My name is Du Du. I was born in Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar. I have one older sister and two younger brothers. Although I was born in Laiza, I grew up in Myitkyina, the capital city of Kachin State.
In Myitkyina, I studied at No. 3 Basic Education High School while staying at Mali Pan Dormitory. However, due to financial hardship, my parents could not afford the dormitory fees, so I had to move to my grandmother’s house, which was about 4 km from my school. I was still very young when I first moved there.
Every day, I had to wake up early, cook breakfast, and walk to school. I still remember running in the rain without an umbrella or raincoat just to arrive on time. Sometimes, I even had to skip school because I did not have a spare uniform to change into after getting wet.
Unlike many other students, I had to study on my own without proper guidance. When the monthly exam results were released, I often passed only one or two out of six subjects. I struggled academically and had to promise my teachers that I would work harder and improve in future exams.
Despite these difficulties, I kept my promise and managed to pass my final exams each year, even though my monthly results were not strong. I never considered turning to harmful habits to escape my struggles. Instead, I believed that failure through hard work is more meaningful than temporary relief that could lead to greater problems in life.
During this time, the situation in my region became unstable, and many young people were being drawn into difficult circumstances. My parents arranged for me to move to Muse, Shan State, to stay with relatives, where I was able to continue my studies until Grade 10.
About Du Du
- Age: 30
- Ethnicity: Kachin
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai University
- Bachelor’s, Information Systems & Network Engineering
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become a network engineer
- Visit America
- Become a Zomia lender
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $4,200
- Amount Left To Fund: $3,100
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In Deferment
However, the situation there also became uncertain, and in March 2013, with the help of a family friend, I moved to Mae La Refugee Camp, Thailand. In the camp, I joined vocational training programs and enrolled in an online English program for refugees in 2015.
Later, I studied a Diploma in Liberal Studies provided by Australian Catholic University at the Thai-Myanmar border in 2017. Unfortunately, the certificates I earned were not recognized by the Thai education system, so I enrolled in the GED program provided by BEAM Education Foundation in Chiang Mai in 2019.
With the GED diploma and support from a personal sponsor, I was finally able to pursue the Information System and Network Engineering undergraduate program at Chiang Mai University. I have now completed my third academic year.
Since arriving in Thailand, I have developed many personal skills, including communication, adaptability, integrity, and leadership. I have also gained technical skills such as video editing, web programming, cloud computing, and network engineering. I am proud of what I have achieved so far, and I will continue working toward my goal of becoming a network engineer in the future.
Written by Du Du with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Du Du
“Even with poor exam results and hardships in life, I never thought of trying drugs to relieve the pain. I strongly believe that failure resulting from hard work is much more valuable in life than short time enjoyment. ”
