earn their own income and reduce their dependence on others.

“The courses will encourage women who take part to believe in their own abilities,” he said, adding that many people infected with HIV had trouble getting jobs because they lacked the money to take classes to learn necessary skills.

U Thein Swe said the organisation has also been providing interest-free loans to HIV-infected people since June 2006 to help them establish their own businesses.

“First-time applicants can get K20,000 if they submit a proposal on what kind of business they will run, how much they expect to earn from it and how much of the loan they can repay,” he said.

Those who repay the first loan in its entirety can take out second loans of K30,000 and third loans of K40,000, also interest-free.

“There are now about 40 people with HIV running businesses with loans from us,” U Thein Swe said.