On November 5, 2024, the acting director of Kwah Dao paid a follow-up visit to Shwe Kyar, a second-year scholarship student studying Architecture (Interior Design) at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna. The purpose of the visit was to check in on her academic progress, living situation, and overall well-being—as part of our ongoing mentorship and support.
During the visit, Kwah Dao staff spoke with Shwe Kyar about the challenges of her coursework, her relationships with classmates, and the health and welfare of her family. She shared that while her classes have become more demanding this semester, she has managed to keep up and maintain her academic performance. She also reported getting along well with her peers and feeling comfortable asking for help when needed.
However, Shwe Kyar expressed concern over her mother’s health, which has declined due to years of hard physical labor. She’s been devoting extra time and care to support her mother while balancing her studies. In response, we offered her practical advice on managing stress, maintaining a healthy study-life balance, and caring for both her physical and mental well-being.
Even after just a year of support, it’s clear that Shwe Kyar carries a strong sense of responsibility not only for her family but also for her wider community. Despite the pressure of academic life and personal challenges, she continues to seek ways to give back. While many students were planning vacations over the semester break, Shwe Kyar surprised us by making different plans—ones that reflect her deep commitment to community development.
On her own initiative, she chose to spend her break volunteering at an ethnic school in a remote mountain area along the Thai-Myanmar border. There, she plans to teach art to both teachers and students for a week. We are incredibly inspired by her dedication and can’t wait to hear about her experience when she returns. We hope to share her journey with our supporters in the near future.
