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A Journalist In Limbo: war, exile, & aid cuts

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · 28d

"I was never someone who grew up saying: “When I grow up, I want to be a journalist.” Now I can’t imagine doing anything else," wrote a Kachin journalist affected by Trump admin's aid cuts that crippled Myanmar exiled media.

A new tale on #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

kite-tales.org/en/article/j...

Life in the wreckage: Earthquake Survivor

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Sep 3

Yes, we are back with new diaries, after a very busy period of work & life interrupted our work here. Even though we haven't been posting much, we continue to support struggling Myanmar journalists.

We have more diaries in the pipeline and will be posting again regularly so please like and share!

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Sep 3

"The losses have been immense, yet I find myself clinging to a fragile gratitude: we are still alive."

One of our previous fellows in Central Myanmar was lost her home in the April earthquake. Here, she wrote about her experiences as well as of her neighbours.

kite-tales.org/en/article/l...

Teashop diaries: The student

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Aug 20

His journey offers a window into the lives of countless children in Myanmar, each carrying their own hopes and struggles. Here's the original diary.

kite-tales.org/en/article/t...

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Aug 20

Zaw’s story is very common. Across Myanmar, about 10% of children (5-17 yrs) work. In cities like Mandalay, many can be found in teashops, on construction sites, or in homes as domestic workers.

We hope Zaw is still able to learn & keep chasing his dream, despite the quake & political instability.

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Aug 20

"Teashop Diaries: The Student.” tells the story of Zaw (not his real name), a boy who worked in a teashop to support his grandparents. Alongside his long hours, he managed to study three days a week through the MyME project. His dream was simple yet powerful, to one day become a footballer.

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Aug 20

It's been nearly 5 months since a massive quake struck Myanmar’s central regions, leaving deep scars on communities already struggling under the military junta.

As we continue to keep affected communities in our thoughts, we look back on a tale from Mandalay.
#Mandalay #KiteTales #childhooddreams

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · May 30

“Where the Sky Should Be Safe”

Let us not grow numb. Let us remember. Let us rage, mourn, and keep telling the world: our skies are not safe, and silence is not an option.

Artwork by @jcillustration.bsky.social.

A little boy looks up, not in wonder, but in quiet fear. Above him, paper planes drift in the wind, echoing the lives that were torn away too soon.

Over the past weeks, airstrike on a school killed 20 students, while 10 more lives were lost when a wedding reception was bombed. Both were carried out by the Myanmar military junta. These are not isolated tragedies but targeted attacks against civilians, their homes, and their lives.

No child should fear the sky. No family should bury their future.

Children should feel safe in their classrooms, be able to play outside, and allowed to dream under the clouds.

Let us not grow numb. Let us remember. Let us rage, mourn, and keep telling the world: our skies are not safe, and silence is not an option.

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Reposted by Kite Tales Myanmar

Insight Myanmar Podcast @insightmyanmar.bsky.social · May 7

"Hunger and undernutrition are not just about the fact that there isn’t enough food; there are many other aspects to consider. Is there food? Yes. But is it available where people need it?"

@thinink.bsky.social @kitetalesmm.bsky.social

Listen now: insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...

Feeding the Revolution: The rice bowl might be empty, but the voices are loud

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Apr 23

This is a Q&A from 2022 with a Thai nurse running Burma Children Medical Fund. She is busier than ever after the Feb, 2021 coup.

"People come across the border because the army is bombing their villages. They have no home, they have no hospital."

kite-tales.org/en/article/d...

"Do Something"

Free and ad-free mobile application informing citizens in case of an earthquake and gathering their testimonies in the aftermath via comments, pictures, and videos.

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Reposted by Kite Tales Myanmar

BNO News @bnonews.com · Mar 28

JUST IN: Fire and heavy damage at Mandalay University in Myanmar, reports of casualties

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Reposted by Kite Tales Myanmar

Kelly Macnamara @kellymacnamara.bsky.social · Mar 28

The earthquake in Myanmar seems to have been shallow. Thinking of friends there and in Thailand, where it was felt strongly

m.emsc.eu#earthquake

m.emsc.eu

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Reposted by Kite Tales Myanmar

Xun-ling Au 歐迅灵 🏴 @xunlingau.bsky.social · Mar 28

The Junta will accept international aid for Naypyidaw, Mandalay & areas under their control. They love a good opportunity to burnish their legitimacy.

Won't get to any areas that are resistance held or contested though.

This is their standard operating procedure.

#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

Jeppe Mulich @jmulich.bsky.social · Mar 28

Gods know folks in Myanmar are going through enough hardship as it is. Hopefully the junta will not block international aid this time around, but I'm not too optimistic

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Reposted by Kite Tales Myanmar

Jascha Polet @jascha.bsky.social · Mar 28

A historical seismicity map shows several #earthquakes of similar size to today’s M7.7 in Myanmar occurred in the region in the early 20th century, but this section of the Sagaing fault probably hasn’t ruptured since 1839 🧪⚒️

Seismicity map of the Myanmar area generated by Jascha Polet using GMT and a myriad of earthquake catalogs

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Mar 26

Here's a short graphic novel that embodies the spirit of the people despite #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

"...amidst this nightmarish darkness that seems to stretch forever, our acts of resilience continue to shine through every day," wrote Songbird, one of our fellows.

kite-tales.org/en/article/f...

The Flame of Hope

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Reposted by Kite Tales Myanmar

Melanie Newfield @melanienewfield.bsky.social · Mar 11

Thin does great work!

Insight Myanmar Podcast @insightmyanmar.bsky.social · Mar 11

Journalist Thin Lei Win, Kite Tales co-founder, explores personal storytelling’s role in impactful journalism. She highlights Myanmar’s media struggles post-coup & the power of diverse voices in fostering empathy. insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...

@thinink.bsky.social @kitetalesmm.bsky.social

Feeding the Revolution: The rice bowl might be empty, but the voices are loud

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Mar 12

Podcast with our co-founder @thinink.bsky.social that touches on the work we've been doing to support Myanmar's storytellers as well as the origin story of how The Kite Tales started...

Insight Myanmar Podcast @insightmyanmar.bsky.social · Mar 11

Journalist Thin Lei Win, Kite Tales co-founder, explores personal storytelling’s role in impactful journalism. She highlights Myanmar’s media struggles post-coup & the power of diverse voices in fostering empathy. insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...

@thinink.bsky.social @kitetalesmm.bsky.social

Feeding the Revolution: The rice bowl might be empty, but the voices are loud

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Reposted by Kite Tales Myanmar

Xun-ling Au 歐迅灵 🏴 @xunlingau.bsky.social · Mar 9

Solid discussion with @thinink.bsky.social (co-founder of @kitetalesmm.bsky.social) on failures to tackle food insecurity, the weaponisation of aid, the suppression of journalism & more in Myanmar.

Thin brings a wealth of knowledge & experience to the table.

From @insightmyanmar.bsky.social

Feeding the Revolution: The rice bowl might be empty, but the voices are loud

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Mar 5

This diary is about the perilous journey home by a young Myanmar woman who had been working in China without a valid visa. She was compelled to return, amid COVID-19 restrictions and insecurity, when her father became very ill in Oct 2022.

kite-tales.org/en/article/w...

On the way home

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Feb 26

A Kachin journo wrote this 3 years ago. It remains pertinent. "Within days... old customers at my regular tea shop no longer had the same looks as they did before. They did not dare to speak as loudly as they used to. They no longer dared to watch news openly."

kite-tales.org/en/article/i...

"I felt like a prisoner"

Resistance Diary - Reflections on Women's place in Myanmar

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Feb 22

📢 Upcoming Talk
Our co-founder @thinink.bsky.social will be speaking at Reykjavík Uni on Mar 3 at 11:30 GMT.
She will explore the historical context of Burma/Myanmar through personal stories, hopes, & dreams of its ethnically diverse people.
Don't miss the conversation if you are in Reykjavik!

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Kite Tales Myanmar @kitetalesmm.bsky.social · Feb 19

Post-coup rallies turned the tables on long-held social stigmas rooted in toxic masculinity, like how women's clothes were considered "untouchable". A Yangon resident wrote about "the htamein campaign" & women's role in the revolution for us in this old diary.

kite-tales.org/en/article/r...