Elizabeth: a Myanmar doctor in exile, music and feminism ^{CEFR B1}

Exile Hub, a partner of Global Voices, emerged after the 2021 military coup to support people forced into exile. The organisation focuses on empowering journalists and human rights defenders from Myanmar. Elizabeth grew up in Central Myanmar and loved Chinese fantasy novels; her aunt ran a small book rental shop where she spent many hours. In medical school she started a blog and published love poems alongside short "edutainment" pieces about why handwashing matters and the importance of wearing motorcycle helmets. She graduated in 2012 from the University of Medicine and later specialised in interventional cardiology.

When the military seized power in 2021, Elizabeth refused to work under the junta and began live-streaming messages that encouraged other healthcare workers to resist. Authorities charged her under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for "spreading false news" and "inciting unrest." She spent about a year hiding in remote villages and then crossed into Mae Sot, Thailand, in 2022.

Exile changed her view of society. She reflected on how patriarchy shaped life and said feminism "opened her eyes" by naming invisible systems that limit women. Music became a way to heal and to organise: she wrote songs that mixed pain and strength, including one used in the "Blood Money Campaign" and another called "Tattoo Revolution" featured on NUG Radio. In Mae Sot she joined a wellness session, connected with exiled women supported by Exile Hub, and—through a Feminist Residency and a Feminist Storytelling Grant—is creating The Phoenixes, a music video series celebrating Myanmar's women in exile. She continues to heal through rhythm, resistance and radical hope.