My life has been filled with endurance and hardship, but I believe in the quote by Gandhi: “Strength does not come from winning; true strength comes from not surrendering through hardships.” I was born in Kachin State, where civil wars happen often, resulting in many civilians becoming internally displaced and youth taken as child soldiers by the military.
Both my parents are educated yet chose farming as their career, so my three siblings and I were forced to embrace reality. As a result, I became aware of issues faced by marginalized communities while enduring financial difficulty.
Although I passed the matriculation exam in 2015, my family could not support me to attend university in Myanmar. Therefore, I volunteered for six months at a community service organization called Panita, which materially and financially supported families who’d lost family members during the civil war.
At the same time, the military was kidnapping teenagers to carry their weapons and supplies in my state. Indeed, my parents were worried about me staying in the village. So in 2016, my cousin, who had relocated to Mae Sot, helped me come to Thailand, which had a significant impact on my life. This decision marked a turning point. I enrolled in the Minmahaw Post-ten School, where I honed my English skills, paving the way for acceptance into the prestigious two-year Australian Catholic University (ACU) diploma program.
At ACU, I gained invaluable academic and social skills while embracing the rich cultural diversity and studying courses such as global history, international development, international relations, and human rights. These experiences broadened my knowledge and ignited a passion for politics and development.
Between 2019 and 2022, I worked as a project officer for the Ethnic Health Systems Strengthening Group (EHSSG), a network of nine ethnic organizations. I served in sectors of healthcare such as health capacity building, health workforce, and health government for local communities in Karen, Shan, Chin and Karenni states.
About Sai Hein
- Age: 26
- Ethnicity: Kachin, Shan
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Rangsit University
- Bachelor’s, International Relations & Development
- 3rd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Bring true federal democracy to Myanmar
- Provide knowledge of politics and development concepts to health workers in Myanmar
- Become a published author
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $4,025
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,950
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
While working at EHSSG, I had an opportunity to study short courses in constitutional federalism in Yangon with experienced politicians and activists.
During that time, I discovered that health and politics are inseparable, especially when it comes to decision making and power bargaining. However, from my experience in EHSSG, I did not notice any trainings which provide political knowledge and development concepts to the health workers who return to build federal health system in their ethnic areas.
Understanding and being aware of the current political situation and concepts of development can help in making effective public policies and decision-making processes relating to the health sector. In order to achieve a secure state of development and overcome the constraints of other economic and political challenges, we must create opportunities for the freedom of human capabilities in terms of education, such as by teaching the knowledge of politics and development to not only young health workers, but also all youths.
Upon graduation, I intend to give back to my community by organizing capacity-building programs in ethnic regions. These programs will focus on leadership and management training, the importance of federalism, public administration, and project cycle management training. By equipping youth with political and development knowledge, I aim to empower them to make positive changes in their communities. Additionally, I aspire to provide political education to all youths, breaking the barriers that limit their access to quality education and socioeconomic opportunities.
Currently, I have successfully completed my first year in IRD with good grades. I have a partial scholarship from Community Partners Thailand Foundation (CPTF) and a 50% waiver fee from Rangsit University which covers my tuition fees. As I continue my education at Rangsit University, I find myself in need of financial support to cover my living expenses. Unfortunately, I do not have any assistance from other organizations or my family. Therefore, Zomia’s loan is crucial for me to pursue and complete my bachelor’s program. Without the support of Zomia, I fear that I may not be able to fulfill my educational aspirations.
Written by Sai Hein with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Sai Hein
“Understanding and being aware of the current political situation and concepts of development can help in making effective public policies and decision-making processes relating to the health sector”
