Marginalised Voices, Art, and Community: Reflecting on a Beautiful Weekend of Solidarity at Stand with Myanmar 2026
What are the odds of finding a community that feels instantly like home, bound together by nothing but radical empathy and hope? This was the unforgettable energy that came alive last weekend on the 27th and 28th June at the Stand with Myanmar 2026 event.
If you weren't able to step through the hall, or if you simply want to relive a beautiful day, here is a look back at the magic, connection, and joy that unfolded!
Filling the Hall with Storytelling
Fugee Org was incredibly honoured to participate and set up our booths for two days at The Godown Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur—a local venue well-known for celebrating community, awareness, and rich cultural heritage.
Our space quickly became a lively hub where visitors from all walks of life paused to exchange stories, ask questions, and learn about our mission to empower displaced communities. This came alive beautifully as visitors browsed and shopped for jewellery from our social enterprise brand, Fugeelah, where every purchase directly funds refugee education at Fugee School.
Nearby, a steady stream of visitors gathered at the traditional attire booth, trying on authentic Myanmar garments and taking photos—a wonderful reflection of a generation choosing to show up with open hearts. Many visitors also carried their Stand with Myanmar “passports", a booklet of side quests every one of us received upon entering. To redeem free food and drink tokens, they completed cultural side quests by answering questions about Myanmar’s history and traditions, which led them up to the second-floor exhibition gallery to study the informative wall prints.
Downstairs, partner NGOs set up interactive games to break the ice and create a safe space for meaningful conversations. At the Akar Umbi space, people took off their shoes to sit on tikar mats, engaging in deep, breakthrough conversations over their card games called ‘Enggang & Pipit’. At another corner, Amnesty International created a stunning, cinematic backdrop of photographs spanning Myanmar’s history. These powerful visuals quietly held deep stories, drawing viewers into dialogue and raising awareness about the plight of refugees in their home country.
You could also spot an auntie in a traditional lace blouse gave a live demonstration of traditional backstrap weaving originating from the Chin ethnic group, an intricate textile art form passed down through generations. Visitors had the unique opportunity to participate and watch closely as she meticulously guided vibrant red threads through the loom, a laborious process where a single piece can take up to two weeks to complete. It was a beautiful display of patience and skill, turning raw heritage into a living story right before their eyes.
Among the weekend's most memorable highlights were the deeply moving performances by the MYRootopia team from JINND Productions. Through vivid movement and immersive music, and without a single word uttered, the performers shared a powerful and deep story about war, shattered homes, and displacement that left the entire audience profoundly emotional. It was a beautiful reminder of how storytelling can bridge understanding and convey histories that words alone sometimes cannot.
A Journey through Flavours
If storytelling was the soul of last weekend, the food was undeniably its heartbeat. Seeing our visitors sitting down together and enjoying a vibrant array of traditional dishes, cooked and shared by various community groups, reminded me of how we as Malaysians naturally bond over food. Tasting these cuisines brought us closer together, helping us understand one another beyond status, language, and ethnicity.
The culinary journey spanned across the country’s diverse states and cultures, each offering a distinct taste of their homeland’s rich heritage. Here is some of the food that we got to try:
Kachin Communities (Shan Ju/ Spicy Beef Skewers): Bringing the bold flavors of the northern highlands, this booth was a massive hit. Visitors lined up for the Shan Ju alongside tender, spicy beef skewers seasoned with a fragrant, distinct blend of traditional Kachin spicy sauce that packed a wonderful kick.
The Karenni Community (Hin Htoke/ Steamed rice flour dumplings): These delicate, savoury steamed rice flour dumplings offered a warm, melt-in-your-mouth texture that kept people coming back for more.
The Karen Community (Talapaw/ Vegetable and ground rice soup): Earthy, nourishing, and deeply comforting, a wholesome, traditional soup made with fresh vegetables and ground rice. It gave visitors a true taste of home-cooked Karen hospitality.
The Arakan Community (Pin Lay Sar/ Spicy sour seafood curry): True to its coastal roots, this fiery, tangy seafood dish was packed with bold chilies and intense flavors.
The Rohingya Community (Dumfira/ Steamed rice flour cakes): These traditional steamed rice flour cakes were soft, comforting, and offered a beautiful glimpse into family recipes passed down through generations. Stuffed with a sweet filling, they felt instantly nostalgic, reminding many of us of our own local putu piring, proving once again how much our cultures naturally intertwine.
The Bamar Community (Mohinga/ Fish soup with rice noodle): No culinary tour would be complete without Myanmar’s undisputed national dish. The Bamar community served up steaming bowls of fresh Mohinga—a comforting, aromatic rice noodle soup steeped in a rich, lemongrass-infused broth that acts as Myanmar's vibrant version of a local laksa.
Through every steaming bowl, wrapped banana leaf, and shared drink, our community partners didn't just feed the crowd. They invited us into their histories. For the visitors, it was an unforgettable feast; for the displaced communities sharing their heritage, it was a proud, powerful statement of resilience, identity, and home.
Stepping into the Shoes of Refugees through Liku-Liku
One of the most meaningful activations at our Fugee Org booth was our interactive simulation board game, Liku-Liku. Following in the footsteps of Tersangkut—a powerful board game originally created by a dedicated group of advocates and friends including Heidy Quah, Juosie Loo, Katie Fung, Carrot Ho, and Chatichai Chong for the Stand With Myanmar 2025 festival. We wanted to build upon that incredible foundation to keep the conversation going.
In Malay, liku-liku translates to twists, turns, and winding paths. It is the perfect, honest description of the complex legal, financial, and systemic barriers that refugee and stateless youth face every single day in Malaysia just to access basic higher education.
We invited attendees to roll the dice and step into the shoes of refugees navigating real-world scenarios. By drawing on coloured cards with distinct challenges, charades, and questionnaires, players leaned in, faced unexpected setbacks, and experienced the immense grit required to build a future.
It served as a powerful, eye-opening reminder that behind every single statistic on a board is a human story of resilience, intellect, and determination. True empathy begins with understanding the journey, and we are so grateful to everyone who took the time to sit down, play, and learn with us.
Overflowing with Gratitude
As the golden evening light flooded the floor, the boundaries between organisers, performers, and guests completely faded. Visitors circled together, moving as one to participate in a final dance workshop and high-energy live encore performances led by our choreographers. It was truly a joyful, unforgettable celebration to close out an incredible weekend.
We want to give a massive, joyful shoutout to the phenomenal event organisers who brought this vision to life: Dari Dapur, Coalition of Burmese Ethnic Organisations (COBEM), Refuge for the Refugees, and The Godown Arts Centre! Thank you for your tireless efforts and for creating a day so full of light, love, and community action.
Behind every dish shared, every story told, and every artisan piece crafted is a community of resilient individuals striving for a better future. Events like this remind us that we are all deeply connected—and that change happens when we choose to stand up for one another.
The weekend may be over, but our mission continues! You can keep this incredible momentum alive by supporting us! Every purchase and every donation directly funds education, unlocks potential, and empowers displaced youth to build the futures they deserve. Donate at fugee.org/pages/donate.
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