Episode #148: Girl, Interrupted
Melody Mociulski’s first trip to Burma was in 1974. She was backpacking around the world on the so-called “hippie trail,” having already ventured into Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. She still recalls that at one point, a fellow traveler told her how unique Burma was. “It was in glowing terms, like, ‘You've got to see this place! It's unlike anything else you've ever seen.’” So she got a seven-day visa, and with little money in her pocket, flew there to see for herself, eventually finding accommodations at a cramped YMCA in downtown Yangon. It was the height of the hot season and swarming with mosquitoes, but Melody nonetheless was profoundly impacted by her brief stay in the country. Burma stood out to her, even a seasoned traveler like herself who’d been on the road since graduating high school.
One of the things that immediately struck her was the contrast between the natural warmth and generosity of the people, even towards strangers, and the almost palpable fear that characterized every interaction. “They were afraid to talk, probably for fear of the secret police that they felt were watching them all the time. So no eye contact, but friendly people for sure.”
Melody would end up returning to Burma numerous times in the years following, a deep connection continuing to pull her back. The reason for her growing attachment was partly that Burma’s challenges seemed to be ignored by the international community more than other places, but mainly was just how moved she was by the Burmese people. “They were so hopeful and loving. And yet their life was so horrific, as far as poverty and lack of connections with the outside world [were concerned]. So my heart went out to them.”
Although she visited regularly, she did not see any real change start to come until 2009, on the cusp of the coming transition period. As Melody learned more about Burmese culture and history than her initial visit had afforded, she wanted to do more to support the people. So she worked as the Southeast Asia Program Director for Clear Path International, a nonprofit that provides medical assistance landmine victims and supports their reintegration into the local community. Eventually this led to female empowerment, which Melody describes as the central core of her passion and activism. “I know how powerful an educated girl or woman is, and can be, and how she can improve our world.”
In furtherance of her goal, Melody went on to co-found Educational Empowerment, whose mission is to invest in girls’ education. The foundation believes that education “bolsters [women’s] dignity, saves mother’s and children’s lives, and improves the socio-economic status of the entire community.” Their work is perhaps most important now, as women are especially at risk during this time of conflict. “I figure I can help create awareness at least, so that Burma is not forgotten,” Melody says. “And especially so that the women’s and girls’ voices aren't forgotten.” In addition to her own nonprofit work, she has also been a regular contributor to Girls Globe, writing articles and essays that discuss pressing issues regarding Burmese women.
Melody’s organization also works to provide better lives for children in various ways. For example, they fund children’s books to be printed in ethnic languages, featuring local folk tales, so that the children’s traditions and languages can be preserved. “There were no books being published [like this],” she recalls, “so my nonprofit published ethnic folktale books, to save the folktales in the different ethnic groups, but also to provide a picture books for the little kids, because a lot of them growing up had never seen, let alone touched, a picture book.” They also allocated funds for a school to be built in the Delta. Understanding the dangers of repeated flooding during monsoon season, they arranged for it to be constructed two feet higher than other buildings. Melody notes with pride that it is one of the few buildings in the area that always remains dry, and that it operates as a kind of emergency hub during heavy rains. Beyond this, her group has also established a number of libraries throughout the country, which offer courses in digital literacy and even job placement.
Like many foreign allies since the coup, Melody has been focusing her attention on doing what she can to support her Burmese friends. “It's a potential loss of dreams for all these young people,” she says sadly. “And I don't want them to lose their dreams. I want them to have hope… To have it just dashed in a nighttime is beyond tragic.”