Transcript: Episode #332: Livin' On A Prayer
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Host 00:10
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Lily 01:40
Li, Hi, I'm Lily. I'm from Myanmar. I based in Yangon. Now I'm volunteering in Sakai region. My background is I work as a documentary filmmaker and BA Joah artist. So my first intention is I would like to do a documentary about what's happening in the guy and in Manderley. But now I'm volunteering. Yeah, I didn't have any chat yet to do the filming. Yes, okay, like in my in my art practice, I mostly focus in in kind of socially and case art, mostly I use different media. I start my art practice as a performance artist. Then I like, I change like, I use camera as my median, and then I start staring to give my flaming first, you know, like my intention is, I would like to use flaming as a as a one of my medium. But like I found out that storytelling is one of the powerful tool to tell the to reach the to reach a lot of people. So then I stopped, like doing as a documentary filmmaker. So slowly by slowly now I use, I use different media. And also I really so much into it socially and Kate are so now I use different media, yes. So I start my art practice as a performance, performant artist. Then, you know, I extend, I extend like a camera as my median. And then I start staring flaming, flaming. Then I realized that story 10 is the one of the powerful tools to express and to tell the to tell the story. So then, you know, like, I jump into the filmmaker. So it's a win. Almost more than 10 years I'm working as a virtual artist and filmmaking, my was focused on kind of socially and, you know, like political, political situation, and you know, how we respond, and something like that. It's already interconnected with that deck. So that is my little bit of my background after that. You know, like when I was a documentary filmmaking, I have to deal with a lot of social problem and a lot of political situation in Myanmar. So it's really bring me into to understand, and, you know, to explore more and what is happening in our country. So now I extend, I extend my median to socially engage art. I think, you know, like working together with the like people is also very important. So there is a little bit, a bit about my background.
Host 04:29
Yes, what do you define as socially engaged art?
Lily 04:32
Yeah, well, it's not sometimes, you know, like being an artist is I like we work alone, you know, it's totally depend on our decision, and totally depend on, you know, how we would like to create when we walk with them, when we walk with the people, you know, is I would like to approach, you know, like, how we can, we can transform something through art, you know, by engaging the people. So, like, it's not only. About, about, about, like, creating art. It's about like, we use us as a, as a platform, you know, like to do something transformation, to transform something so, like we told us a we are not the artist anymore. We told the role of facilitation. So we facilitate the situation, or we facilitate the problem, and then we create something relate, like a art form, together with the together with the community. So community they create, they create themselves, and then they tell their story by themselves. We are there to support them and to facilitate them. What like a hound the direction and, you know, like, what was the what would be the like, kind of, what would, what would be the, what would be the product, or something like that. Sometimes it's so much important, you know, like to focus on the project, project process during the during the workshop, or something like that. Is rather than we are not so much forget on product like we also very cared about the process, how we develop, how we deal with the program, or, you know, how people change, or how people transform, how we understand each other, something like that. So, like, I think this is a very powerful working with, to get working together with the people, yes, especially the community, you know, very vulnerable community. So that's why I'm so much into in this practice.
Host 06:27
Yes, right. And of course, after the military coup in 2021 the civic space and the art space really closed up and became very dangerous to occupy. So were were you? Were you able to do much art after the 2021 coup?
Lily 06:46
No, no. Like, like, other artists, yes. Like, it's been, like, almost four year I stopped, like, doing the exhibition because, like, there's a No, I mean that we, we don't have a really good energy to do the exhibition. And, you know, there's no reason to do, to do the exhibition during this hard time, but like, after three year, you know, like oppressing yourself, you know, like doing that thing, or, you know, like not doing, not doing, like, kind of not doing art, not creating. It's really oppress yourself. It's really so difficult for me. Like, last year, you know, like when I stopped, when I I start doing the visual art again, it's not, it's not about my hour. It's about, like, kind of really related with the now I'm also, like, a really interesting in what is the new narration? You know, like we have been, we have been we, we grew up with the really, really, like, a kind of very bad narration. So, like, in turn, all the religions, internal, the politics, everything is we was brainwashed a lot. So, like I, what I was doing now is, like relearning and then also trying to virtualize what will be our like a new narration. So and then also, I feel like I miss so much created energy, because, like most of the artists the same age, like me, they leave the country. And then also, there's a not no fresh nut, you know, like fresh and new energy in the gallery, you know, this is just, people are just doing the exhibition. But they had, they, you know, like, everything is very dark. So I was really missing the really, like a creative people created energy and the creative society, and then we lost that last four.
Host 08:39
Year, yeah, but you decided to stay.
Lily 08:41
Yeah, yeah, I decided to stay. Why is that? I think it's important. I feel like it's important to stay whatever. I got a chance. I was very privileged, you know, like I still have a chance to go outside for a while. I meet for one or two weeks, or, you know, one month, or something like that. So it's really, you know, made me fresh, you know, I choose to stay because it is, it is important to stay that that's my personal feeling. Of course, if I have a light threat and saturation, I will leave the country living. The for me is living the country is not the, not the option like and then also the problem, if you leave the country, you were escaped for a wine, the politic hot, the saturation from the Myanmar, but you were stuck into another country, another politic situation. So I was thinking like, Okay, well, what's my intention? You know why? You know, I would like to be the artist, or the reason why I would like to be artists, or the reason why I would like to do the socially engaged and, you know, I was thinking a lot, you know, like, Should I leave, or should like not to leave? Then I decided not to leave. And then I feel like, of course, you know, like there's a no, not. We don't have a we. Very good creative energy anymore, in in the country, but there's a state a lot of possibility. We can, we can, what we can do. There's a lot of thing, especially this hard time. You know, as an artist, you know, we witness a lot. You know, I do as a filmmaker, and eventually ask so like, even though I cannot, if I cannot shoot, I still can witness all the suffering or what we haven't through, like up and down, all the emotion, how people are dealing. So this is the very like for for as a person, is really Dray is really drain your energy. But as an artist, it's really good to learn. You know, yeah, that's why I stay.
Host 10:42
That's remarkable. I mean, you're describing art as something more than you do, but something that you are really especially at a time like this.
Lily 10:52
Yeah, yeah. I don't know where it's right and wrong, but, you know, like I I think like that, and I stay, stay, but it's difficult. You know, I miss people, I miss society. I miss a lot of thing, you know, like, because, like, it's like, oh, like, whatever, we meet everybody, everybody drain. And, you know, we are talking the same, the same thing. We don't have any fresh anymore, you know.
Host 11:16
Yeah, but you're trying to make fresh.
Lily 11:20
Yeah, as much as I can, yeah, sometimes it feel like crazy.
Host 11:24
Really? How?
Lily 11:27
So, yeah, no, no, it's like you're thinking you're like, right, okay, you know, like, sometimes I feel like I'm looking for the reason to stay no, because it's like, it doesn't make any sense to stay bad, like I need to find a reason, good reason to stay trying to to see the fresh net within this, this dark net.
Host 11:51
Yeah? So there's, if you have the mind and the spirit of an artist, there's always something fresh to find, right?
Lily 11:56
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think so too, yeah.
Host 12:02
So let's talk about the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit last week. Where were you when it hit? And what did you decide to do after?
Lily 12:11
Oh, yeah, like, I was in Yangon, and also I didn't, I didn't include me. We didn't realize that. What is that that serious? Out quick. So, but when I, when we open the online, then we realize that mentally, and it's a guy is really, really, really, you know, like, bad saturation. So, like, this is this? That's what's my for me, that was my first time I'm seeing, like, like, kind of, I'm seeing my own country like, Oh, this is look like another country, you know, because we don't have that kind of experience before. So I don't, I don't know what to I didn't know what, what should I do? I'm just checking, checking, checking every day, and then looking for the way, what should I do? So, and then I inquired. I inquired, like, okay, all the best, you know, like, what the road is open or not, although we can go to the mandalee or not, you know, like, so one, so it took me two days. I was preparing to come, to come to the mandalee. And the guy I was I was thinking before I kind, I was thinking, Okay, I should do, you know, like, this is the very normal thing, okay, you you, you have to document. This is very important, you know, something is really, really something, something bad thing is really happening there. And then we don't know, you know, I gave the war, know about us or not, we are not sure about that. So I bring all I can do the mentally fast. Then, then, you know, like, it is very challenging to use the camera. I don't know how people use the camera. You know, I saw a lot of video find uploaded from the mainstream media. So, like, for me, like as an independent documentary filmmaker is difficult to shoot, obviously, so you have to, you have to be very careful. Then when I got the chance to to come to the Sagai, so I took the chance. So now, now I'm, I'm inside guy now.
Host 14:18
So you're a documentary filmmaker and an artist, and both of these are visual mediums. These are with a documentary you're capturing where you put the camera and how you're trying to place it and what happens in front of it. And with an artist, you're just creating a whatever kind of scene to impart to people. But we are on an audio podcast. And so your normal mediums of expressing yourself are not available now. So I want to ask you through the audio medium, because the only way that you can impart what you experienced and what you saw is through your words and emotions and descriptions and colors. And so I want to ask you through the audio. Ideal medium to try to create an imagery that will an immersive imagery that will bring our audience into the experience that you found in the saga and Mandalay region.
Lily 15:14
Yeah, it's it will be very difficult for me like to explain, to express. So I will try my best. The first time, you know, like, I feel like it's like a movie, you know, it's really disconnected with what I know about mentally, because of the is seeing the like, that's kind of like, kind of very, like, all the, all the lot of collab, you know, like, all the building are called, most of the building are colored, and also the people, and also we have to be, like, asleep on the street, and then the car are Driving. And also at night, you know, like the small awkward estate, like a stage stay coming, you know, like a small, awkward stay coming. And also, whatever you know, I try to I try to talk, I try to observe, and I try to interview what happened. And you know, to the community that sometimes, you know, like they say, panic, whatever they hear the sound. Or they like it, like, kind of like something like that, quick, quick, quick, or something like that. And then they are very ready to run away. Or, you know, that they got shocked. And then also that the way they respond is also, you know, like it from the shop, you know, like, also, this is really uncomfortable to see it. And also when, when I joined, I joined the one of the recruiting you know, like, do you know like to shoot. Then when, whatever you know, like, I they drive around the collar breeding, so I can smell the like a really bad, smelly. And also, also the face of the people, they look so tired, and the situation is very complex. Yeah, that's I slept. I slept only one night in Mandalay, then I came to the Zag. So before I came to this again, there's a lot of humor on the on the Facebook, you were had the, yeah, yes, a guy is, is, is the the whole city was destroyed. And then, you know, there's a lot of like, pigeon was destroyed by like, on the on the Facebook, people are talking about, okay, when you go to the to the Zakai, you were, you were smelling the dead body, and, you know, like, there's a nobody coming to help them. And, you know, blah, blah, blah. And then we don't know why we trust that. And then we came to the guy. Then the situation is not like that. I mean, it's a been. When I arrived to the guys have been, like, kind of, like a full day after the awkward. So it's, it's over, like, a like, like, golden time for to risk recruits, right? So, like, people, there's a lot of donation camp and, you know, like, we, our country, have the problems and whatever, okay, like, we don't have a good government. We don't have a good system, whatever, something happened like that. So people have to the people. So, because we don't have a good system, everything is sometimes, there's a lot of ways happen. You know, people don't know where to donate. And then also, there's a be BA, don't know who is the within, and, you know, who is the affected, and there's a no focus, and we can, we can go and inquiry. So that's a situation really complex. But, you know, monastery and chat and Moe, they are like a kind of the, like a community based, you know, people can and, you know, like me and talk. And, you know, like, we can, we can we can be there. We can based on the monastery, we can based on the MOE, and we can based on the kind of community center. And then, and then we start inquiry, where we should, we should donate, or something like that. So that is what is happening now, yeah, oh, like, I cannot sit the whole community, you know, like, because, like, now I'm staying in monastery, you know, I go together with the monk and, you know, like, they are volunteering. So, like, there's a limitation, you know, I can go. And then also I have, like, I met with one of the organizers from the MOE. Also, we only have a few, a few time to talk and, you know, like to inquiry what they need. I cannot say from, from, from my side, but they are working at each other, I think, from my point of view, you know, like what me, me and me, and like the man, you know, we went to the MOE, and then we we talk and we inquiry what they need. Because there's a lot of people dying the most, and then we would like to support something, so, yeah, something like that. When I talk with the organizer, the leader from the MOE, and then he said, like, like, he also preparing for the all the other people, not only, only one community, you know, for example, we will donate to the solar and then people can can and charge out their fall. So the electricity is one of the main problem in here. So like, so like, he will open for every community, so something like that. So I don't know in exactly, but they are helping each other as much as they can.
Host 20:36
Yeah, right. So you're doing a couple of things there. You're, you're providing humanitarian service and and you're also documenting it. You're, you're bearing witness, and you're documenting what it is you see and what the experience is. So I'd like to break down those two different tasks. If we start first with the task of providing humanitarian relief, is this something you've ever done before, and what, what exactly are the humanitarian needs, and how are you filling them in the wake of this disaster? Okay?
Lily 21:09
You know, like, my first intention is, okay, I would like to do the documentation, and then I joined to the donation group. And then when, when, the first day, when they distribute the all the donation, I realized that it would be good to incur like to do that, like, like to inquiry what they really need first, then we ask the donation that will be more effective. So that's why, you know, like saying, you know, I have to be here, so I jump into that role. So I go to the different place and I inquire what they really need, you know, apart from that, what that because, uh, people, you know, like that, don't donate that donor. They brought, you know, like, they brought whatever they want, and then they sanction the here. And sometimes it's like, over overload, you know, like, people really don't need that. And then there's a lot of, I saw, there's a lot of ways here. So that's why, that's why, you know, like, I jumped into that role now, I didn't have any chance to do the documentary. I'm just observing, you know, like, what's really, what's really happening, and, you know, like, also, now it's in here, it's difficult to shoot with a big camera. You know, you can only use with the phone if you want, because it's so risky, it stays risky because I don't want to take any risk, yeah, because I'm stay observing, um, so like, from my observation, you know, now they have from my, from my point of view, and, You know, like, like they have in that water and the food for one month, I think at least one month. So there's a other thing they really need it, but nobody asked them, and then also nobody donate them, so something like that, you know, like, that's a lot of because we don't have a good system. And no, no one, nobody is organizing really well. So, yeah, we need, we need, like, a kind of a community leader, you know, who really organized in their own place, and then to manage what they really need, if not, you know, like that donation, the floor of the donation is, like, I don't know, is this efforted or not? You know, I'm not sure about that.
Host 23:23
Yeah, how dire and challenging are the conditions that people are living in that you're finding and and then for you personally, I don't know if you've ever encountered anything like this before, how has it been for you to walk into a situation like this?
Lily 23:40
I had experience, you know, like saying, like I mentioned before, I'm, I'm working as a documentary frame maker, so you have to deal with the different society in different layer and different level. And also, I'm, I'm working as a socially and Kate is me. I have to deal with the different society as well. For example, you know, I have to work with the slant community. So I had that experience before, a little bit, not no kind of donation park, but when, in the last, last two months, I think, like when we have floating, like flooding in Lily, you know, I also participate small part for the donation, you know, since then, you know, like I realized that there's something I don't know how to manage properly, not to waste the donation. I don't know, but this time, I jumped into the road, and then I'm looking for the best way as much as I can, what would be the best solution for both side, you know, because their communities, they need, they still need a lot, a lot of help. But like, how can we help effectively, you know, and all you know, like, how to manage, I don't know yet, but I try my best, you know, like yesterday, me and me and a man, you know, like we. We went to the different place, and we asked them what they really need, and then we make it, we make a list, and then we talk to the donor, and then they donate, and then we bring that into the to the the community place, something like that. That's what I am doing now. And I really wish you know, like, it would be really good if we have a good community leader on the ground, who can, who can, who can take what they really need, then we can work together properly.
Host 25:32
Yeah. Now the second thing that you're doing is documenting this. And you have a background in documentary filmmaking, and so what are you trying to document? What are you finding that is coming into the lens that you're you're wanting to portray?
Lily 25:46
Yeah, that's just, I don't know yet, because, like, like, first, know, like, my imagination is quite different, right? So this is the guy is kind of the dark area, right? So, and then there will be there something, you know, like there will be that a lot of thing will be happening, but like, when I when I arrived here. So the situation is, it's not the same. You know, all I can do is I'm observing now what would be the best story, or what would be the best perspective to tell what is happening and what was happening. So I'm still looking for the My perspective on that, what would be the best story, or my first idea is, okay, I would like to shoot about this. This is stuff, you know, like, this is really bad thing and then, but in reality, there's a lot of limitation. So now I'm still wake and see I'm observing, kind of like I'm doing I'm doing research, and, you know, like I'm all I can do it. I witnessed all the things so that all I can do. I still don't know what would be my story idea. But one thing, like one of the thing I really interesting now is, is located, locate, like a recruit team, and then also all the volunteer who are really putting their effort to help them. For example, now I'm living with them within the monastery. I saw like, then the man, you know, like they they offer labor, they offer the car they offer, you know, their effort. And they are, like connection, like to support the this donation, something like that for Isabel in the MOE community elsewhere, you know, like they are self organizing. They are trying to solve their problem by themselves. So that kind of diversity is also interesting. And then also, I really appreciate the local recruit team, you know, like, because they don't have experience like that. I mean, like that, that kind of bit awkward, or, you know, like that, kind of, they don't have, like, a proper equipment or proper, proper thing to solve that problem. But, you know, they put all their energy and their their heart, you know, like to save the people as much as they can. So that's really interesting for me, and I really appreciate them. So that would be, I think that would be my story idea.
Host 28:16
Yeah, right. And then there's also a danger to going out, because the military is arresting and conscripting those volunteers did. Did you find that danger being present while you were there?
Lily 28:28
Yes, yes, yes, it's dangerous. It's dangerous, that's for sure. Um, that's why, also, I'm waiting, you know, like on the street, especially last that's two day ago. I think there's a un, un, like a, like a war food World Food Program or something like that. They do their distribution. They did, they are doing the distribution. They're like some food and water and something like that. So I saw a lot of, like, a volunteer, police volunteer, but not every day. You know, only, only one day there's a lot of police volunteer showing off. And then also, do you know pew, right? There's a kind of, do you know pew? You saw tea? I mean, a guru?
Host 29:16
Yes, yes. But yeah, there the junta aligned militias, yeah, yeah.
Lily 29:23
They are around on the city, and they are very rude, even to the bank. So, like, you can imagine, you know, like, like, this is the very dangerous. I mean, of course, you can use, you can use the phone, it's okay. But like to dealing with that is, it's not, it's really, really bad situation, I think.
Host 29:47
Yeah, so have you found yourself in a situation of danger in your trip?
Lily 29:51
Yeah, like the first day, the first night, you know, like, this is my fault. That was my fault. You know, I'm very careful with my my my camera, but. I don't know why, you know, I use my my tail lamps knife, because I would like to shoot the one of the colored bedding. And then the recruiting are working and, and especially, you know, they stopped me, and then they asked me, Do you have a permission on blah, blah, blah, you know, like they can arrest me for, like, electronic ad law or something like that. So it's like, okay, okay, that's it. So. And then I stopped flaming, yeah, so. And then I don't use my big camera anymore. I use only my phone now. And then I'm still wait and see.
Host 30:41
Have there been any things about this trip that have surprised you, that even in reading about what was expected or having your own notion about what you may find, has there been an experience that has or an encounter that has surprised people?
Lily 30:54
Like when I arrived, Mandalay is like people are like a going, I mean, the energy, the aroma, is collapsed. Like, the energy is bad, really bad, bad. Like, if people keep going here and there and, you know, look like, look like, yeah, a lot of people are on the street. So that's what I and I was, I was, I would, that was surprise, you know.
Host 31:20
Yeah, there's a lot of people living on the streets. Yeah, and, and I've heard that there's, there's no, there hasn't been the development of any plan for temporary housing, not, certainly not by the military, not by foreign aid organizations, not by local communities, because they're really unable to and so there's a concern that there's, there's just massive displacement, and there's no real plan in place for what's coming.
Lily 31:46
Yeah, that's true. You know, like people have to, have to manage by themselves. Because there's a no shatter, there's a no no no, you know, like no plan at all. You know, they have to, they have to make by themselves. That's why the humanitarian support is needed.
Host 32:06
Yeah, right. And what have you seen in the way of large scale humanitarian efforts? I mean, you've mentioned that there's no leader and and that you would like to see more of a leading presence. I don't know if anyone can be a leader. Yeah, that's another leader that come with the military presence. What comes from, from what you've seen on the ground.
Lily 32:27
To wait we have, yeah, what comes we need to wait. Like, what we are talking about now is okay. Now we will wake, we will hold, we will wake and see for one month, and Lexi, what would be there? Well, like, after one month because of this. Now it's kind of, kind of panic donation. I will wait and see for at least, you know, like, a few, a few weeks then, you know, like, that would be the, that would be the so we will be more clear about what we should do next because of, like, we.
Host 32:58
Yeah, yeah, go ahead. So you're planning to stay there for some time, yeah?
Lily 33:03
Like, a yeah sometime. And we also, I also wait and see, you know, like, what should I do? Or what can I do, or what, what do they need? Or, you know, like, what would be the nice or, you know, something like that.
Host 33:15
Yeah, uh huh, right now, you've traveled a little bit around the area. Can you tell us about what you're seeing in the different cities and towns and some of the differences in terms of the challenges and the destruction,
Lily 33:30
You know, like, Yeah, I'm worked together with the monk, and then also it gave me a lot of chance to see different place around the Sakai region. So especially the Nam, you know, they have more difficult difficulty now they have, they got a lot of, like, a donation, like, if intent, or like a food and rice and, you know, like water, they got it. But also they have to line up, you know, like when the donation camp, they have to line up, and there's, like, a big monastery. It's no problem for them because of their donation came to their monastery. But for the like, individual men and individual men, you know, they have more difficult because of it. You know, they are not famous, and they don't know how to get, how to get the donation. And, you know, like, they whatever, the car stop, you know, they they line up, and then, you know, like, they ask for the donation. So this is not the good, good team, you know, the Nan and the man need to be lined up. And it isn't also the good solution to do. So, so I was surprised, because I, like, in the guy is very religious play. There's a lot of them and a lot of money here, so, so some so I saw that, and then also, because we don't have a organizer, and we don't have a proper, like a, I don't know, proper data, you know, like a home where to donate, or something like that. So. So I saw a lot of one the castle, a lot of people camp and, you know, they pick it, whatever they want, if they if they need or not, they just, they just take it. So, like, it's not about nobody fault. I, for me, it's nobody fault because we don't have the system. We then need it, and then they, they grab it. So that what I saw, and then last a few days, two days, you know, I went to the different place, and then I decided to ask the 4k person. I asked with the forget person, and what do you really, really need now, because everybody realized that they have a food, they have a water, and the baby, I keep donating the same, the same thing. So, like, yeah, so it's like, it's for that it's a lot like a 444, now, no, not for the two or three months. It's for now, they have a lot of food and a lot of rice and a lot of like, water already, but maybe I keep doing it in the same but, but they need different thing. For example, they need a mighty vitamin. They need. They need something for for their heart, and, you know, like they are to to clean their mind. And some medicine is quite different, what the people donate, so, what they need, and so I encourage them, you know, like, what they what they need. So it's really, I think, helpful, because they are also so happy, because, because of we can and ask what they need, so, so, and then we got a chance to donate what they really need. So that's so I think it's working. And then, and then, I don't know, like, we need to talk, you know, like, for example, for the emotional support, I think, you know, like we, if we talk with them, you know, like, it's really, it helped. It have done for the emotional support, I think so that's from my observation. And also is difficult to get the data, you know, that we cannot count on a lot on the Facebook. That is the one of the team. You know, people are posting a lot on the Facebook, and then we don't, because we don't know about the local situation, because, so we, sometimes we looking for the data from the Facebook. So sometimes there's a lot of Miss, miss, like, a kind of miss, misleading, you know, there's a lot of misleading data there, yeah, so we have to be devoted, you know, like, so it's really good for my friend, you know, like, because I'm here, because if they we would like, they would like to be clarified, or they would like to get the what they really need, you know, like, I can support them. That's the one reason why I'm here. Like a so I'm taking the two different role. So I feel like, before we donate, and then we should do the like a assessment, you know, like, what they really need, then we can walk properly. And sometimes, because they don't know what they need, sometimes, you know, because of, like, it the food and the water is the and the shedder is the main program right now for now. But after that, the rest, they really don't know what. I asked them what they really need. And still they they really don't know what they need sometimes, yeah.
Host 38:14
So what I hear you describing, in general is a kind of breakdown in order, and, and, and that's understandable that a terrible disaster has happened the normal order of things, the normal security and safety of one's home and where to sleep and where to eat and loved ones and medicine that these, these things are all disrupted. And you've given a number of examples of, you know, from wayward monks and nuns that are simply looking for how they're going to get their food, where the donation is going to come to. You know, needing a leader to organize things, the needs assessment. It sounds like one of the, the major threads you're seeing and you're noticing is just this breakdown of order and everyone kind of looking, I mean, as human beings. We, we have, we have this innate expectation that things work a certain way. We understand the way that that system should work, and we follow along with it. And that system is so broken down that it sounds like everyone is looking somewhere else for, for, for what new system comes back up to be able to to, to provide that sense of security in order.
Lily 39:25
That's true, you know, whatever I do the assessment, you know, like I was angry, okay, this is, this is what government have to do that, you know, this is, of course, yeah, you know, whatever I whatever I'm, miss them, with them, you know, whatever I did the kind of assessment, oh, my God, this is not our job. This is the what government have to do there. You know, it's really sad, you know, like to witness all the thing. And also, one of the heartbroken thing is, like in in 2019 I think since 2019 they already, they already knew that that a work can. Time, and then they did the same practice, how to manage that, well, how to manage, like, that, kind of, that, kind of, like, a disaster. They already, you know, like, we already knew that, but because of the this political situation, you know, like, that's a we, there's a lot of priority, right? So there's a no one talking about that Aqua anymore. Now it's happened, even though we already knew that there's a no system, no progression, nothing. You know this is so bad.
Host 40:34
Yeah, yeah, and you know what you're saying. It reminds me we had a guest a few days ago, theory, and she was speaking about how Myanmar people are used to the fact that they have to organize things for themselves that any government anywhere would. I mean things like how to have electricity in their town, or how to manage education or or health, or how to have the roads that, you know, roads that one is able to travel down, just simple infrastructure and utility, kind of information that most countries take care of. And what you're describing is really aligned with theories criticism and concern, this sense that after you know, anywhere in the world that a disaster happens, there is a breakdown of order and rules, that that's the nature of what a disaster is. You know, last year, the fires in Los Angeles, or, you know, we can go to other examples in other countries, where, where, where, you know, recently, where, where there's been some kind of natural disaster, that order is broken down, and then, and that's scary, and that's uncertain, but then you have an authority that comes in and that that tries to establish that sense of this is where you go to sleep and to get medical. And this is the, you know, the law still in effect, and this is how will, will will enforce the laws, maybe a curfew or something. And what you're describing is, I mean, this is what the state should be doing, and we'll get to what the military is doing in a moment. I think many listeners already know the real vile role the military is playing. We could say one thing the military is not doing is established as re establishing this sense of order and the sense of security and and structure that is definitely, if anything, I think their actions are probably further destabilizing the situation, and so normal people have to that have no background in. I mean, this is a specialized field.
Lily 42:30
You have to learn from the sketch, you know, like, you have to learn, yeah, I agree with you, yeah, so I'm just angry, yeah. No, no. Like, like, you're right, you know, like people, people jump into that role, and then, you know, like they try their best, you know, but it's not, it's not like that, you know, this is a very, you know, you have, you have, if you have, like, a special scale, you can manage a lot. And then also, again, from my observation, even though normal people would like to do properly, the maybe they, they stop, you know, they are threatening. They are showing off, you know, like they didn't allow to do so properly. So, like, it's, for me, it doesn't make any sense, because of the, there's a, like, a from my observation, you know, like, there's a lot of thing I can see, like, Okay, this is the Okay, this place should be there, like a humanitarian center. People should gather in here, and then so, so donation can come here. And then we can manage very systematically. So there will be there. We can manage also the ways, and, you know, something like that, even though we saw that, okay, this, we can do like that. We can do like this. But, you know, there's a lot of limitation, you know, like even though it's difficult to cross the bridge mentally to the guy, why, you know, like, it doesn't make any sense. They stopped. They, you know. Like, also, they are not educated at all, you know, it's, it's so, it's so annoying, you know. Like, so, even though normal people know how to do it, you know, they, they, they are, they are really, really distraction. You know?
Host 44:04
Yeah, that's right, and that's that's not in in a position that any people should be in and and again, to make matters worse, it's it's not only the situation that the people have to self organize in and re establish order without any background and really how difficult this is to do for even a professional that not only do they have to do this, but as we mentioned, as I mentioned before, you know, the military is not only providing not only are they not providing stability, but I imagine that they're a destabilizing force. So can you talk a bit about the military force and just the challenges of trying to organize support and community with the military's presence and the pusati as well, what role.
Lily 44:48
So much observe in them. So that's why I don't know. But in the like, like, in I have a one experience, you know, like, like, when we want for the assessment. So one of the one. One of the place is called, like, a Yangon. Yangon, like, kind of quarter or something like that. That one of the group we when we incline, inquiring to them. Okay, how many home is collab? And, you know, like, how we can connect them. So, like, so to incurring that, we need to talk with the pursuit. And we need to talk with them. So, like, like, for me, okay, I don't want to walk with them, so, and then we skip that place, so something like that, yeah. So we don't want to for my like, from my personal feeling, I don't want to deal with them. Like, like, you know, like, if, if I, if, if I am like a humanitarian professional, maybe I have to work for everyone all. I have to deal with all the situation because, like, no, no, I don't want to work with them. So. And then I skip that place, and then I carry on the next nay snake, nay, something like that. Yeah, um, I saw a lot of disconnection with the with the like, even though I saw a lot of like a police volunteer, they are really disconnected with the like a citizen IP, you know, they are, they are kind of one of the group in the city. They are all their own. And, like the citizen are working by themselves, or something like that. I feel, I feel something like that. Maybe I will also have a virus to to offs then.
Host 46:27
Yeah, I know that the Mandalay sagaian region, this is an area really rich with Burmese Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. And these were especially hard hit. What are you notice, noticing about how monks and nuns, monasteries and nunneries, how they're.
Lily 46:40
You know, like, and now, I mean, like, now in my in now I'm staying in monastery, like I said before. So like, they are working, you know, like, like, as much as they can to help the people. And then also they, they had a really consent about the like, like other, like, a very, very, like, a kind of, not popular monastery, you know, like, they have a lot of concern, and then we, we once there, and we inquiring. So, like, they are trying their best, I think, and also the nun is also, they also have a lot of challenges, because there's a lot of building collar that, lot of monastery was just trying. And, you know, like, they don't know where to, where to stay. And also, there's they also have to sleep on the street elsewhere, yeah, and yeah, and, like NPP, I keep, keep doing what they have to do. And also, one of the surprise, like, because of now, they cannot quote, right? They have to wait donation for every me, so I don't know how long it will take. Yeah, now it's like, only a few weeks before they, like, after they are quit. So we ba very like a penny donation. So there's a lot of donation camp, and they stay, don't need to quote, but, but after that, what will be happen? We don't know. So that's what my what we concern, okay, how should we sustain to support them? Because it would take a few months, I think, to recover.
Host 48:26
Yeah, I don't have Yeah, the Yeah, the question you just posed of what happens after a couple months? What? What? What's your own thought about that.
Lily 48:35
Actually, I don't know, but what? Yeah, I don't I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. We know that will be there some difficulty, another difficulty, but, like, we don't know what will be happen. But one of the concern is we really hope that will be the We really hope there will be the, not another, like a shocking event in Myanmar. I think you know, because after the Yeah, if not, you know, it will be, it will be overload and overwhelmed again. You know, we cannot help each other anymore. You know. Now we can we stay, you know, like, Forget on the zagina and Mendeley. We can keep focusing on them whatever. You know, they need something, or they need some emergency. You know, like, even though we don't, we won't have a panic tunation, but we still will have some system, I think so. And one of the beautiful thing with the International recruit recruiting is, like, maybe you also saw a lot of, like, a beautiful Facebook post, like, how bamis people really appreciate to the international recruiting, kind of Vietnam and, you know, like Thailand, you know, they have like, kind of community, like a communication each other. I think this is beautiful, yeah, from the like, their relationship with the citizen is also very beautiful. I think.
Host 50:01
Yeah, yeah. I was going to ask, actually, about the international presence. Because another thing is that normally, in a massive disaster taking place, anything from the tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in Haiti, earthquake and Turkey, you know, etc, etc, there's, there usually is an international force that comes to help the country that's really been sieged by this. This, these terrible stream of events. I think the one exception in recent history we can think where that didn't happen was in Myanmar. It was 2008 Cyclone Nargis. Famously, very little international aid came. And that's a natural disaster and response that we refer back to when thinking about the earthquake and and then compounded of this, of course, we have the complete dismantling of USAID that has happened alongside and we we spoke a couple days ago with Chris Milligan, who was the who launched the inaugural USAID mission from 2012 to 2016 describe that in detail and so, so this is so, so. This is another layer of complexity and difficulty that makes you know this situation even more abnormal. I think disasters anywhere are abnormal. There disasters are a disruption. By definition. They are a disruption, but this is a disruption that has several layers of further disruption on top of it. And so I'm wondering, have you, if you come across any, any individual, foreign volunteers or foreign organizations or any international help of any kind in your experience there?
Lily 51:39
Oh, okay, like, only, only within my social psychic, social psyche, you know, like, there's a international friends are, like a colored in the many they are doing, like I found raising and to help us, you know, like, as a, as a friend, you know, individually, they are doing that. And also, there's some, some like international organization from Thailand, they are doing the fundraising. So, like they are doing like, kind of like a small, small, small activity, you know, like they are supporting us, yeah, yeah, from ISP and yes, from my social psyche, yes. They are doing like, kind of like a small fundraising and to support and, you know, to to do the solar derivative with us? Yes, yeah. But for the I don't, I don't know so much about the bid agency, like, un and you know what they are doing, or you know how they are managing, and you know where the money go because of, like, the kind of, like, when you have to work with the G duty is the problem. No, it's like, so like saying, you know, like, there's a lot of corruption within the military, and then we also have a really bad experience in the nugget. You know, I don't have ACPI in the nugget, but for my friend, you know, they have a really bad experience. And you know how they managed, and then how they took the profit from the nugget. And then, you know, like, how the humanitarian, you know, like, humanitarian is really, you know, like, have a bad experience in like it so people, from people are really worried about that. You know, when you donate to the military, when you walk together with the military, there will be that a lot of ways, you know, like, it's where we so difficult for the people like to reach people who really need that. You know, that is the, that is the, not the new, this is the old pattern. Like always.
Host 53:33
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is. I also want to ask you, you know you're, you're an artist, and I think you, will, you know, well, with art there, there is a breakdown between the observer and the observed and the subject and the object, and that there's this relationship that binds the two together. And you are, you are going there to document and to experience and to help the conditions that are occurring but, but you are not a you as the observer, are not a stable entity that are being unaffected by what you're experiencing. And so this might be too early to ask, but I'm wondering if, if you've if this experience has changed you, and if so, how has this started to change you?
Lily 54:23
So you mean, that's the duration changed me.
Host 54:26
Yeah, have you changed also with the situation?
Lily 54:30
I don't want to say, like, I like that situation change me. It's not like, but I'm I jump into the situation. This is my, like, a fully first time. I think, you know, like, before, you know, like, I mostly stem as an observer, and I documenting, documenting, and, you know, like, not so much into it, but now I'm jump into the situation, you know, yeah, that's, that's what I take myself, because a lot we we have. To do something. We should do something properly. I think we cannot stand beside and, you know, like, that's why, you know, I told a lot of role, you know, as much as I can, you know, it's something I can help to is good, you know, yeah, someone should do something, yeah, at least, you know, we have been a lot of problem all the time, you know, like, if you all the situation actually is overwhelmed and overload. You know, I'm from my from, from for my experience, like we cannot digest one emotion and then another emotion come. So we are not finished, inject one and another emotion can so it's overwhelmed and overload, and we don't even know how to free. And for me, you know, it's so confusing. And I had my personal, personal problem. I'm dealing with that. It's not finished, you know, another, another problem camp. So, like, what I am doing is how to deal with the situation. That's what I can do. You know, it's not chain or not. It's, you know, the situation, chain or No, no, I'm not sure about that. We change a very forced chain since the coup, you know, we, if we don't want to chain or not, we all chain, you know.
Host 56:12
Yeah, but, but you've made a series of conscious choices to to be in those situations. I mean, you chose to stay in Myanmar when you could leave, and then you chose to go to Mandalay sagain When you know, knowing the challenges that lay there. And so you've, you've also really consciously chosen to land in these challenging and difficult situations as well. Yeah,
Lily 56:36
I don't know why I'm becoming like, oh, exactly. So, why I'm doing this?
Host 56:50
Do you have an answer? Do you have an answer of why you're there while you're doing that?
Lily 56:56
Yeah, like, I'm very clear about why I'm staying, you know, like, I choose to not to leave. That's, that's my choice. But for that to jump into the situation is like, you know, like, maybe somehow I have a gay, you know, like, Getty, you know, yeah, so, so that that, you know, like, that's what we carry along most of the time. And also, I, I'm really interested in into the transformation team, you know, like, what would be the best transformation, the best way to transform that old narration all narrated what we have been through. So, like, most of the time I carry with me, it's not only as an art, you know, like creating the art is also kind of, you have to do a lot of refreshing, you know, you question a lot, you know, like, kind of the worst, the human code to be here. So, like, maybe this is also really drive me to jump into a situation. I like to be with, with, with people. You know, that's why I'm became the documentary filmmaker, and maybe I'm interested in socially and case, I like to be, to be with people. I think.
Host 58:15
Yeah.And so you're trying to find a new narrative from the old past, existing narratives. What? What kinds of narratives are you landing on?
Lily 58:24
Well, like, I'm still looking for it, of course, you know, like, I have an idea of, like, a I'm start exploring ecological time machine. And, you know, what would be, this the solution, to solve the problem. And, you know, I'm trying to connect with the nature, you know, that's a kind of all the ideology I'm start exploring. One of the thing is, like, really deep down in the deep down, I have the feeling or like kind of separation, you know, like separation from everything is really, you know, like I really would like to transform into, like a from my personal level to like a kind of different, different level. So what I am trying to do, not not only in my art practice, but also in the like in my life as well, is kind of trying to reconnect, reconnect with, reconnect with my mind and body, and reconnect with with my a lot of thing. First thing is, like, I would like to reconnect with the nature, and I try to, I really would like to know what will be the best answer, you know, to solve all the problem. No, no. For me, it's so boring to be to stay as as like a victim. The whole life is so boring. You know, you know, it's too much. Why? You know, we have to stay like a victim. You know, I was one of the cut up country, being the female. And then, you know, like very political hardship. And then, you know, all this is narration. You know, it's the narrative is over, low and overwhelmed. You know, it's really shaping me the way I grew up. Why should I stay like. This all the time, the rest of my life. You know, why do I need to stay like that? That does? You know, I already had that kind of question. So that's why I'm key, looking for the what would be the best answer to escape from there. So leave, you know, like a meeting with the very good people, like minded people, talking with who really cared about the soul. You know, I really longing to meet, to meet these people. And I'm really longing what would be the best, the best way to escape from all that shit. You know, talking about victim is like talking about this is talking about the country politics, talking we can talk a lot, you know. No, that's, that's what we did, like, since I was young, you know, we have, we grew up under different kind of oppression. Why? Why should I? What should I need? What should, why should we still need to live like that? You know? You know, we should. We should. We should find something. We should do something to change, or we should have something alternative way to to do something. You know, that's what I'm already thinking. I mean, that's most of the time I carry with me.
Host 1:01:10
Yeah. So, so what did it take to break out of the victimization model and mode of thinking and to find your own agency and to break through?
Lily 1:01:20
Well, I think it's like, is, I don't know, like, we was treat treat like a victim, or the Thai thing, don't you? Don't you think,
Host 1:01:28
Who treats you like a victim?
Lily 1:01:32
I feel like, everywhere, you know, like, whatever, okay, like, for example, like, you know, like, this is also a good identity conflict. I think, you know, I grew up as a woman, you know, in very, very patriarchy society, and then you would like, you would like to be the artist and very open. And, you know, like, like, I'm, I'm, I grew up as a conservative in me, and then trying, would like to be the opening myself. So it's like internet conflict all the time, inside me. And then also, yeah, you know, like, and then also, whatever, I went to the I went to the abroad, you know, like, I don't know other people experience maybe, you know, like, the way I grew up, where I'm coming from, from, you know, like, how we grew up, you know, what I have been through is also, like, most of the time is, like, kind of victimized, you know, you've like, as a, kind of the victim, you know, um, so I don't like that feeling, you know, for me.
Host 1:02:38
Yeah. Now there's a lot of of devastation and destruction in Myanmar. I mean, there's obvious, obviously, the the earthquake and the devastation caused by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that's hit, and the lack of aid that's coming through. But this is also a place that's had over four years of air strikes, which have continued in places that have been hit by the earthquake. After the earthquake hit, the military has continued to bomb. You can go on and on land mines and all the ethnic strife and and and tensions and conflict that have taken place and and this is devastating, this, this is really tragic. And yet there are some Burmese that have come on this platform, and that have indicated that they they also see as tragic and as painful as this is, that it does present the opportunity to build something up in a different way than was before. There is the possibility of a rebirth, of a new start of a new era. And you know, we've had other we've had we've had outsiders on the program, come on and speak about how, if Myanmar gets this right, I mean, they're going to be a beacon for the world, you know, they're, they're going to be a beacon for humanity to to show what's possible and coming out of the shadows into another way of being. These are, these are kind of artistic perspectives and ways of looking at, you know, almost like allegorical or metaphorical, this, this kind of metamorphosis and transformation. But I, I'm interested in asking you this question, because you're on the ground. I mean, you're really interesting in this intersection of your you have an artist's mind, but you're on the ground doing humanitarian restructuring, needs assessments and and coming to a system that's broken down, and trying to help and establish and figure out how to help. And so when you bring your artistic sensibility to the rough humanitarian work that you're provided, is there any part of you that thinks like, maybe we can do this over again and do it, do it right this time. Maybe we can build something better this time is, is, do you ever find yourself having that perspective?
Lily 1:04:48
Of course, definitely, definitely, you're so kind that's, you know, like, yeah, you know. Like, that's what we believe, you know, like, we would like to. Bring something different, you know, not to repeat the same pattern, not to repeat the same history. Why don't we need to waste our energy on that old pattern and all history and all the thing what we have been through, almost like a generation by generation. So for me, from my perspective, you know, I, for my like a one, one human scale, you know, does the if we see, if we can bring, very carefully, there's a lot of possibility. We can bring, we can bend, you know, like together again. We can bend the like. We can rebut again and again, again, again, again, with the, you know, like a new, I mean new narration, or new new new society, you know, but that is not this ideological. Ideologically is so beautiful to think like that is so good. But in particularly, of course, there's a lot a lot of like.
Host 1:05:56
Yeah, well, that's, that's where the ideological meets the kind of practical which is a little boring. I mean, let's be honest, there's a little bit of of of Excel sheets and and graphs and numbers and everything else and so and so, that's where the kind of the heavy lifting of the practical has to meet the ideological and the hopeful.
Lily 1:06:21
Yeah. Then, you know, like, yeah, at least we have an intention. No, I think this is the, this is where good to start. I feel like that, you know, like, if we have a good if we have some intention, you know, like to chain or to transform, or to reprint or to reconnect, or whatever is this. You know, if we have some intention, we have some direction to do or to live with that, you know, like, because there's no no answer, or there's a no road map, you know, like, we can step right, yeah, like, one by one, one by one. This is like a one step one step two, step three. It's not like that. So the oh, we can do it, live with the intention. I think, I think, from my experience is work. Okay, it's good to really like that. So that's, I think that's what I'm doing.
Host 1:07:06
Yeah, are you meeting more people like you who are bringing that same kind of spirit and attitude.
Lily 1:07:11
Like I have, I'm lucky, you know, I have the kind of beautiful social psyche, you know, like small but like, we work together, we live each other and only. But one of the funny thing is, only we can talk each other. So sometimes it's so for the for the like other people, it's difficult to understand why we are doing what we are doing, why we are thinking so. But like in my social psyche, we know what we are doing, I think. And then, you know, like, it's good.
Host 1:07:44
Yeah, yeah. Right now for those listeners who are outside of Myanmar and feeling that they want to be a part of this, that they want to they want to help, they want to be present in some way, and you've already spoken about how help has to be given in the right way. It has to be appropriate, that sometimes if, if you're going to a place and you're all you're doing is giving clean drinking water when they actually need rice, then how helpful Are you being really? And so for those listeners that are tuning in, that are feeling like they want to help, they want to do something, but they wanted to be the right kind of help, how would you answer them?
Lily 1:08:19
Yeah, you know, like, that's why I have to be very careful, you know, like, we need a lot of help, that's for sure, you know, but like, kind of the panic donation, like, like that, keep donating water and, you know, like, like, the same thing is, it's not the I feel like, it's not the right way. But it doesn't mean we don't need any help. It doesn't mean like that they still need a lot of help with the right way so, and then the first thing is, like, it would be good to have a assessment, you know, on the ground. And then, you know, like, if we have a good stretcher, and if we have a good, focused person who can trust and that if we can walk on the ground, that would be really helpful, you know, like, we can, we can donate exactly what they need. So it's really helpful for both sides, you know, so, and then also the sister is, will be the long run. It's not only one man is, it's not only one week, two weeks, three weeks. It's not like that. It will go to the long run. So we were state need that a lot of help, you know, like with the right way. So what would be the right way is I, I don't know exactly like exactly yet, because also for me is I'm still learning from my experience. So first we need the local person, and then we need, we really need the local boys, and also we really need to know what they really need. We cannot count on all the time on the Facebook. That's for sure. We need to connect with the with the on ground. And then before we donate, then, you know, like we can, we can have them properly. And then also, that's from my my like, a like, it would be good if. We have something sharing experience from that, the people who have that kind of experience, you know, they can also share, you know, how to manage, how to do that, how, what would be the best way to to reach, you know, the need a place.
Host 1:10:19
Yeah, right. And so for people that are listening in you know, obviously, money is always helpful, donating, and our nonprofit, better Burma is very active. We're supporting many, many groups on the ground, everything from clean drinking water to the machines that break up the rubble, that are able to bring to clear the rubble and bring whatever is trapped in there to as well as any number of other initiatives that ground groups are telling us that they need, that this is where the funds are going. So material is definitely can't be overstated and overemphasized how important it is, but that's obvious, beyond the material benefits that people abroad can do to support you, what you you know, I want to ask you this because you've been so clear that you don't want to be seen as a victim and that you have your own proper agency right now in what you're doing, and So the type of support you're asking for isn't this kind of pity of just giving me whatever you can so that you know we can, we can get by. So beyond the material support, what? What kind of support or solidarity would be helpful to you from an international audience? Now?
Lily 1:11:41
No, yeah, like, you know, we have a different background, a different layer, and, like, a different interest, and, you know, different social psyche. So I cannot represent everyone, or I cannot, I still don't know exactly how the local people really need it, but, like, solidarity is really, really helpful for example, from my experience, like, when we have a good relationship with international recruiting, it's really one, you know, like, from my feeling, you know, like we, I feel like we are not alone. You know, there's a internal political leader in terms of internal like, from the politician, you know, there's a lot of people, a lot of beautiful people out there in different country for, you know, like we still had kind of the sense of the human, you know, we stay supposed with the love and compassion, something like that. That will be the really helpful, you know, we feel not alone. We are not alone. We are not the one who are dealing alone. So I think this is the it's really support for me, it's really, I feel like it's really emotionally supported. Yeah, I think like that kind of solidarity will be useful for the grant as well. It's apart from the material support.
Host 1:12:59
What can people do to help you feel like you're not alone.
Lily 1:13:04
I don't know exactly, you know, my friend, you know, like they came and talked to me, and then they also share some compassion, and, you know, like a little bit, they are showing the support. So that's that I feel I'm not alone. So in, like, in my personal level, and also, for example, one of them my international community, they are raising their fundraising. And then also, they show like they care, you know, like, if I feel, if I see someone care, you know, it's really help, help me, you know, like, for emotional, emotionally, you know, it's not like, okay, it's not show off if you show really care. You know, the feeling okay is really good. You know, that's for my personal feeling.
Host 1:13:52
Yeah. So the when the feeling of care is manifested, that has a profound effect.
Lily 1:13:56
On me, but I'm not sure about I cannot repeat that. You know,
Host 1:13:59
No, we're asking you, you're, you're the only one we're talking to. You're the only one we're asking.
Lily 1:14:04
Yeah, like, if I feel like it really care, no, it's not like you are showing, like a, like a, you are good. And it's not like, it's not, it's not fake, you know, if you show you care, it's so it's me. Like, I can open and more and more, you know, I can be honest with you, more and more, I can share all the emotion, more and more and, you know, so this is the does. It's really helpful for me, for my personal feeling. So if I, if I, you know, if, if I notice is someone is really care, it's really helpful for me.
Host 1:14:38
Yeah, yeah. And this is, this is different than value signaling. You know, value signaling, where you you just kind of make an indication that this, I'm this type of person, and I care about this type of thing, but this is a true expression of care, yeah, so we've talked about the way that that foreign communities can support you. And. In fact, as I've mentioned, our nonprofit better Burma, it's, it's, it's collected a large number of donations from an international audience really wanting to support the on the ground efforts. And we've, we've, we've urgently sent those funds to many different groups, and one of those groups have been yours. And so actually, some of the listeners that this is pretty cool, you know, some of the people that are listening now might have actually donated money that went to you and the work that you're doing. And so I wonder, if you can describe the nature of the needs assessment that you did, that you realized what was needed for that community, and then the donation that we were able to provide through our listeners and supporters that allowed you to to to be able to engage and to help.
Lily 1:15:50
Yes, now what I am doing now is like I went to the ground, and then I asked them what they what they really need, and then I I did the same assessment. Then I got the some list, you know, like, for example, they need the shutter, they need the engine, they need the water pan, or something, something like that is, is the sustain, you know, like, it's not only for one one week, you know. Like, it does, it is something that is something that helps for the long run. So we, you know, like, I connect with the donor, and then, like, I call up the donation, and then I buy that step and donate to them. Then directly. So if you would like to donate like that, you know, like, we are very awakened, and, you know, I can share, I can share the same information, how you can donate. And also, like, I can, I can promise, you know, like that donation will be right, you know, like, properly, where, the where, where there's the needed.
Host 1:16:41
Yeah, right, that's wonderful to hear. And so just really want to emphasize to listeners that this is something that you can support. You can reach out and support our nonprofit and earmark Lily's project, and as the funds that came before that we were able to provide for her so quickly on the ground. So also, people listening to this can can donate and know that those funds are getting to their proper place. Well, I've really appreciated talking to you, and I think that it's so valuable for us to get these, these reports and reflections of someone that's on the ground, you know, that's able to articulate to us what they're seeing, feeling, doing, what they're hoping for, and their relations with other what they're noticing from other people on the ground as well. And so I really thank you for you know, I know that you're you're going through not so easy situations of of how you're living and how you're moving around, and to take time out of that, especially when communications can be challenging, and share to our wider international audience about what your experience is. I think this is incredibly valuable, and I really thank you for that.
Lily 1:17:54
Thank you for having me as well. I hope like I will be helpful a little bit or
Host 1:18:00
More than a little bit, and I would invite you as well, because you are speaking to an international audience, and you're also speaking to a diaspora. There are many, many diaspora who listen to this and feel a connection back to their homeland in hearing these voices. So I'd like to close by inviting you to share a reflection or a thought that you'd like to make sure that our wider community of listeners can come into contact with.
Lily 1:18:30
Yeah, like, we are. We are dealing with like, like you mentioned, it have been more than four year we are. We are dealing with different kind of the tragic, different kind of the operation, and different kind of the like suffering, and different kind of the struggling, like we are still dealing with it, and that will be that we don't know how many year we have to go through it. It's really helpful, you know, like, if the international community don't forget, and then also it will be really helpful, you know, like, if we have a support from our people side, that will be really, really helpful for us, you know, yeah, that's what I would like to, yeah, that's What I that's what I would like to talk yeah.
Host 1:19:31
Thank you for being a part of this conversation and standing in solidarity with the people and stories shared here at Insight Myanmar podcast. Solidarity is not just a word, it's the foundation of everything we do. Each voice we amplify and every story we share represents a call to stand together with those in Myanmar. And so it is through the act of listening, reflecting and engaging that you become part of this collective effort to uphold dignity, amplify truth and stand. For what matters. And I should also add that all of this work is only possible because of listeners like you who have chosen to offer a contribution. Every donation is an act of standing together, of refusing to turn away, and of reinforcing the bonds that connect us across borders and experiences. If you believe in the power of solidarity and the importance of sharing these stories, we invite you to join us by making a donation. Your support helps us to keep this platform alive and ensure that these voices continue to be heard. Visit insightmyanmar.org/donation, to join us in standing with Myanmar.