I don't blame the Coca Cola company for an attempt at brownwashing. But we musn't be fooled. Sugary drinks are a source of illness and a cause of disability and death.

http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/seminar_16Dec2015/en/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiXzNST1eTLAhWDVo4KHQ21CHEQFggoMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2015%2F11%2F22%2Fbooks%2Freview%2Fsoda-politics-and-saving-gotham.html&usg=AFQjCNGqU3Vri_TeZh6HNJbKhWOTnkC_8w

Jamie

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Coca-Cola backs women’s training
Myat Noe Oo
Myanmar Times
Tuesday, 15 March 2016

Women are being trained in business and finance techniques to take greater control over their lives. The Coca-Cola Foundation has launched a three-year program to train 37,000 women throughout the country in community-level financial management. Business management, advocacy and literacy will also be taught, said coordinator Ma Ei Thinzar Min Min Oo.

In cooperation with Pact Myanmar, the foundation’s Swan Yi program provides technology and training in how to make the best use of available money to improve women’s lives.

An earlier Swan Yi program between 2012 and 2015 empowered more than 29,000 women, organisers say. The foundation provides no finance, but trains women in fundraising and financial management techniques.

The first program was carried out in hundreds of villages in eight townships in Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing regions. It covered not only technology and financing, but also domestic violence, divorce, labour and other issues.

The new program will be extended to Taunggyi township, Shan State, and Thaton township, Mon State, she added.

“This will affect not only business, but also the family. An increase in household income will raise living standards. Some women can send their children to school and cooperate in village activities,” she said.

Sandy Chapman, head of Coca-Cola Myanmar’s public affairs and communications, said, “The program will cover subjects relevant to the changes taking place in Myanmar, like labour laws, family law, land rights and domestic violence.

“Coca-Cola is launching this program because they want to help communities. We provide women with different programs depend on the nature of countries,” he said.

Ma Ei Thinzar Min Oo said, “The women form a committee of 30 or 40 members and save money every week. From the funds thus created they lend out money at a rate of interest they set, and which is repaid weekly. They draw up all the procedures themselves, and learn how to do the accounting. We only provide technology, not financing. We give training in all the financial procedures, but all decisions about interest rates and loans are made by the group.”

Daw Zin Myint, 42, who lives in Lat Pa Tan Su village, Hmawbi township, Yangon Region, has been participating since 2012. She has built up a fruit farm from the funds she borrowed from her local fund.

“I have five children. I used to be a daily worker on someone else’s farm because we couldn’t borrow money at very high interest. Now we can save and can borrow money at a much smaller rate,” she said.

Daw Yee Win, 47, of Lat Pa Tan Su village, said, “I sold mohinga in front of schools. Then I opened a small shop to sell vegetables. This program allows me to borrow at 3 percent instead of 20pc.”

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/19469-coca-cola-backs-women-s-training.html