Now When I Sing, I Forget All My Pain

On the afternoon of 28 March 2025, in a crowded community in Pyi Gyi Yan Naing Township in Mandalay Region, 13-year-old Yati was getting ready for what would normally have been a familiar part of her day.

Most afternoons during the school holidays, she attended a nearby dance class after lunch — something she always looked forward to. But that day was different. Around midday, she decided to visit her best friend, Su Su, who lived in a nearby apartment building.

The two girls were playing together in a seventh-floor apartment when the ground suddenly began to shake. “At first I didn’t understand what was happening,” Yati says. “Everything started moving. The walls were shaking and things were falling. I was very scared.”

Within moments, the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck, bringing the building down. Trapped beneath layers of concrete and debris, Yati remained buried for more than nine hours. “It felt like a very long time,” she says quietly. “I was calling for help and hoping someone would hear me.” 

Outside, rescue teams worked urgently through the wreckage, searching for survivors. When rescuers finally reached Yati, she was barely conscious but still able to signal for help. “She used the little strength she had left to move and make a sound so the rescuers could find her,” recalls her father, U Kaung. “We will never forget the moment they carried her out.”

While Yati survived, her best friend died.

Yati still struggles when she thinks about that day.

“We were playing together just before the earthquake,” she says softly. “Sometimes I still think about her and wish she had been rescued too.” 

When Yati arrived at the hospital, she was covered in blood and concrete dust, with a severely injured leg. But beyond the physical injuries, the emotional impact of the disaster ran deep.

“She used to be very cheerful and always talking,” her mother, Daw Khin Mar, says. “After the earthquake, she became very quiet. She didn’t want to eat and often sat alone thinking about her friend.”

Like many families affected by the earthquake, Yati’s family lost their home. For several days they slept in open spaces before eventually moving into a temporary tent, struggling to care for their injured daughter while trying to rebuild their lives.

“At that time, we didn’t know what the future would look like,” her father says. “Our biggest worry was whether she would ever walk again or return to school.”

When UNICEF and partners reached the community, Yati’s family was among those connected to rehabilitation support and medical care. 

Yati received a walking assistive device, rehabilitation therapy and cash assistance covering some of the medical expenses — helping her gradually regain mobility and confidence.

“At first it was very difficult to stand and take even a few steps,” Yati says. “But the doctors and therapists encouraged me, and my family kept telling me not to give up.”

Slowly, her strength returned.

One of Yati’s biggest wishes was to return to school. When she was finally able to go back with her walking aid, her classmates welcomed her in a way her family will never forget. “Her friends were waiting at the school gate,” her mother says with a smile. “They walked beside her, helped carry her school bag and made sure she felt supported.”

Seeing her friends again brought comfort. “When I saw my friends, I felt very happy,” Yati says. “They helped me walk and told me they missed me.”

Across earthquake-affected communities, many children continue to cope with the aftermath of the disaster. Loss of homes, injuries and disruptions to daily life have left lasting impacts on families.

With generous support from its partners, UNICEF teams are providing a lifeline to children and families across earthquake-affected areas. This comprehensive assistance includes psychosocial support, child protection services, and cash assistance to help families recover and regain stability. Children with disabilities and their families are among those receiving prioritized support

For Yati, music has become an important part of her recovery.

“Now when I sing, I forget all my pain,” she says with a bright smile. 

One year after the earthquake, Yati can now walk independently again. While she still attends occasional medical check-ups, her confidence continues to grow.

Her father says seeing his daughter regain her strength has brought hope back to their family.

“When she smiles and sings again, it reminds us that life can move forward,” he says.

Yati’s journey reflects the resilience of children and families rebuilding their lives after disaster. With continued support from communities and partners, young people like her and finding the strength to move forward – one step at a time.