My name is Julia. I am originally from Lay Eain Su Village, Maubin Township, Ayeyarwady Region. I have two younger brothers, and I am the eldest daughter. I am a “mid-career” working student, currently studying International Development at Mae Fah Luang University.
After graduating in Yangon, Myanmar, I had the opportunity to work at the Leadership and Management Training College (LMTC) in Mae La Refugee Camp, which was established in 2006 by the Karen Education Department. Despite being Karen myself, I had never heard about Karen refugees or how they were struggling to survive in the camp until that moment. I come from Karen villages in the Myanmar’s delta region, and I didn’t know much about Karen communities in the border and mountain areas or their struggles.
So, while working in the refugee camp, I learned about the human rights violations villagers suffered, and about the profoundly negative material, social, and economic impacts of armed conflict on their lives. I am very proud and grateful that my first job was in a place where I could work with people, especially youth who were born in refugee camps and armed-conflict-affected areas, and contribute something meaningful to the community. These experiences have also made me who I am today.
During the so-called political transitional period (2010-2020) in Myanmar, one of the key agendas became “development” and poverty reduction. But I observed how, in the name of “development,” many rural working people and ethnic communities, not only Karen, were losing access to and control of their customary lands. In many places, villagers were being sued for trespassing when they did not move off their confiscated lands. I was struck by the injustice of this.
About Julia
- Ethnicity: Karen
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Master’s, International Development
- 2nd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a scholar-activist
- Explore the world
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $4,350
- Amount Left To Fund: $4,350
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
In 2014, I had the opportunity to work with the Land in Our Hands Network, a multiethnic network of small farmers, community-based organizations, and supportive civil society groups working on land tenure and land policy issues. I decided to try it. In this role, I led action research with network members about their experiences of land grabbing, and I contributed to several published reports and research on land rights issues in Myanmar, including studies examining the impact of land grabbing on rural communities.
These work experiences have given me a deeper understanding of rural working people’s struggles and allowed me to gain some experience with political analysis in conflict settings. But they have not necessarily prepared me enough for the complexities of the current situation. I would like to become a stronger resource person for the country where I was born, as a scholar-activist who can connect academic knowledge with grassroots practice.
Upon graduation, I intend to fill this gap by combining academic knowledge with practical engagement for social change in the community. I believe that the voices of people, especially vulnerable and marginalized people, ethnic minorities, youth, and women, should not be forgotten, and should be included in the agenda to achieve socially just, sustainable development. My degree will not just be a personal achievement. It will be a tool to help ensure that the future of Myanmar is built on the foundations of human security and community-led justice.
Written by Julia with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Julia
“My degree will not just be a personal achievement. It will be a tool to help ensure that the future of Myanmar is built on the foundations of human security and community-led justice.”
