New Student Accommodation
Work commenced on the construction of new purpose built accommodation for our students.
Second Graduation Class
On the 20th of November 2018, Sanon held its second graduation ceremony for students who had completed Sanon’s training program. 24 students graduated and attended the ceremony where their received their graduation certificate of achievement.
Friends of Sanon
Publication of the Sanon Training Restaurant's first newsletter.
First Charity Dinner
MYDI held its first fundraising dinner in Bulleen, Melbourne Australia to raise funds for the Sanon Training Restaurant. Funds were raised by ticket sales to the dinner and the auctioning and raffling of donated prizes. Guest speakers were the Hon. Mr Tim Fischer, former Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Mr Bob Davis, former Australian Ambassador to Myanmar.
First Graduates
Our first group of students (15) graduated and have jobs to go to. 24 new students taken on for the 2017/18 training program. Myanmar Restaurant Association President co-signs our student’s graduation certificates.
A Culinary Destination
Intrepid Travel’s Global Network of Travel Agencies lists Sanon as a culinary designation in Bagan, Myanmar.
Recognition from the Myanmar Restaurant Association
Myanmar Restaurant Association recognised the Sanon Training Restaurant Program which was built on the ASEAN Hospitality curriculum (written by William Angliss Institute in Melbourne, Australia).
Appointment of English Teacher
DFAT (AVI – Australian Volunteers Abroad) agreed to fund the cost of an English teacher for 18 months with the key responsibilities to teach all students English and to write a MYDI English curriculum with a hospitality focus.
Official Opening of Sanon
Official opening - the students put on a culinary show for approximately 75 guests from all over the world.
No.1 on Trip Advisor
Sanon becomes No.1 on Trip Advisor for Restaurants in Began, Myanmar.
Sanon Opens
Soft opening of the Sanon Training Restaurant.
A Foodies Must See
Lonely Planet Guide as well as Wikitravel rate Sanon as a 'foodies must see' restaurant.
The Sanon Training Restaurant
Sanon is selected as the name for the training restaurant. Sanon is Burmese for Turmeric.
Construction of Training Restaurant building and infrastructure
Construction commences on the training restaurant on the site provided by Ms Khine Ko Gyi. The kitchen is designed by members of MYDI and constructed by manufactures in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia for shipment to Bagan, Myanmar.
Charity and Social Enterprise Registration
Formal registration in Australia as a non profit organisation and registration of a social enterprise limited liability company in Myanmar.
Myanmar Youth Development Institute (MYDI)
Development of a formal Strategic Statement for our group and its naming as the Myanmar Youth Development Institute.
Site for a Training Restaurant acquired
On the advice of a contact at the Asian Development Bank several members of MYDI meet with Ms Khine Ko Gyi the operator of the Thante Hotel in Bagan (Nyaung U) in central Myanmar. Ms Khine offered MYDI a run-down building, adjoining her hotel for MYDI to redevelop into a Training Restaurant. An offer MYDI accepted.
Fact Finding visit to Cambodia
Members of the future Myanmar Youth Development Institute visit Cambodia to investigate training operations by Friends-International (i.e. Friends social businesses)