As a child, I often waited for my father to return home. He worked in the timber industry, using elephants to transport wood from the deep forest in Bago Yoma for 20 years. My parents defined what kind of people they were through the lives of farmers and casual laborers, but they supported all of us through high school. My siblings and I grew up helping our mother on the farm and riding old bicycles through dusty village lanes to get to school. These memories stay with me and remind me of the hard work my family did to give us a better life.
Over time, my family came to depend on a small farming business as our primary source of income. But in recent years, our farm has faced many problems. Crop prices have dropped, and a government canal project took over half of our land without compensating us. This has made it harder for my parents to manage the farm, especially as they get older.
After high school, I attended a two-year community development and leadership program at Education Gathering Group (EGG) Academy. To complete the program, I did an internship at the Local Resource Centre (LRC) as a Project Assistant.
When I finished at EGG, I volunteered supporting survey activities with the International Organization for Migration. I joined as an Admin and HR Assistant in 2020, supporting training preparation and organizing a vocational training project in Kayin State. In 2022, I moved to Dawna Hinthar Company Limited as Admin and Finance staff, also supporting vocational training projects. In 2023, I became an Education Officer for the Global Partnership for Education, where I delivered learning materials to students in conflict-affected areas.
Through these experiences in the humanitarian sector, I discovered my talent for technology, as I was frequently asked to manage office IT systems, troubleshoot technical issues, and support daily operations beyond my official responsibilities. That experience opened my eyes to what I was capable of and what I wanted to build my future around.
About Saw Eh
- Age: 27
- Ethnicity: Karen
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Asia-Pacific International University
- Bachelor’s, Information Technology
- 3rd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a software engineer
- Travel to Japan
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,625
- Amount Left To Fund: $2,625
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: In School
As the political situation in my country worsened, I decided to leave in 2022. I had planned for a long time to continue my studies, so I chose to take the risk and follow my dream instead of working as a migrant worker in Thailand. After I arrived at university, I thought my savings would cover the first semester, and I planned to apply for a student loan for the second semester and beyond.
Unfortunately, the loan support was paused, and I started facing financial problems. By working as a janitor and IT assistant as soon as I arrived, along with modest help from my family, I have been able to support myself up to this point. However, my family has since told me they are unable to continue supporting my studies financially, and the economic problems in Myanmar make it even harder. I struggle to pay fees every semester, which causes both academic and mental stress. I am now exploring other options to pursue my education, and I really need a loan to continue my studies here, because I truly want to finish my degree.
After I graduate, I would like to apply my skills in software development to support NGOs and INGOs in strengthening their organizational operations. During my years working in the humanitarian sector, I observed that many organizations still rely on outdated systems and manual processes, which slow down their work and reduce their impact. I have seen firsthand how much these organizations do for people in need, and I know that strong technology systems can make their work faster, more efficient, and more impactful. I want to be the person who builds those systems and bridges the gap between technology and humanitarian work.
I am not asking for an easy path. I have already proven that I am willing to work hard, sacrifice comfort, and push through difficulty to reach my goals. I just need the support to keep going. With this loan, I hope to turn my passion into purpose and contribute meaningfully to those most in need.
Written by Saw Eh with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Saw Eh
“I have already proven that I am willing to work hard, sacrifice comfort, and push through difficulty to reach my goals… With this loan, I hope to turn my passion into purpose and contribute meaningfully to those most in need.”