Scholarship and Interest-free Student Loan

Scholarship Program

Kwah Dao serves stateless children in Northern Thailand. Initiated in 1999, Kwah Dao’s Scholarship Program is central to our mission. It offers financial assistance and mentorship to stateless children, orphaned children, or children affected by forced migration from the war in Myanmar. The program aims to offer educational opportunities up to higher education.

Previously, we supported students across various educational levels and types of institutions, prioritizing quantity over quality. While we had great success with respect to high school graduation rates and college attendance, we produced very few professionals who became thought leaders. Recognizing that there are very few leaders who can represent stateless Shan people in the global discourse, we re-organized Kwah Dao.

Starting in 2022, the program was reorganized into three categories of stateless children: those in middle school, high school, and higher education. Rather than work with many stateless children, we focus on a few children who show unusual promise to become thought leaders for the Shan community. We now place greater emphasis on quality by sponsoring students who pass a rigorous selection process and who have the ability to enroll in top-ranked Thai universities, pursuing specified majors. Our objective is to nurture individuals with leadership potential who will contribute meaningfully to society post-graduation. We believe that by making bigger investments in a smaller number of children, we can produce multiplier effects across generations.

As of June 2023, our support has extended to 3 high-school students in private institutions and 16 students in higher education, covering both tuition and living expenses.

Interest-free Student Loan Program

Introduced in 2023, our interest-free Student Loan Program is an alternative for those who do not fully meet the scholarship criteria. It offers financial support for higher education, allowing students the freedom to choose their major and institution. Loan amounts are tailored to individual needs and are accessible to a broader range of students. The loan program requires students to re-pay Kwah Dao with interest-free loans.

Current Scholarship Recipients and Student Loan Borrowers

Nan shwe Kyar

Major: B.A. in Architechture (Interior Design)

Institution: Rajamangala University of Technology LannaReceiving Scholarship: Since 2023 Academic Year

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Urawee

Major: General Education (Grade 9)

Institution: Pai Wittayakarn Secondary School

Receiving Scholarship: Since 2022 Academic Year

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Our Graduates From 2016 – 2023

Till June 2023, we have helped 13 students completed their higher education in various majors such as Chinese Business, Accounting, Economics, Education, Tourism, Law, and Business Administrationn Some of our graduates came back to run the organization while some are working in both government and private sectors such as The Revenue Department, Public Schools, Toyota Thailand, hotel and tourism, and law firm.