What's happening in Myanmar?

What’s Been Happening in Myanmar: The Last 10 Years Through Our Eyes

Ten years ago, Myanmar felt like it was finally breathing again. There was hope in the air - real, fragile, beautiful hope. After decades of military rule, the country began opening up to the world. Tourists arrived. Cafés popped up in Yangon. Young people spoke freely, dreamed bigger, and believed that change was not only possible - but it was also happening. But the past decade has been anything but linear.

2015–2019: A Taste of Freedom

The 2015 election was historic. For many, it was the first time voting felt meaningful. There was cautious optimism, a sense that democracy - imperfect but alive had arrived. Social media connected people. Small businesses grew. Artists, entrepreneurs, and activists found their voices. Myanmar wasn’t perfect, ethnic conflicts and deep-rooted inequalities remained, but people felt something powerful: agency.

2020–2021: Everything Shattered

Then came February 1, 2021. The military coup didn’t just take power, it stole futures. Overnight, elected leaders were detained, the internet was cut, and fear replaced freedom. Peaceful protesters filled the streets, holding flowers and signs, singing songs of resistance. And then came the violence. Young people - students, doctors, teachers were arrested, beaten, killed. Families were torn apart. Many fled their homes with nothing but hope and fear in their hands.

2021–2023: Survival Mode

Since the coup, life in Myanmar has been about survival. Healthcare collapsed. Schools shut down. The economy spiraled. Entire villages were burned. Airstrikes became part of daily vocabulary. Millions were displaced. Food insecurity grew. Parents worried not about dreams for their children but about keeping them alive. And yet, people resisted. Quietly. Loudly. Bravely. Teachers taught in secret. Doctors treated patients underground. Communities fed each other when systems failed.

2024–2025: Pain, Scams, and Resilience

As conditions worsened, desperation made people vulnerable. Phone scams increased. Fake calls preyed on kindness and trust - a painful reflection of how hardship twists human connection. Natural disasters struck too, compounding trauma. Hunger rose. Aid struggled to reach those who needed it most. And still, people gave. They donated when they had nothing. They checked on neighbors. They prayed, hoped, and kept going.

The Truth No One Can Take Away

Myanmar’s last ten years are not just a story of loss - they are a story of resilience. It’s the story of a generation that tasted freedom and refuses to forget it. Of people who love deeply, give generously, and endure quietly. Of culture, kindness, and courage surviving in the darkest moments. This is not a country defined by crisis. It’s a country defined by its people. And we are still here.