I am Rocky. I was raised by a single mother. I was born in Wah Noe village near Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, Myanmar. My mother struggled on her own by doing all kinds of work, as she does not know how to read or write.
Life in rural Myanmar is very hard because of the civil war and the lack of income opportunities, so many villagers live hand to mouth. My family had to flee Myanmar when the civil war broke out in 1996. Many people crossed the border and entered Thailand. We ended up in Bai Mai Noi Soi Camp near Mae Hong Son, close to the Thai-Myanmar border.
I began my schooling in the refugee camp, and my mother encouraged me to live in an orphan boarding house since she could not support my school expenses.
My life changed a lot there, thanks to new friends who taught me many things, including sports and the arts.
I lived in the same boarding house from Grade 1 to 12, and I became very attached to the school and the people there. It gave me warmth and expanded my knowledge and experiences. Of course, I wanted to be with my mother, but I had no other choice, as I felt like a burden to her.
After finishing high school, I continued to seek better educational opportunities, since education is the only thing that can change my life and the only hope for my future. However, due to the lack of legal documents, I was not very hopeful about my future. Still, I did not give up. I taught at a high school and worked with local NGOs to support my mother.
About Rocky
- Age: 40
- Ethnicity: Karenni
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Chiang Mai University
- Bachelor’s, Social Science
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Promote cooperation among Myanmar’s ethnic groups
- Buy my own house
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $1,425
- Amount Left To Fund: $0
- Contract Duration: 10 years
- Status: Repaid in Full
Quotable
What Others Are Saying About Rocky
In 2012, the Myanmar and Thai governments signed an agreement to issue temporary passports to Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand. I took this opportunity to obtain a passport and moved to Mae Sot to study the GED in 2014, and later attended Australian Catholic University in 2017.
After completing these programs, I enrolled at Chiang Mai University, majoring in Social Science, and I am now in my third year. Upon graduation, I hope to give back to my mother and support the migrant community in Thailand through what I have learned.
Written by Rocky with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.