Livin' On A Prayer

Insight Myanmar

Episode #332: “We should do something to change, or we should have [an] alternative way to do something,” says Lily, a Myanmar-based artist and documentary filmmaker who has turned from observer to humanitarian in the aftermath of Myanmar’s devastating earthquake.

Originally intending to document the destruction in the Sagaing region, Lily quickly shifted focus confronted by the chaos on the ground. Filming became too risky due to military surveillance, and the humanitarian need was overwhelming. She began working alongside monks and volunteers, distributing aid and conducting needs assessments. Traumatized survivors, collapsed buildings, and the scent of death painted a grim picture. Yet what struck Lily most was the spontaneous community response in the absence of government leadership—monasteries, mosques, and local volunteers self-organized to help.

Lily emphasizes the importance of asking communities directly what they need, even when survivors are too disoriented to fully articulate it. She believes that showing care and listening is a powerful act in itself. However, she’s concerned about inefficient donations and the sustainability of relief once panic subsides. Memories of Cyclone Nargis, when military corruption diverted aid, still haunt locals, making many donors wary of formal channels. Though international support has been modest, mostly through grassroots networks, Lily stresses that solidarity—not pity—is essential.

This experience has changed her: no longer just documenting from a distance, she is immersed in the rebuilding process. “If we have some intention—to change or to transform or to rebuild or to reconnect—we have some direction… That’s, I think, what I’m doing.”