My name is Ahtoi. I come from an underprivileged village in Kachin State, Myanmar. I am the second-youngest daughter in my family. After passing my matriculation exam in 2017, I joined a distance education program at university due to financial problems in my family. This was a difficult decision because I wanted to experience university student life. However, I never let myself become discouraged.
As my family’s financial problems continued, I decided to pause my university education and started working as a part-time teacher in learning centers. From 2021 to 2023, I worked as a teacher at Myu Sha Community School.
I grew up in a family that believed education was not for women, and I struggled to complete my elementary and high school education with mostly my mother’s support. Despite financial and political challenges, I pursued higher education while volunteering as a teacher. My proudest achievement is proving my abilities as a woman to a community that dismisses the potential of women.
My journey from a local volunteer teacher to studying at a university in Thailand, with the support of the Kachin Scholarship Foundation, stands as a testament to that. However, due to the ongoing civil war, the foundation stopped providing financial support, once again making my education uncertain. Nevertheless, I remain determined to earn my degree and contribute to students affected by political instability.
I intend to support my community by providing the next generation with access to quality education. With Zomia’s support, I will be able to complete my education and achieve my goal of helping students in need.
Since I was young, I have been passionate about education because I believe that teaching is more than a profession—it is a key to a country’s development. My passion for teaching began at an early age and has only grown stronger as I faced educational challenges in Myanmar. I want to provide quality education to underprivileged students who lack access to learning opportunities, and to children who have been denied their right to education because of their sex or gender.
About Ahtoi
- Age: 26
- Ethnicity: Kachin
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Asia-Pacific International University
- Bachelor’s, Elementary Teaching
- 4th Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Eliminate gender-based inequality in education
- Become a vlogger
- Spend more time in the mountains
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $3,000
- Amount Left To Fund: $3,000
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
Seeing the struggles of students, especially those forced to leave their homes due to political instability and those facing gender discrimination, has made me even more determined to become a teacher who can make a positive difference in their lives. I chose Asia-Pacific International University because of its academic reputation and its strong emphasis on teacher training, educational leadership, and practical classroom management.
I believe the university’s curriculum will equip me with innovative teaching strategies and exposure to diverse learning environments, which I can apply in my future career. Studying here allows me to gain the knowledge and experience needed to return to Myanmar and contribute meaningfully to education, particularly for students in crisis-affected areas. As I begin my final year this August, this support is urgently needed.
I believe education is the foundation of a better future, and my goal is to make quality education accessible to the most vulnerable students in Myanmar. After graduating, I plan to return to Kachin State and contribute to community schools, especially those supporting internally displaced person and students affected by the country’s political crisis.
My experience has shown me how war and political instability can disrupt learning and leave many children without access to education. I want to help with this issue by working with local education initiatives and developing programs that offer alternative learning opportunities for students in crisis-affected areas. Witnessing children and young people lose access to educational opportunities, and seeing schools struggle due to a lack of teaching resources and effective methods, has strengthened my determination to improve my country’s education system.
With the skills I gain at Asia-Pacific International University, I will work to enhance curriculum development, introduce innovative teaching methods, and support teacher training in underprivileged areas. I also want to advocate for education policies that prioritize displaced and marginalized students. Studying together with like-minded scholars from both national and international levels will help me learn effective strategies to improve my country’s education system.
Beyond Myanmar, I believe education plays a key role in promoting peace and development. By empowering students with knowledge and critical thinking skills, we can create a generation capable of leading positive change in society. Through my work, I hope to inspire and equip young people to pursue their dreams despite challenges. I believe that even small changes can have a lasting impact on the world.
Written by Ahtoi with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Ahtoi
“My proudest achievement is proving my abilities as a woman to a community that dismisses the potential of women.”
