My name is Ar Lue, and I am of mixed Karen–Burmese heritage from Myaungmya, Ayeyarwaddy. I was raised by my single mother after my parents divorced, and she never failed to support my educational development. My mother has always been a strong advocate for others in our community, and her resilience taught me to be strong and responsible, setting me on a path toward social work myself.
In academics, I finished on year studying English at Dagon University. However, I had to halt my formal education due to the political crisis. After my education was interrupted, I did not stop trying to move forward. I went out and started working in operations and logistics data roles to support myself and gain practical skills.
In late 2021, my family experienced serious hardship during a difficult period and relocated to Mae Sot. Moving to a new country was not easy.
The hardest part was not knowing if I would ever continue my education. I worried that my future might stop there, but I convinced myself to persevere and not give up easily.
I began searching for learning opportunities along the border. Because of my efforts, I was accepted into the six-month Youth Champion program organized by the Inclusive Education Foundation. I led a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights awareness project for migrant youth and learned about gender equality, leadership models, and conflict management.
After that, I had an opportunity to join Prospect Connect by Prospect Burma to enhance my English skills. I also developed digital illustration skills as a way of expressing myself and processing experiences. With the support of Sisters 2 Sisters, I participated as a training assistant in well-being workshops for conflict-affected communities.
Listening to people’s struggles in these workshops made me reflect on my own childhood, growing up in a family where financial hardship and household responsibilities often created tension and domestic violence.
About Ar Lue
- Age: 23
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai University
- Bachelor’s, Social Science & Sustainable Development
- 1st Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Use art and storytelling to improve mental health and well-being of migrant communities
- Visit the mountains of Switzerland
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $1,825
- Amount Left To Fund: $1,825
- Contract Duration: 10 years
- Status: In School
I realized that women often suffer the most, but remain unheard. This made me question whether these conflicts were only about personal anger, or also connected to poverty, gender norms, and social structure. I developed a strong motivation to understand the root causes, and to help create a more peaceful and cohesive society by ending gender discrimination, abolishing violence, and promoting social welfare.
To do so, I chose to study Social Science and Sustainable Development at Chiang Mai University. This program will help me gain a deeper understanding of human behaviour, gender perspectives, cultural adaptation, and social welfare policies, which will help me understand these problems from different perspectives.
Upon graduation, I plan to organize youth exchange activities and workshops for people in conflict-affected and migrant communities, in collaboration with feminist groups. I will combine my knowledge from university with my expertise in visual illustration art to promote constructive communication, personal well-being, and social cohesion. Specifically, I want to create online awareness through digital comic story art, as well as use group art sessions and dialogue-based workshops to help people process trauma, reflect on social division, and express disagreement without deepening conflict. By encouraging constructive communication, I aim to help build peaceful and cohesive communities where young people engage thoughtfully and support one another, despite their differences, in post-conflict Myanmar.
Written by Ar Lue with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Ar Lue
“I developed a strong motivation to understand the root causes [of domestic violence], and to help create a more peaceful and cohesive society.”
