Alumni Voice

In March 2020 with the onslaught of the Covid-19, Myanmar, likewise, has been experiencing many unprecedented challenges. The impacts are likely to be massive for Myanmar. Consequently, the hustle and bustle of cities turned into ghost cities. Schools, universities, supermarkets, restaurants, offices, parks, basketball courts, religious buildings and public places have been temporarily closed to prevent local virus transmission. Thousands of Myanmar people, mostly the aged, had succumbed to virus. Around 25 people meet their tragic death everyday in Myanmar. People from different backgrounds are stranded in the midst of difficulties and challenges in the name of health, education, business and social developments. Therefore, there is no doubt that the impacts of Covid-19 change the whole society with fast-moving and unknown variables.

Myanmar being one of the most generous countries in the world, countless volunteers emerged enthusiastically as heroes to participate the battle against Covid-19, even if they have great danger of coming into contact with this virus. In an effort to combat the alarming increase of Covid-19 cases, emergency treatment centers have been set up in many regions. Myanmar people are eager to make generous donations to quarantine centers, hospitals, homes for the aged, and orphanages not for being impressed but with devotion. They are examples of humanity flourishing through local volunteers in communities of Myanmar.

For the sake of worthy lives of positive patients, each and every Myanmar health care professionals are battling on the front lines. They always do shoulder extreme work conditions and sacrifice with the high risk of being infected. Myanmar received personal protective equipment (PPE) and other digital health equipment from Japan and other countries during this critical time. Such equipment is of great help to Myanmar. Meanwhile, the whole health care system is doing everything they can to control and prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Unfortunately, this pandemic leads children to dire trouble in many ways. Some children in Myanmar do not gain educationally at home because parents are not be able to teach them or their households might lack access to the necessary internet connection, telecommunication and electricity. Digital education for students is still pending in Myanmar.

Moreover, Myanmar is struggling with both pandemic and “infodemic”, widespread misinformation on social media. Biased and misleading news, false reporting, rumors, tabloids, hate speeches and selfish propagandas harm people’s interest and boost their fear of the disease. In the aim of coping with stated conducts, the intellectuals and young Myanmar technologists cooperate to dispel news and reporting which have to be truthful and alert. Only handful restaurants have been running under announced preventive measures. Likewise, factories and local Myanmar airlines have been barely in the movement. Tourism industry has been temporarily shut down since the first wave of Covd-19. Tourism revenue in Myanmar dips more in 2020. Yet Myanmar tourism is still trying to promote and imply as virtual tourism.

It should be noted that the life of working adult has changed exponentially and Work-from-home culture is recently adapted in Myanmar. On the other hands, some are less able to work from home facing with joblessness rampant and struggling with job losses and family burdens. It leads to food shortage or food hardship. Consequently, poverty does spike in Myanmar during this pandemic. Along with consideration for hungers and poor urban householders, a non-government organization called CARE TEEN supported by dozens of Myanmar youths initiated a program called “WASTE TO FOOD EXCHANGE PROGRAM”, offering foods in return of a bag of domestic waste. This incredible project yielded a dramatic result; not only thousands of the poor and the downtrodden received food but also their environment and area are cleaned and sustained. Consequently, this program instills the economically backward people with help and solace to some extent.

Unfortunately, over a thousand suicide cases in Myanmar occurred during pandemic according to survey from Suicide Prevention Organization Myanmar. In fact, philanthropists also attempt every possible ways to give people kindness, relief and solace. In the midst, the activists and artists are finding their ways to strengthen community bonds. Virus cancelled all colorful days of celebrations and seasonal festivals in the year 2020. Nevertheless, 27millions of people voted at the 2020 general election day held on November 8^th. According to the Myanmar teachers Federation (MTF), more than 100 poll workers were primary contact Covid-19 while serving in this election.

The world misses the sophisticated, cosmopolitan society where we have interacted. Unexpectedly, new formed life-style has been evolved. People are getting used to wearing face masks, regular hands washing and social distancing measures. We might see people wearing masks wherever they go. In post-pandemic period, we all will respond with the same sense of relief and in search of community. We all will get back to our pre-pandemic lives and wander outdoors in the global environment once again. The greenery of trees and sweet fragrance of flowers will keep us active again. There breeze shall come. In the other hand, reaching those days will fully depend on our current actions and how to response. Being united in time of crisis is an essential to overcome difficulties _how big or small they are. Only then will we experience the post-pandemic world.

Our future generations, without doubt, are sure to face appalling hardship to survive if this current generation encourages nepotism, egoism, corruption, favoritism and narrow chauvinism. Needless to say, youths’ tireless effort played a vital role in saving the world from havocs, opening one after another door to a brighter future. As young initiate form Myanmar, I would put people’s interests before mine. Instead of pointing fingers and playing blame game, I would rather think more about my duties and responsibilities than my personal rights. I would endeavor to contribute in peace-keeping efforts and mutual cooperation which is essential for all-round development and growth of Myanmar. In conclusion, I have always aimed to create a greater, better and safer world which can be handed down to future generation.

社会人の生活が劇的に変化し、ミャンマーでは最近テレワークが浸透してきていることに注目すべきです。その一方で、仕事にありつけない状態が続いていたり、失業したり、家族の問題があったりして、テレワークができない人たちもいます。このような状態は、食料不足や食料苦難をもたらします。その結果、貧困はこのパンデミックの間にミャンマーで急増するでしょう。飢餓や都市部の貧しい家庭への支援として、ミャンマーの若者によって支援されている、CARETEENという非政府組織が、「家庭ごみと食物交換プログラム」をいう取り組みを開始しました。これは、家庭から出されるごみ一袋を食物と交換するという試みです。
この信じられないようなプロジェクトは劇的な結果をもたらしました。何千人もの貧しい人々や恵まれない人々が食料を受け取っただけでなく、彼らの環境や地域が浄化され、維持されるようになりました。このように、このプログラムは経済的に恵まれない人々への支援となり、ある種の安堵も与えているのです。

残念なことに、自殺防止団体ミャンマーの調査によると、ミャンマーではパンデミック時に1000人以上の自殺者が出たと言われています。実際、慈善家たちも人々に思いやり、救済、安心感などを与えるためにあらゆる方法を試みています。その中で、活動家や芸術家たちはコミュニティの絆を強める方法を模索しています。ウイルスは2020年、すべての艶やかなお祝いの日々と、季節の祭りを中止にさせました。それにもかかわらず、11月8日に行われた2020年の総選挙の日には2,700万人の人々が投票しました。ミャンマー教職員連盟（MTF）によると、投票所で働いていた100人以上は、この選挙のために奉仕しながら、第一次濃厚接触者となったのです。

世界は、私たちが交流してきた洗練された国際社会を懐かしんでいます。心の準備ができないまま、新しいライフスタイルが進化しています。人々はマスクをつけ、定期的に手を洗い、社会的な距離を置くことに慣れてきています。どこに行ってもマスクをしている人を見かけることがあります。パンデミック後の時代には、私たちは皆、同じような安堵感とコミュニティを求めていくでしょう。私たちは再びパンデミック前の生活に戻り、屋外に再び出ていくでしょう。木々の緑と花の甘い香りが、私たちを再び活動的にしてくれるでしょう。そこに風が吹いてくるのです。一方で、その日を迎えるかどうかは、今の私たちの行動と対応にかかっています。困難の大小にかかわらず、それを乗り越えるためには、危機の時に一致団結することが必要不可欠です。そうして初めて、私たちはパンデミック後の世界を経験することになります。

もし今の世代が、なれ合い主義、利己主義、汚職、えこひいき、極端な排他主義を助長しているならば、間違いなく、私たちの未来の世代は、生きていくのに、恐ろしい苦難に直面することになるでしょう。言うまでもなく、若者のたゆまぬ努力は、世界を大混乱から救い、明るい未来への扉を次々と開いていく上で重要な役割を果たしてきました。私は、ミャンマーを支えていく次世代の若者として、自分の利益よりも人々の利益を優先させたいです。誰かの悪口を言ったり、非難をするのではなく、自分の権利を主張する前に義務や責任を果たしたいと思います。ミャンマーがこれから全面的な発展を遂げ、成長していくために必要不可欠である、平和維持活動と相互協力に貢献するよう努力します。結論として、私は常に、より素晴らしく、より良く、より安全な世界を創造し、次世代に引き継いでいくことを目指してきました。