Everything Starts from Within: "A Journey to Self-Love and Empowerment"

Ma Hpang Rita Aye, a woman of lifelong strength who cared for eight younger siblings, had a peaceful life with her 10-wheel truck driver husband, even after their 2018 displacement by conflict. In 2023, her world fractured when her husband died suddenly in a car accident, leaving her a widow with two young children, the youngest only eight months old. The loss was immediate and crushing.

As an internally displaced person (IDP), the challenges compounded. Grief, coupled with the sole responsibility of her children, left her feeling "overwhelmed and emotionally drained." Her stress was so severe she often couldn't sleep. “My mind and soul felt heavy… like I was stuck to the ground". She recalls.

Some nights she could not sleep, and the stress made her feel mentally exhausted. “I worried constantly about my children and how to take care of them,” she shared quietly. But even in that heavy period, she kept moving forward for her children.

The practical reality was equally harsh. Food was severely limited. Some days, all she could offer her children was only thin porridge so her children had something warm to eat. She worked tirelessly, took small loans, attended sewing and weaving training, but her financial situation remained precarious as family support and food assistance dwindled. With shelter support from UNHCR and its partners, she moved to Naung Tar Law Solution Site in 2024. It was a new beginning, but still challenging as food assistance slowly reduced.

During this difficult period, she heard about UNFPA’s KOICA-funded activities and that they were looking for community volunteers. She didn’t know much about UNFPA, but she needed strength and a small, regular income to support her children, especially as her family’s financial support was becoming limited. In March 2025, Ma Hpang Rita Aye decided to join the UNFPA’s KOICA-funded activities as a community volunteer, hoping it would help her regain confidence and stability. It was a turning point.

The programme provided the structure and support she desperately needed, specifically through training in gender-based violence (GBV), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  At first , she was quietly and mentally exhausted, but as she learned grounding techniques, butterfly hugs, deep breathing,  and small ways to care for herself, something shifted inside. These were practical tools to manage the chronic stress that had held her captive.

A pivotal moment came during a monthly coaching session over a meal of chicken biryani. Instinctively, she wanted to save the chicken for her children, but the facilitator offered a crucial, empowering reminder:

“If you don’t take care of yourself, how will you take care of your family?”

She ate slowly, sitting with the other volunteers, allowing herself to be cared for. She said it was the first time in a long time she allowed herself to feel okay. 

A Journey to Self-Love and New Independence

Since that day, the skills and mindset she gained from the UNFPA/KOICA programme have transformed her. Practicing the MHPSS tools,  usually at night when her children sleep. She gradually “started to feel strong again.” She learned to set personal boundaries, confidently saying no to what  didn’t feel right.

This journey culminated in a powerful declaration: “I learned to own my power,”. “Now I know how to love myself, not only my children.”

Her newfound strength translated into tangible independence: she now rides a motorbike on her own, raises pigs, and sews independently. She transitioned from a quiet participant to a confident leader, sharing her knowledge by leading community-based psychosocial support sessions and feeling supported by her "community family" of fellow volunteers.

Today, Ma Hpang Rita Aye is working toward her dream of improving her sewing skills and opening a small dress-making shop, and continuing sharing what she learned with other women.

As she says:

“When you know yourself, you can start again. Everything starts from within.”

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