A social enterprise in #Myanmar works with residents to turn trash-strewn, rat-infested back alleys in downtown #Yangon into pleasant public spaces & selfie spots. Read about the projects' impact on local communities:- http://news.trust.org/item/20200106002727-f82qe/ #cities #Burma #Rangoon (THREAD)

Full disclosure - I was born and raised in #Yangon so I’ve always had great affection for the city. But I also grew up seeing these trash alleys whenever I used to go downtown with my mum (we lived in the suburbs) in the 1980s. #rangoon #Myanmar #Burma (2)

These trash alleys became worse, especially after a construction boom in the 80s and 90s tore down many elegant old buildings and replaced them with garishly-painted blocks of flats and the increased no. of residents using them as unofficial garbage dumps. (3)

By the time I moved back to Yangon in 2015 and lived briefly in one of the downtown apartments, they were in horrible shape. The one behind our flat (pic below) has garbage that must be feet-deep. It was a health & environmental hazard. (4) #trash #cities #yangon #burma #myanmar

So it was great to see them transformed into public spaces by Doh Eain, a social business, that both the old and the young can enjoy, especially because Yangon is changing rapidly and green, open spaces and playgrounds are becoming a premium. (5)

The city itself is becoming cleaner, I noticed during my last trip over Christmas, and there are campaigns like Clean Yangon to raise public awareness about littering. I hope this trend continues. (6) #trash #cities #yangon #rangoon #burma #myanmar

Doh Eain also opened a playground and park in Yankin, a Yangon suburb, with the help of half a dozen girls. The idea was to make a girl-friendly playground, so there are lots of light and open spaces. (7)

This eloquent 13-year-old, Eain Hmu San, was involved in the whole process. "People think girls are weak and don’t have the ability to do such things," she said. "It’s very rare to have a project that girls lead. Friends didn’t believe me." (8)

Maintenance of these spaces is still an issue, especially because Yangon’s dreary & mould-inducing monsoon lasts almost half a year. Emilie Roell, Doh Eain's founder, hopes to find ways to generate revenues & instill sense of ownership so they are looked after properly (9/END)