My name is Moe. I was born in a small village in Shwe Bo township, Sagaing Division — a less developed area of Myanmar, far from any city, with only around 100 households. My daily routine was simple: school on weekdays, and working on the farm with my parents on weekends.
When I moved to Mandalay Phaung Daw Oo Integrated Monastic Education High School, the starkly different environment opened my eyes. I came to understand that my home village was a very underdeveloped part of the country, with no proper roads or electricity, and that education there was far behind the modern world.
I successfully completed the matriculation exam at Phaung Daw Oo (PDO) and later became a teacher there.
Managing the small amount of money my parents sent for my expenses was a constant struggle, but no matter how difficult things got, I never lost my love for learning.
At PDO, quality education gave me the encouragement to keep going. I had a chance to study English with internationally qualified teachers, and I joined the PDO Pre-Collegiate Program, studying Environmental Science, Economics, Gender and Human Rights, Political Science, Leadership, Public Speaking, Debate, and Basic Pedagogy. I also competed in a regional university English debate at Mandalay Technological University, an opportunity I had never dreamed of.
I attended youth camps and social events, meeting people who inspired and challenged me. Working in PDO’s Public Relations Department, I supported myself while learning more about the school and its mission, gathering and sharing information about its programs.
About Moe
- Age: 28
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai University
- Bachelor’s, Social Science
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become a social worker/researcher
- Travel to Africa
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,050
- Amount Left To Fund: $0
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: Repaid in Full
Quotable
What Others Are Saying About Moe
Education is important for the development of individuals and communities, and PDO was built for poor children like me. I might have quit school in Grade 9 when my parents could no longer support my studies, but finding PDO changed everything. With the help of many remarkable people I met along the way, I found my own path to becoming an international student at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. I was awarded a scholarship by the Child’s Dream Foundation and enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science program, which I am now completing.
My dream is to become a social worker and, eventually, a researcher. Earning a university degree is not the end of my journey — it is just one of the stepping stones to taking further steps.
Written by Moe with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Moe
“I am proud of what I have done and how far I’ve come. I was full of dreams and ideas when I came to study in Thailand. I am still motivated and have courage to become a useful human being who contributes to my community.”