My name is Ka Paw, and I turned 19 years old on 23 May 2021. There are four members in my family: my parents, my elder brother, and me. My father is a farmer, and my mother is a small shopkeeper in a village in Myaung Mya, Ayeyarwaddy Division, Myanmar.
My elder brother completed Grade 9 and now works as a logistics worker in a small company in Bago. My family is not extremely poor, but supporting me to attend an international university is beyond our means.
I was born in Yangon, but I grew up in Nyaung Lay Bin, Bago Division. When I was around five years old, my mother and I moved to the Thai–Myanmar border due to family issues.
My father struggled with alcohol, and I witnessed serious conflict between my parents when I was very young. After one difficult night, my mother took me away, and we resettled in Mae La Refugee Camp.
After three years of living there, my mother remarried. I understood that her decision was for our well-being. However, soon after, she moved to Bangkok to earn a better income, and I had to stay with her friends or in dormitories for many years.
When I first arrived at Mae La Refugee Camp, I felt pity for the people living there. I never imagined I would stay for more than nine years. During that time, I faced many challenges. Although I am Karen, I could not speak the Karen language, and I was often bullied and excluded. Over time, I learned to adapt and gradually built friendships.
About Ka Paw
- Age: 23
- Ethnicity: Karen
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Tourism Management
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Start my own eco-tourism industry in Myanmar
- Speak five languages fluently
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $3,550
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,825
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In Repayment
I attended school from Kindergarten to Grade 8 in Mae La Refugee Camp. After that, I returned to Myanmar to complete Grade 9 and Grade 10 in Taungoo. I passed the Grade 10 matriculation examination in the 2017–2018 academic year.
Later, I returned to the border area in Mae Sot, Thailand, to pursue further education. I joined the Pre-GED program at CDC and then continued my studies at Australian Catholic University, where I completed a Diploma in Liberal Studies.
While waiting for scholarship opportunities, I began an internship at Shade Tree Foundation, an NGO supporting migrant communities in Mae Sot. I also volunteered at Mae Tao Clinic and took on leadership roles as a dormitory leader during my studies.
In the future, I hope to work in sustainable tourism and ecotourism. I believe this sector can create job opportunities, improve living standards, and reduce the need for migration due to economic hardship. Through this path, I aim to contribute to the development of my country.
Written by Ka Paw with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Ka Paw
“My plan is to work in the sustainable community-based tourism and ecotourism industry. I hope to help increase tourism in Myanmar and contribute to increasing the country’s GDP.”
