My name is Khat, and I was born and raised in Mone Myint Village in the Magway Division of Myanmar. I come from an extended family of farmers — my grandparents, parents, younger brother, and I all live together, and our livelihood depends entirely on agriculture. As the first person in my family and village to attend university and study abroad, I carry not only my own dreams but also the hopes of my entire community.
In 2019, I passed the matriculation exam with five distinctions, earning admission to the University of Pharmacy in Yangon. Unfortunately, I was forced to return to my village after just one semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this time, I served as a contact tracing volunteer, which opened my eyes to how little access people in rural areas had to accurate health information, despite widespread smartphone use.
Most people didn’t know how to prevent or treat common diseases, and accessible health resources in the Burmese language were scarce. These realizations inspired me to pursue a career in public health.
I chose to study Public Health at Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand. However, following the military coup in Myanmar, I was forced to drop out and return home to support my family on the farm. Despite this setback, I remained committed to education and community work.
In 2022, I was accepted into Academy Federal School, where I received training in 21st-century teaching methods and child psychology. Today, I work part-time as a teacher at both Academy Federal School and Honesty Federal School, teaching 18 hours a week while maintaining teaching diaries, attendance records, and performance metrics.
Public health plays a critical role in saving lives, preventing disease, and ensuring people live longer, healthier lives.
About Khat
- Age: 22
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Public Health
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a public health officer
- Return to my hometown
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,500
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,350
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
In Myanmar, particularly along the Thailand-Myanmar border, public health professionals are urgently needed. Thousands of displaced people, including refugees and migrant workers, suffer not only from poor physical health but also from trauma, anxiety, and depression caused by conflict and displacement.
My mission is to return to underserved communities and provide health education, advocate for mental health, and promote disease prevention. I want to help build sustainable systems that can respond effectively to outbreaks of diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, and dengue fever, and to work with CBOs, non-profit groups, and international NGOs to support undocumented migrants and refugees who lack access to basic medical care. Although I cannot stop the war, I believe I can bring peace of mind and healing to those who have suffered.
Written by Khat with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Khat
“Although I cannot stop the war, I believe I can bring peace of mind and healing to those who have suffered.”
