I was born and grew up in a village in the Sagaing Division, where I pursued my primary and secondary education. Later, my educational journey became harder, as my parents are farmers who could not support the costs of higher education. Life for farmers in Myanmar is more challenging than most people imagine. I felt devastated when it seemed my education would end at Grade 8, watching my friends make plans to continue while my path felt uncertain.
I never stopped dreaming of continuing my studies. One day, two teachers from the Mandalay Phaung Daw Oo (PDO) Monastic School, which provides free education for those who cannot afford it, visited our village. That visit changed my life.
Through PDO, I was able to continue my education. I joined English language programs and volunteered as a teacher there before completing a diploma at Take Khar Myanmar in Shan State, where I studied Art and Social Science.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, I volunteered in a community-based learning program run by five teachers and over thirty students. The children in our community had gone without formal education for more than a year, so I began teaching English to them. I continued for eight months before traveling to Thailand due to the unstable situation in Myanmar.
I decided to study in Thailand and was drawn to Chiang Mai University’s Social Science and Sustainable Development program, which is organized around research-based learning. I enrolled and have now completed my first year.
About Grace
- Age: 28
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai University
- Bachelor’s, Social Science & Sustainable Development
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Build a community language center
- Learn how to play the guitar
- Travel to New Zealand
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,650
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,375
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In Grace Period
The experiences I have been through have shaped who I am and made me stronger. Growing up in a farming family with little access to education, volunteering with children who had none, and making my way to university in Thailand—each step has guided me toward a clearer sense of purpose.
I am deeply grateful for the Zomia loan. It is not only a bridge for my own educational journey but a ladder for my community and country. I am committed to using what I learn to contribute to social research and to the people I came from.
Written by Grace with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Grace
“The Zomia loan is not only a bridge for my own educational journey but a ladder for my community and country.”
