The Myanmar Village That Helped Others First

“Please go to the other villages that are more affected than us.” 

These words welcomed the UNDP team to Pyar Pin village, a lakeside community near Inle Lake—Myanmar’s second-largest—located in Nyaungshwe Township in the eastern part of the country. It was just days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck in March. Despite experiencing the quake themselves, the villagers didn’t seek assistance. Instead, they immediately looked for ways to help neighbouring communities hit even harder. 

In a world where natural disasters often push vulnerable communities to the brink, Pyar Pin chose solidarity.

Local leadership inspires collective action 

A spirit of care runs deep in Pyar Pin’s Community Development Committee (CDC)—a group of trusted villagers who step up to guide and support their community. Through the ENCORE project, they participated in practical training that taught them how to prepare for disasters, adapt to a changing climate, and develop plans that reflect their community’s needs. Over time, these experiences gave them not just new skills, but the confidence to face challenges together—calmly, quickly, and with purpose. 

The people of Pyar Pin learned that resilience is not just about weathering a crisis; it is also about standing up for one another. 

So, when the earthquake struck, they knew what to do. 

Minutes after the it happened, CDC members went door-to-door, checking on every household, assessing the damage and ensuring everyone’s safety. Although some houses had cracks and some belongings were lost, the village had been spared the worst.  

Gratitude turns into organized, transparent giving 

“We experienced serious flooding last year, and during that time, neighbouring villages came to our aid. Now it’s our turn to help others. We believe they would do the same for us,” explained a CDC member involved in the village's earthquake response. 

Rather than waiting for outside assistance, the CDC took swift and organized action. They launched a grassroots fundraising effort on Facebook, posting calls for support that quickly gained traction.

Donations began pouring in from friends, relatives, and even migrant workers, who sent digital deposits overseas. With the raised funds, CDC members purchased non-perishable food and essential emergency supplies, including 2,500 kilograms of rice and 120 solar lamps. Staying true to the community's commitment to transparency, they regularly posted photos showing exactly what was bought and where it was distributed. 

They delivered aid to 31 neighbouring villages, demonstrating how resilience is put into action. 

“People trust us because they’ve seen how we work," explained Myo Thuzar Tun, an accountant at the CDC. "Now we manage our own village fund. Fifty-four of us, including some children, have started a savings group called ‘Our Choice’ to prepare for the future.” 

Preparedness shaped by learning from past crises and building trust 

The March earthquake was not the first crisis faced by the people of Pyar Pin. Last year, they experienced the devastating effects of severe floods. A few years ago, a fire swept through the village, destroying three-quarters of its homes and livelihoods.

The ability to gather the entire town in just 15 minutes—something that used to take several days—was achieved through the expertise developed through the CDC, supported by the ENCORE project. The initiative strengthened their leadership skills, enhanced transparency and communication, and improved their ability to make collective decisions, transforming how the village comes together.

“We used to help only close friends or relatives. That was all we could manage on our own," reflected an active CDC member. "But now we think as a community. We ask ourselves, what can we do together? That’s what has changed."

Community systems enable faster, organized action 

“I feel more responsible for my village since becoming a CDC member. Before, we didn’t know how to make decisions like this. Now we can do it together,” said the head of the CDC, U Myint Aung.

The CDC has become the backbone of community-led resilience, developed during times of crisis and strengthened through trust. Working with UNDP, the community is planning a long-term project to build a retaining wall that will protect the village from increased water erosion caused by frequent floods and heavy rainfall.

“We know CDC members in other villages. If something happens again, we’ll contact them and respond together,” said CDC member Ko Aung. “We’re proud to be CDC members because we can give more and help faster than we ever could before.”

UNDP Myanmar’s Enabling Community Recovery and Resilience (ENCORE) project is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Government of Norway, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).  

*This story was originally published on the UNDP Myanmar website.