“We just want to sit in a circle and talk. That’s where things can change.” – says Daw Htu Jar, from the one of the Solution Sites in Waing Maw, Kachin stateIn communities across Kachin state, especially in Solution Sites where people are trying to rebuild and resettle into what is now their new home, women and girls continue to carry the weight of conflict, displacement, and daily struggle. The pain is not always visible. It sits in silence, fear, shame, and the pressure to stay strong at all costs.In many places, humanitarian support is still unpredictable. Distributions come and go. Services are short-term. But healing, rebuilding trust, and reclaiming identity take longer. And those things have to come from within.These were not needs we created. These were needs we heard.

Women didn’t ask for more training or information campaigns. They asked for space—somewhere to sit, to feel, to speak freely, and to start healing on their own terms. That’s how it started.Action: Volunteer-led, Participatory SpacesIn the absence of strong community management structures like in IDP camps, the women volunteers stepped up. They are women from the same community—daughters, mothers, teachers, working moms, and teenage girls—each with their own story, but one shared purpose: “This is our community. It’s up to us.”They coordinate and lead sessions themselves, even under difficult conditions. Since July 2024, internet and mobile access have been cut off in some areas, taking communication back to the 1990s—landlines, handwritten messages, and house-to-house visits. Volunteers are able to plan sessions two to three days ahead, walking to inform and invite women and girls, meeting with stakeholders, and preparing materials and space. In areas where community halls are unavailable or double-booked with other actors, they adapt—sometimes using a participant’s home to hold the session. And when women cannot attend due to caregiving responsibilities, the volunteers adjust: organizing small groups, meeting in flexible time slots, making sure no one is left behind.Together, they lead community awareness sessions followed by psychosocial support activities using the Five Feelings approach: Calm. Connected. Safe. Able to act. Hopeful. They share key messages on Gender-based violence, mental health and psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and referral pathways.They use drawing, dancing, cooking, and storytelling. They share their own lived experiences—not as role models, but as real women validating their feelings and reminding others: you’re not alone. “I’m not trying to inspire anyone,” one volunteer said. “I’m learning to know myself. To understand what I feel, and why. To protect myself—even when I’m alone.”“I never knew it was okay to say no.”“I thought I had to be strong all the time. Now I know it’s okay to feel weak, too.”“I feel angry sometimes. Then I join the session, and I forget some stress. We laugh. My mouth gets tired from smiling. I feel like I own myself again.”Impact: Community Ownership with UNFPA SupportUNFPA continues to stand alongside these women. Through direct implementation, ongoing mentoring, and coaching, UNFPA supports the design and facilitation of these sessions—but the leadership is local. The volunteers know their people, their realities, their solutions.They are not just delivering sessions—they are building safety nets. They are creating a local ecosystem of care and response. And they are doing it with dignity, flexibility, and trust.Thanks to the generous support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), UNFPA will continue to invest in local leadership, create inclusive spaces, ensuring that community-based protection is not temporary—but lasting.   Caption: Creating Protective Environment Tree- Sut Kyai Solution Site, Waing Maw - Kachin*This story was originally published on the UNFPA Myanmar website.

On October 24th, we commemorated United Nations Day - a moment to reflect on 80 years of the UN’s unwavering commitment to peace, human rights, and inclusive progress. These values remain as vital today as they were eight decades ago. At its core, UN Day is a celebration of people - the dedicated individuals whose courage, compassion, and resilience bring the UN’s mission to life, often in the most challenging of circumstances. We were honoured to welcome and hear from our dedicated UN retirees, whose service is a powerful reminder of the lasting legacy we continue to carry forward together.  UN Day is also a reminder that our strength lies in unity and is what drives progress; this is a commitment we all share.As Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. in Myanmar noted, while the world feels increasingly fragile and resources may be limited, our determination to serve the people of Myanmar has not wavered. In that same spirit of perseverance, the UN in Myanmar will continue to stand in our mission: in service of the people of Myanmar. We thank all UN agencies, funds and programmes for their participation and contributions in the lead up to UN Day 2025.

From uncertain harvests to thriving flowers Every morning, Soe Soe Win steps into her quaint garden and watches tiny green buds gradually open into golden Chrysanthemums, known in Myanmar as Gandamar flowers.  A few months ago, witnessing this transformation felt like a distant dream.“We used to think flower farming was not for us,” reflects Soe Soe Win, a spirited 40-year-old who shares her home with her elderly parents and older sister. “But now, from this small plot, I earn as much as I used to make in a whole month.”  Like many families in Kya Oh Kyun, a riverside village in central Myanmar, Soe Soe Win’s family relies on agriculture, small-scale trading, and fishing. She and her sister typically cultivate seasonal crops, such as roselle and corn. Yet, the uncertainty of their income loomed large.“Our income was never stable,” she recalls. “Some months, we only made 200,000 kyats (about USD 48).” Those earnings, she says, were never enough to feel secure.Taking the first step to a sustainable livelihood Things began to shift when the UNDP ENCORE project conducted a Participatory Livelihood Assessment (PLA) in her village in December 2024. The process brought together women from the most vulnerable households to explore new opportunities to improve their livelihoods. During heartfelt discussions, they shared their existing skills, examined market demand, and identified the obstacles standing in their way.One idea that came up repeatedly was the potential of growing Gandamar flowers.In Myanmar, Gandamar flowers are more than just blossoms—they are an integral part of daily life and tradition. Offered at Buddhist temples, placed before household shrines, woven into ceremonies, or used in traditional medicine, they carry a deep symbolism of purity and longevity. This deep-rooted importance ensures steady demand in local markets, giving Gandamar flowers a strong and competitive market value.“We heard of neighbours growing them in a nearby village. We heard they sold well,” Soe Soe Win recalls. “We knew there was demand for these flowers, especially for religious offerings. But we didn’t know how or where to start growing them.”The conversations during the PLA process inspired seven women eager to try something different. They formed the Toe Pwar Livelihood Group as part of the project’s Startup Livelihood Assistance for Women (SLAW). Just a week later, they embarked on a journey to transform their futures.The project provided them with essential supplies, including seedlings, soil, and tools, as well as hands-on training from UNDP. They learned how to set up a nursery, care for young plants, and successfully transplant them into the ground to grow.“Thanks to the training,” Soe Soe Win says, “I now understand how to manage the nursery step by step.”        Learning, Growing, Earning In the first cycle, each woman planted 1,500 flowers—just the right amount to balance risk and help them build their confidence. As they nurtured these blossoms, they also tended to familiar corn crops, adding a layer of security in case the flowers didn’t flourish as expected.By May, their hard work began to bloom.Soe Soe Win proudly sold her first batch for nearly 300,000 kyats (about USD 72), surpassing her best monthly earnings. “Now, we know we can do this,” she says. “We’re already planning to expand next season. Our confidence is growing along with our flowers.”Encouraged by this success, she and her fellow SLAW members intend to plant more than 1,500 flowers in the next cycle. What once felt like a cautious limit has now become a stepping stone for greater ambition.Building on this momentum, Soe Soe Win went a step further. Applying the techniques she had learned, she nurtured an additional 500 seedlings on her own. “I’m combining traditional practices with the new techniques we learned,” she explains, determined to keep pushing her skills and yields forward.Women reshape their futures one bloom at a time The success of the first cycle sparked hope among the members. It has shifted mindsets.  “We used to think flower farming was not for us. But now, with training and support, we see that we too can succeed,” Soe Soe Win says. “It really is beautiful and fulfilling. I want to tell other women to give it a try. Yes, there will be challenges, but we learn along the way. Each step, even the hard ones, helps us move forward.”In her blooming garden, Soe Soe Win sees more than flowers. She envisions possibilities, opportunities, and a bright future she is creating with her own hands.__________________________________________________________________________________________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 on 15 October 2025.

In March 2025, a powerful earthquake hit central Myanmar. Buildings turned to rubble, bridges collapsed, roads cracked, and river crossings fell silent—severing accessibility to essential services across Mandalay, Sagaing as well as the Southern Shan and Southeast region of the country. Markets closed, clinics were damaged, and families sought safety in temporary shelters. As aftershocks and the monsoon season followed, and daily stresses multiplied—especially for women and girls, whose access to healthcare, protection, and livelihoods was abruptly cut off.Six months on, recovery is measured not only in terms of repaired infrastructure but also in the healing of minds and the restoration of dignity and safety for affected communities, including women and girls. When the ground finally stilled, Theint Theint Swe’s work vanished. “After the earthquake, finding work became difficult and we faced financial hardship,” says the 23-year-old from Mandalay. “When the bridge collapsed, transportation was further delayed, causing many inconveniences.” 
Before the disaster, she stitched blouses and longyi. “I used to sew clothes at home to earn some money. However, that is no longer feasible, as nobody comes to get clothes tailored anymore.” The loss of income came with quieter burdens. “Due to the fear of another earthquake and numerous difficulties, I am experiencing various mental and emotional hardships.”Theint chose to step forward. “As a volunteer, I stepped in to help where I could. I attended training sessions on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) awareness at the AFXB Myanmar’s floating (boat) clinic, and I share health knowledge in the village as much as I can. I can also now connect those in need with service providers. While helping others, I was able to overcome my own stress, and this boost in my morale is the reward I have gained. Now is the time when we all need to work together, rather than rely on individual strength.”Her story reflects how UNFPA-supported volunteers are helping restore community links between women, youth, and essential SRH and protection services, ensuring that information and care continue to flow even where facilities have been damaged.Across the river, 45-year-old Mya Thida had to sleep under a makeshift roof. “Due to the earthquake, I lost some of my relatives and my home,” she says. “For women, it was not safe to stay in a makeshift shelter. Our village has previously suffered from floods, and now the earthquake disaster; facing a series of natural calamities one after another means that community members, especially women, are enduring very difficult times. There is still a significant need for not only their basic healthcare but also psychosocial support.” 
One early lifeline support was the clinic that arrived by water. “For healthcare, we rely on the mobile clinic (the floating clinic),” she explains. “The dignity kits (personal hygiene items for women and girls, including sanitary napkins, hand soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and underwear) are extremely useful. Receiving such essential care gives us a sense of dignity.”Supported by UNFPA and partners, these mobile and floating clinics deliver integrated sexual and reproductive health services, including antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, and safe delivery, while also providing referrals for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Such care ensures that women can give birth safely and maintain health and dignity even amid crisis conditions.In nearby Innwa, 25-year-old Shine Moh Moh describes how livelihoods stalled. “Before the earthquake, women in the village could earn income for their families by working on bamboo wattle and daub walls and fences. Due to the earthquake, the bridge collapsed and waterways were blocked, so we can no longer access essential raw materials like bamboo, and our work has ceased. The number of unemployed women has increased, which is detrimental to the community.” 
Hope arrived with a door that stayed open. “During this crisis, I was extremely happy when the Women and Girls Centre opened. Such a place is very much needed,” Shine says. “At this Centre, we gain valuable women’s health knowledge, and we also learn about gender-based violence and women's rights. For women like us, who face various mental stresses for different reasons, we can confide in each other, and a mental health and psychosocial expert at the Centre helps us learn effective tips and exercises to manage stress.”The knowledge hasn’t stopped with Shine. “I have come to understand more that only with good mental health can we maintain physical health, and I am able to share this knowledge with our family members and community acquaintances. Now, vocational skills training is available at the Centre, which greatly helps us to regain an income and rebuild our lives. The Women and Girls Centre is an invaluable resource for women in our community affected by the earthquake, helping us to restore our well-being in many aspects.”Through these Centres, UNFPA and partners integrate GBV response, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and livelihood skills, creating safe spaces where women and girls can access information, protection, and recovery opportunities under one roof.None of these activities of aid organisations can move without community volunteers—people who know the ground. In Tada-U, 35-year-old volunteer Zin Min Htet has become that bridge. “Although I personally endured the earthquake's impact, I also serve as a volunteer helping those in need within my community. From immediately after the earthquake until now, I have been connecting aid organizations involved in emergency response and recovery efforts with those who need help the most, ensuring assistance reaches them. As a community member, this gives me great satisfaction. For aid to be delivered swiftly and effectively on the ground, it is crucial to work with people who know who the most vulnerable are and where the most needed areas are.”Volunteers like Zin Min Htet are the backbone of UNFPA’s humanitarian response, linking local knowledge with technical teams to ensure lifesaving SRH, GBV, and MHPSS services reach the last mile.As recovery continues, these community-driven efforts are restoring not just services but dignity. With UNFPA’s support, women and girls in central Myanmar are rebuilding their health, safety, and hope, ensuring that resilience begins with protection and care for all. 
Since the earthquake, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) and partners have extended lifesaving services in hard-hit areas of Mandalay and Sagaing by:Running mobile clinics that provide integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). Gender-based Violence (GBV) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services with referrals, so essential healthcare remains accessible.Operating Women and Girls Centres that offer Gender-based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services and mental health and psychosocial support, including psychological first aid and group sessions. These activities help survivors regain confidence and rebuild social connections.Supplying essential reproductive-health commodities and clean-delivery items, and distributing dignity kits—or, where safer and more practical, cash assistance for dignity items so women can give birth safely and maintain hygiene, protection, and dignity in crisis conditions.Building frontline capacity through targeted training, including Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) and the Clinical Management of Rape (CMR), and strengthening coordination through GBV safety audits, service mapping, and updated referral pathways to ensure no survivor is left without care.This work is made possible with support from the Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), whose partnership helps UNFPA sustain integrated sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and mental health and psychosocial support services for women and girls in earthquake-affected communities.*This story was originally published on the UNFPA Myanmar website.