Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, 29, was honoured alongside 30 other young leaders from more than 20 different countries around the world. All of the recipients are under 30. Salai Ceu Bik Thawng who is also the general secretary for the Chin National Party (CNP) was thrilled when found out his work in Chin state was being recognized by the world’s leading democracy endowment group. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the organization that was created by the United States Congress in 1983 and operates out of 100 different countries.

“In a country faced with numerous challenges to its democratic progress, Thawng is a dynamic young ethnic leader and a model for all of Burma,” said the NED’s website.

Thawng explained his views on the reform process in Burma to Khonumthung News.

 “Transforming the country from military dictatorship to democracy is but one challenge. We need to think about the broader and more substantive issue of how we can achieve harmony and realize peaceful coexistence in a country that is so diverse in terms of religion and ethnicity...“I’m very happy to promote the people who are facing many challenges in religious, ethnicity and other reformatory areas. It shows that the world has already recognized Chin people and ethnics in Myanmar. Although our work is not big enough, the world has acknowledged what we have done and our feelings,” he said.

Some of the other recognized young leaders came from some of the world’s most troubled regions: Zimbabwe, Belarus, Afghanistan, North Korea, Liberia and Kyrgyzstan.