My name is Rhyme, from Hpa-an, Kayin State, Myanmar. After my parents separated when I was eight, my mother became the sole provider for our family. Growing up with financial hardship taught me resilience, responsibility, and compassion for others facing similar struggles. These experiences shaped my desire to support people who lack opportunities, especially young people.
Despite challenges, I completed the matriculation exam. Because of political and economic instability, I could not continue university, but in 2022, I moved as a migrant student to the Children’s Development Centre to study for the GED with my aunt’s support. After completing the program, I dedicated myself to community service. I volunteered for six months under Mae Tao Clinic‘s Protection Department, supporting career mentoring and psychosocial activities.
I later became a youth leader in the Suwannimit Foundation’s Youth Internship Program, organizing youth events, peer-to-peer trainings, and promoting child protection and gender equality. I continue volunteering at Mae Tao Clinic today.
Through my work, I have seen the serious lack of job opportunities young people face. I believe vocational training and youth empowerment programs can help break the cycle of poverty, and I am committed to creating such opportunities. Many students from migrant schools, including myself, are unable to continue to university after finishing high school due to financial and social challenges. As a result, many of them feel lost and uncertain about their future, which increases their interest in finding practical career pathways.
Seeing this struggle in my community motivated me to develop vocational training opportunities for migrant students. If students can learn a valuable skill while still in school, they will have more livelihood options and employment opportunities after graduation.
About Rhyme
- Age: 22
- Ethnicity: Karen
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Bachelor’s, Management
- 1st Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a project manager
- Visit Switzerland
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $1,525
- Amount Left To Fund: $1,525
- Contract Duration: 10 years
- Status: In School
This motivation inspired me to pursue a degree in Business Administration, as I need strong management skills to design and lead effective community projects. My vocational training project focuses on providing migrant-school students with practical skills such as digital skills, accounting, cooking, beauty and personal care, handicraft, and electrical training. These classes, offered on weekends and school holidays, will help students gain real job skills while continuing their education. I also aim to connect students who complete the training with workplaces.
To run this project successfully, knowledge in planning, budgeting, resource management, and partnership building is essential. Studying Business Administration at Mae Fah Luang University will equip me with these skills and help me develop sustainable, community-centered initiatives. The program’s focus on entrepreneurship will further support my goal of empowering youth through skill-based opportunities.
I have recently been awarded a partial scholarship from the Suwannimit Foundation. However, to fully achieve my academic goals, I still face financial challenges in covering all of my education costs. Unfortunately, my family is no longer able to support my educational journey, and my volunteer stipend barely covers basic needs. A loan from Zomia would remove this financial barrier and allow me to gain the education and skills to serve my community more effectively.
Written by Rhyme with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Rhyme
“If students can learn a valuable skill while still in school, they will have more livelihood options and employment opportunities after graduation.”
