Thank you for being with us - November Update

The temperatures fall and the last leaves drop in the West. Trees will be bare soon, grounds hard and frozen; people staying inside homes hoping for the sun to warm the chills in the bones. In Myanmar, the weather cools to a comfortable 70s F, flowers blossom and gardens green even as the civilians brace for more unjust rules and human rights abuses under the military regime. Inside homes, people whisper “FREEDOM”, for freedom shines on inside their hearts.

As we approach 300 days since the Myanmar military took control of Myanmar, situation continues to deteriorate. According to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, over 1200 civilians have been killed, and over 10,000 people have been arrested since the military coup. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, many facing hunger and medical emergencies. To make things even worse, the third wave of COVID-19 has been ravaging Myanmar where health care is poor or non-existent in most parts of the country. For the team at Rise and Shine with Freedom, this means doubling down our efforts to help those who need our help most. Since the beginning of our fundraising efforts in April 2021, we have donated US$3911 (GBP£2,865) to various humanitarian organizations. We send funds to those who can actively help on the ground in Myanmar.

Thus far, 39% of our donation goes to medical assistance in Myanmar, 28.8% goes to those participating in CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement); 21% goes to IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) who lost their homes due to attacks by the military, and 11.1% goes to general humanitarian assistance. We continue to form partnerships with artists who are lending their talents to be featured on lifestyle products to raise funds to alleviate hardship in Myanmar. Through their art, we send powerful message to the world that Myanmar needs help. Through art and lifestyle products we come together as a people who remain strong in our belief that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect; Myanmar must gain democracy and freedom.

The road to democracy will be perilous and long. There will be times when we feel like giving up and put up the sign of defeat. Those will also be the times when we must keep our hopes up, boost our efforts to continue helping Myanmar. To march along this difficult road to freedom, our winter collection highlights HOPE and RESILIENCE. As the poet Emily Dickinson wrote, “Hope is the thing with feathers – that perched in the soul. And sings with the tune without the words – And never stops – at all- “