Case Study in Girl-led Placemaking: Mya Malar Community Park (Yangon, Myanmar)

Abstract

The Mya Malar community park in Yangon, Myanmar, is an innovative, girl-led placemaking project that stands as a noteworthy case study demonstrating the impact of youth engagement and participatory design on their health and well-being. Completed in 2018 as part of the SPRING Accelerator Program, the project was spearheaded by 15 local girls aged 13 to 18 in collaboration with the community under the guidance of Doh Eain, a local multidisciplinary participatory design practice. Like many societies, girls in Myanmar face significant challenges in accessing and utilising public spaces, often grappling with concerns for their safety and a sense of exclusion from the communal environments. Rather than resorting to the default solution of restricting them to their homes, the Mya Malar project deliberately positioned the girls at the helm of the initiative enabling them to be a key part of the entire process from brainstorming to implementation. The project’s significance is further underscored by its contribution to altering the prevailing dynamics of community representation in Yangon. Traditionally dominated by affluent Bamar Buddhist males, the Mya Malar park represented a crucial departure, offering a unique platform for young girls to shape their surroundings by actively navigating the complexities of city systems and participating in urban governance in a city characterised by limited opportunities for youth involvement. 
The positive outcomes of the project encompassed improvements in the health and well-being of the local youth. By creating a gender-equitable environment, the space promoted an active lifestyle and nurtured social cohesion within the community for a wider demographic, while fostering the soft skills and interpersonal competencies of the participating girls. Its successful amalgamation of social inclusivity, youth civic engagement, and participatory design serves as a testament to the transformative potential of collaborating with youths to shape sustainable and empowering urban environments.