THE Myanmar office of the Switzerland-based non-profit organisation, Association François-Xavier Bagnoud (AFXB), is selling handmade household articles at discounted prices at its office in Kamaryut township in Yangon to support its vocational training programs for vulnerable people.

The month-long sale, which started on November 15, features nearly 1000 handmade household articles made of fabric, metal and wood offered at discounts of up to 20 percent.

The items were created by vulnerable youths, street kids and HIV-infected people who have attended the organisation’s free vocational trainings in Yangon and Mawlamyine to learn carpentry, metal working, weaving, sewing, knitting and other handicraft skills.

Daw Kathy Shein, the country director of AFXB (Myanmar), said the sales promotion was aimed at raising money to fund health, social care and youth care programs for people with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable people in need.

“If we can make more money selling products we can provide vocational trainings for more vulnerable people, which will also give us more products to sell at our office showroom,” she said.

However, she said AFXB (Myanmar) was facing competition from people who mistook the NGO for a business.

“We’re not running the showroom to make a business profit but some local companies are trying to compete with us by copying our designs and selling the products at low prices,” Daw Kathy Shein said. “The competition affects our vocational training programs.”

She said the training programs, which have been provided since 1996, are offered at three levels: 18-month basic, 10-month secondary and final practical level. About 250 people are trained each year.

“Vulnerable people and people at risk between the ages of 14 and 24 years can join the training,” Daw Kathy Shein said.