Public space · May 2026

A Space Shaped by Community: Opening a New Community Hub in Amarapura

Residents of Shwe Lay Ward co-designed their new community hub through focus group discussions. It opened on 30 April.

Following the March 2025 earthquake, Doh Eain has been working alongside local organisations through our Reach-Relieve-Recover (3R) campaign to support communities from immediate response through to longer-term recovery. Beyond physical rebuilding, this work has also focused on strengthening social connection and creating spaces where communities can gather, rest, and reconnect.

As part of this effort, Doh Eain has been developing Community Hubs across earthquake-affected areas in Amarapura. These shared spaces are designed to respond to the everyday needs of local residents while supporting community-led activities and gatherings.

On 30 April, we opened a new Community Hub in Shwe Lay Ward, Amarapura.

To ensure the space reflected the local context and needs of residents, the hub was co-designed with community members through a series of focus group discussions. During these conversations, residents shared ideas and priorities for how the space could best serve the neighbourhood.

The opening brought together residents from Shwe Lay and nearby areas. Throughout the day, adults gathered to rest and spend time together, while children played around the space, turning the hub into a lively and welcoming environment shaped by the community itself.

Ma Phyu, a resident who participated in the design discussions and attended the opening, shared:

“Previously I only saw this in drawing. Seeing it actually come to life for our neighbourhood makes me so incredibly happy and proud. I didn’t expect the opening to be this lively. It’s wonderful seeing both the kids and adults enjoying themselves so much. As a mother, having this fenced compound makes me feel that my children are safe here. Since our house is close by, I’ll definitely be letting them come here to play and relax.”

As communities continue navigating recovery after the earthquake, spaces like these have become more than physical structures. They are places for gathering, conversation, rest, and everyday connection, shaped by the people who use them.