Maw Sue, a determined young woman from the Karenni Ethnic group who finished her bachelors degree in war-torn Karenni State has, against all odds, started studying for a master's degree at a Bangkok university after being awarded a scholarship.
Her educational journey began at 12 years old when she was in grade 7 and was sent far from her family to study in Yangon.
Maw Sue said: “When I was in Grade 7, I attended a boarding school called Grace Family Foundation, run by the Korean Mission. The school, located in Yangon, was established to help children from remote areas continue their education. I successfully completed my high school education there.
“Growing up far from my parents in a city like Yangon, which was so distant from my hometown, was challenging. In a place where the majority were Bamar, ethnic minorities like us often felt marginalised. I had to work very hard and endure discriminatory attitudes, but I chose to rise above it all and completed my high school education.“
Following high school Maw Sue continued studying in Yangon for a Bachelor’s degree majoring in business studies, through the Libre Up Program.
But during the third year of her bachelor's degree studies the Myanmar coup happened in February 2021.
Prior to the coup, Maw Sue had dreamed of becoming a successful businesswoman. But, the coup and the ensuing persecution and violence by the junta put paid to the dreams of many young people in Myanmar, including Maw Sue.
She said: “I have to embrace the reality of today, rather than hold on to the dream I once had. My new dream is to help my native Karenni State thrive and develop. One day, I will return to work and serve the Karenni people—that is my true calling now.”
After the coup Maw Sue left Yangon and returned to her family home in Thaysule Village in Demoso Township in war-torn Karenni State. From there she continued studying online for the final year of her bachelor's degree.
Then, to make matters even worse, during fighting in March 2022 her family home was destroyed and Maw Sue and her family had to move to an internally displaced people’s (IDP) camp in Karenni State. Though she had lost almost everything, Maw Sue continued to study for her bachelor’s online, despite obstacles such as frequent internet outages.
Maw Sue said: “The internet connection was terrible. Some nights, the only way to get access was by climbing hilltops, so I had to rush up there at night just to attend my classes.”
But her persistence paid off and as Maw Sue explained: "Through the Libre Up Program, I majored in Business Studies and earned a bachelor’s degree from the Myanmar Institute of Information Technology.”
As if studying under such conditions was not enough, Maw Sue also volunteered with the Kayah Liphu Youth (KLY) organisation and assisted other IDPs whilst studying for the final year of her bachelor's degree.
Once she finished studying for her degree Maw Sue stayed in Karenni State and worked for two years as a project manager at the Seh Theh Foundation (STF), an organisation that collaborates with local communities in Karenni State to improve access to quality education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities.
During this time, the Diversity Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP), which supports Myanmar students during their higher education, awarded Maw Sue a scholarship to fund her master’s studies.
This academic year she started studying for a master’s degree in Public Administration, at an international university in Bangkok, which we are not naming for security reasons.
Most students who embark on studies in a foreign country can rely on support from their family, but Maw Sue is not so fortunate. As her family is suffering such hardships she knows that she will have to rely on herself to get through her degree.
Though she is studying Maw Sue is still helping and encouraging other youths in Karenni State who also want to continue their education, by helping them to access reference books, textbooks, and other learning materials.
She also provides moral support to young people who are feeling lost and demoralised because of the hardships they are suffering due to conflict. She tries to encourage them to remain resilient, not to give in to difficulties and to seize every opportunity to continue their education.
Though she is the youngest member of her family, Maw Sue has become its brightest star. From a young age, she has been self-reliant and has seized every opportunity to shape her dreams.
But, her journey is far from over. Once she completes her education, she plans to return and contribute to the reconstruction efforts of the Karenni people, marking the next chapter in her evolving journey.
