My name is Ying. I was born in Selant village, Muse Township, Northern Shan State, Myanmar.
I am a mother of two children. Since coming to Thailand in 2000, I have worked with community-based organizations such as Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN), We women foundation, and MAP Foundation to support migrants and refugees along the Thai–Burma border.
Currently, I work as a Project Manager for the M-FUND project under Dreamlopment Foundation in Mae Sot. My main responsibilities include coordinating with stakeholders and supporting and coaching community workers across three districts: Mae Sot, Mae Ramat, and Phop Phra.
I studied at a village school until middle school. At the age of fourteen, I moved to Mandalay to continue my education and completed high school in 1998. After that, I returned to my village and worked as a volunteer teacher for two years. During school breaks, I also taught Shan literacy in Central Shan State, where many villages did not have schools and most people were unable to read or write.
In 2000, I was selected as an intern at Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN), which marked the beginning of my long-term work in community development.
After two years of internship, I returned to Shan State and organized women’s empowerment trainings for young women in local communities. I also worked with Shan literacy trainer groups to provide teacher training across the region.
About Ying
- Age: 44
- Ethnicity: Shan
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
- Master’s, Social Development
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become a political activist
- VIsit Japan
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $2,700
- Amount Left To Fund: $0
- Contract Duration: 11 years
- Status: Repaid in Full
Quotable
What Others Are Saying About Ying
In 2004, I became a staff member of SWAN’s Internship Program under the Women’s Empowerment Program, where I supported trainees and organized trainings. Since 2006, I have served as the coordinator of this program, working for more than a decade within the Shan community.
Throughout my career, I have managed projects focused on women’s empowerment, youth leadership, migrant rights, education, and health. I have developed strong skills in project management, staff coordination, financial management, and fundraising.
I have also facilitated many trainings on women’s and children’s issues and helped develop new trainers along the Thai–Myanmar border. In addition, I have continued learning about different cultures, writing about marginalized communities, and analyzing the political situation in Myanmar.
My long-term goal is to become a woman leader and political activist. To achieve this, I aim to strengthen my academic background and take on greater leadership roles that allow me to contribute more effectively to my community.
Written by Ying with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Ying
“My long-term goal is to become a woman leader and political activist. To achieve this, I aim to strengthen my academic background and take on greater leadership roles that allow me to contribute more effectively to my community.”