Women for Freedom

I visited Myanmar two weeks ago, as I was on a project visit in Thailand and felt the urge to speak with the women inside the country. So I went for a short trip and held workshops for women and youth and spoke with women who are working on the ground. When arriving in the country, I could already feel the grip of fear that has been held over the country since February 2021. Military dictatorship is a hardship for all the people in the country, it affects all in various ways. Some are in prison, like one of our volunteers Daw*. They face hardships that we cannot start to imagine. I spoke to Nang, a friend of Daw and she told me that she writes letters to her friend every month and that Daw writes back. Daw is doing relatively fine, which means her health is still okay and she gets food, books and stationary inside the prison, she even has kittens that she is taking care of. Nang buys what her friend needs, We women provides the funds and the mother of Daw brings it to her daughter in prison. I feel heartbroken when I think of Daw and her family, struggling to survive mentally and physically. We keep on supporting Daw and her family to assist her to survive in prison.

I also spoke to Ying Long, We women alumni, who works on the empowerment of activists and politicians. She lives in Yangon with her daughter and husband, they hardly go out and are always home around 20:00. They don't feel safe on the streets, especially at night. Bombings can occur anywhere anytime, it doesn't happen a lot in Yangon, but the threat is always there. There are also a lot of assaults taking place on citizens randomly. Fear is what I feel when I talk to many women, which comes in various degrees, but I also feel in all women the will to keep on fighting for their freedom. They support other women whenever they can, wherever they go. Everyone assists activists in their own way, housing them, sending their savings for food, transportation and safe houses, so that these women can work underground on politics, healthcare, education and support people in the war zone areas.

Some of the women who We women supports are teachers who are part of an activist education system of primary and secondary schools for children and youth. I had the privilege to meet one and hear her story. She told me that all of them are very eager to work with the youth and to keep building on empowerment of children and youth, so that they are not taught the rote learning system of the state schools, but get an education that gives them a chance to stand up for their rights and the rights of their communities. 

The experience of leading a women circle for women leaders, was a privilige, they opened up their heart and soul and shared their stories. love and support with eachother. Their stories entailed the shortage of paid jobs for them, so that they can support their families and other community members in need. Many of them lost their jobs and are now fighting to survive and at the same time they are still supporting their communities whenever they can. Withdrawing support from international communities, spreads more poverty among these women. 

The hardship that all the women face is tremendous, but even so they keep on fighting, they keep on going and they keep on supporting each other. Supporting each other has been mentioned as the most important means to reduce stress, fear and anxiety. All the women felt they needed to meet each other in a safe environment, in small groups with women whom they know they can trust. So this is one of the issues we will address as We women, we have started supporting one women circle in yangon. In this circle, women share their life stories, they meditate and do exercise to reduce stress and anxiety.

Leaving the country was hard for me, leaving all the strong women who work hard every day and who we will keep on supporting. We women will stand in solidarity with them and to support wherever we can. 

Sending love, light, warmth and solidarity to all the women in Myanmar.

Note: All the names in this report are fictional in order to protect our women in the field

Dear friends,

"Since February 2021, at least 50,000 people in Myanmar have lost their lives in conflict.

Within a population of 55 million, at least 2.6 million have been displaced from their homes…

Among 18 million needing humanitarian assistance, 9.7 million are women and girls 

Thousands have fled to neighboring countries leaving a massive gap of skilled and educated individuals in local communities…

And then imagine…there is a group of young and driven women dreaming of a better future"

For the past 63 years, Myanmar has experienced a brutal dictatorship. The first elections in decades during 2015, the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and the removal of the West’s economic sanctions, gave hope for a better future. Despite progress, since the flares of violence in Rakhine State with the persecution of the Rohingya people and the recent unlawful military coup from its civilian government on February 1, 2021, Myanmar is back under totalitarian rule once more. 

“I strongly believe my country needs more social and capacity-building services to ease the suffering of victims of natural disasters, and those affected by the political, economic, and educational crises that have lasted for decades. As I am a victim of these crises myself, I am committed to rebuilding capacity and leadership skills among our people in order to help them take action on their community issues.”

Khaing May Oo, We women alumni

Since the coup, the people of Myanmar have been experiencing ongoing political unrest and humanitarian crises leading up to mass protests demanding the restoration of civilian rule and the release of arrested political leaders. 

In retaliation, tens of thousands escaped from the junta-held territories to form the People Defense Forces and join Ethnic Armed Groups to resist the junta. In return, the junta responded with brutal violence, leading to at least 50,000 deaths including at least 8,000 civilians (ACLED Conflict Index). In a country of about 55 million, more than 2.6 million have been displaced from their homes due to conflict, more than 26,500 have been detained for opposing the military junta, and 18 million people are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations. Recently in March 2024, the junta imposed a mandatory military conscription on the youth, with potential imprisonment for evasion, to increase military participation and fuel the militarization of the state. 

The current political situation in Myanmar has caused great turmoil in the country and has left its citizens with few opportunities. As a result, many residents from Myanmar have fled the country and are now facing significant difficulties navigating day-to-day life. Many vulnerable populations such as young girls and women, members of the LGBTQ+ communities, and IDPs, especially those from ethnic minority groups such as the Rohingya suffer disproportionately. Due to heightened gender-based violence and human rights violations, these communities face an added layer of discrimination and difficulty amidst conflict. As they pursue education to uplift their community members, they face an (almost) impossible journey due to security concerns raised by the conflict, underrepresentation in higher-level positions, unequal access to educational opportunities, patriarchal gender norms, and ethnic discrimination.

"The country's political crisis since the military takeover has created many negative consequences, especially a sense of hopelessness for the future among children. Moreover, it has become increasingly more challenging for children to access education as they are trapped in conflict areas with no security. I believe that courageous leadership and innovative skills are required to rebuild the new generation’s future. I am studying for the Master of Management Online International Program at the College of Management, Mahidol University (CMMU) to enhance my leadership and management skills to contribute to a brighter future for Myanmar."

We women scholarship recipient Nang Kham

The women who are inside the country keep on working relentlessly towards change, they take every opportunity they can to make changes from within. It is hard to work within the restrictions set by the military regime. Many have to flee, hide or are imprisoned. One of our volunteers inside is still taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and she is also teaching children from parents who take active part in the CDM. And still one of our volunteers is in prison, through our network, food, books and personal care products are monthly brought to her mother. Her mother takes this to her daughter in prison. Last Month the mother fainted when she saw her daughter...the circumstances are so harsh in prison and we feel distressed for her and all the other prisoners, who have to endure the brutality of the military. We are sending every one who is imprisoned in Myanmar strength, love, healing and light.

Warm regards,

Ursula