Student-led relief in action: Yellow Circle SC responds to earthquake crisis

In response to the powerful earthquakes that recently shook Monywa, Sagaing, and Mandalay, the Yellow Circle SC Constitution Drafting Team has launched a student-led emergency relief initiative to support affected communities. This grassroots effort is driven by urgency, compassion, and a commitment to direct action.

​​At the beginning of the campaign, the team intended to raise funds within the Parami student community, as they had previously done for the flood relief efforts under the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). However, after some discussion among our team members, we decided opening the campaign to the public would be more impactful. 

"We believed there were donors out there looking for trustworthy and transparent fundraising efforts. By expanding our campaign to a wider audience, the team was able to raise more funds and extend more support to the communities affected by the earthquake. That's how the "Yellow Circle CDC Earthquake Relief" campaign came to life," Pone Nyet Aung, a treasurer, explained. 

Thanks to local and regional supporters' incredible generosity, the team has raised over 32 Million MMK and over 30,000 THB from local and international donors. To carry out the campaign effectively, the CDC organized the members into two main teams: an online fundraising team and an on-ground team. All members of both teams were Parami students. The fundraising team was responsible for tracking donations, engaging with donors, issuing certificates, and preparing reports. Meanwhile, the on-ground team handled the purchasing and delivering essential items to the impacted areas.

Crowdfunding and on-ground support were implemented by Parami undergraduate students in Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, and Chiang Mai. 

On-ground team team includes The The Zuu Zin, Aye Thiri Phyo, La Min Ko Ko, Pyae Sone Thu, Thant Sin Tun, Min Thuta, Theingi Tun, Semyar, Hsu Hlaing Htet, Salai Har Ling, Khin Maung Than, Mu Sophia Khaing, Thandar Htwe, Niang Sain Law Hlun, Aike Ngo, Ngai Yaw, Than Aung, Zay Yan Myint, Lu Htoi, Hkwan Nu Mai, Nang Ram, Khaing Lwin Lwin Thaw, Ei Phyu Sin Win, Hnin Ei Wai Lwin, Khaing Nwe Lynn, Aye Moet Moet Zaw, Wai Yan Minn Htet, Suu Pyo May San, Yair Wint Swe, Hsu Wutt Hmone Toe, Hein Lin Tun, Myint Myat, Thuta Kyi Thar,  Nyein Ko Ko, Ye Win Khant, and May Shin Thant.

Online team consists of Pone Nyet Aung, Kaung Myat Phyo, Eaint Thet Mhue, Htet Myat Phone Naing, Chan Haymarn Thaw, Kyaw Toe Toe Han, and Shane Min Tun. 

The On-ground team began their efforts by purchasing supplies in Yangon. Volunteers then traveled to Mandalay and worked closely with Parami Mandalay Hub students to identify areas most in need. Their first round of donations was delivered to Bone Oh Village. This was followed by another round of purchases and distributions in Amarapura and later in Sagaing. The team is now preparing the next batch of donations, which have been delivered to the Innwa area today. 

The donation is directed to trusted, locally embedded relief teams—personally vetted by the organizers—to support communities in crisis. They have donated to nearly 200 households in Sagaing and Amarabura alone. All donations are used exclusively for immediate and critical needs, such as food, clean water, emergency shelter, medical supplies, hygiene products, etc. 

The The Zuu Zin (Zuu), a CDC member who is leading the on-ground team, reflected on the experience to be overwhelming and eye-opening, and good ideas that will be helpful for their upcoming project to help communities, especially those living in remote areas affected by the earthquake. 

"We saw people with different struggles. In Amarapura, people were not living in good conditions even before the earthquake struck Myanmar. They live in a makeshift shelter, and waste is everywhere. In Sagaing, some people lost their homes to the earthquake, and rebuilding a new house is impossible for them. We met with IDPs, who had lost their homes to the war in the area and took refuge in the monasteries, Zuu described. 

With the help of local monasteries and community representatives, the on-ground team, formed with  Parami students in Mandalay learning hub, traveled to isolated communities in Amrabura, Sagaing, Sakar Inn, and Pann Ya to deliver the supplies to the affected people.

Throughout the campaign, the team explained that they encountered various challenges, such as coordinating tasks among teams and ensuring that the donated items reached the areas in greatest need. Despite these difficulties, they were able to manage everything successfully. This experience gave them practical lessons in fundraising, teamwork, accountability, and disaster response. It was a very meaningful and empowering journey for us as student organizers.

Recovery from the 7.7 magnitude quake will be a long-term effort, as it caused significant loss and damage across affected areas. Drawing from her experience visiting these communities and speaking with people who have lost their families and homes, Zuu emphasized the importance of rehabilitation. "After completing this phase of emergency on-ground support, we will come together as a team to discuss a rehabilitation plan for those impacted by the quake," she said.

Pone Nyet, on behalf of the Earthquake Relief team, expressed, "We are really grateful to all the donors who trusted us and to Parami University and our Parami Student community for their continuous support. We also want to sincerely thank all our student volunteers—from the online team to those on the ground in Yangon and Mandalay—who worked hard to make this campaign successful."