Shwe Kyar is a studious and determined migrant student from Laikha Township, Shan State. Born into a farming family, she was raised in Laikha until the age of 10, when her family migrated to Thailand. Her family consists of four members: her parents, her elder brother, and herself. Growing up as the child of farmers, Shwe Kyar became familiar with agricultural work from a very young age. During farming seasons, she often helped her family grow and sell rice, onions, peanuts, sesame, and other crops to cover medical expenses for her mother, who was frequently ill. Despite her poor health, Shwe Kyar’s mother worked hard, gathering and selling edible wild plants during the cold season to buy warm jackets and books for her daughter.

In addition to medical and educational expenses, the family faced financial difficulties, including debts incurred from farming production costs and compensation owed due to an accident caused by her father. To ease the financial burden, Shwe Kyar’s elder brother ordained as a novice and lived in a monastery from a young age, avoiding conscription into local armed groups.

Shwe Kyar showed a love for drawing and studying early on and persuaded her mother to let her attend school before reaching school age. She walked long distances daily to a neighboring village to attend classes, continuing until Grade 4. However, due to the prolonged armed conflict in their region, economic collapse, and financial hardship, her family fled to Thailand in search of safety and work opportunities.

Like many migrant families, Shwe Kyar’s family had no choice but to rely on migrant smugglers for their border crossing and transportation from Tachileik, Shan State, to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Settling in a new country under challenging conditions proved extremely difficult. The family lived in temporary construction site camps, frequently relocating after each project was completed. For Shwe Kyar, adjusting to new foods, a new language, an unfamiliar culture, and an unwelcoming social environment was overwhelming. She suffered from stress and bullying, leading to hospital visits.

Despite these challenges, Shwe Kyar’s determination persisted. During Grades 5 and 6, she woke up at 3 a.m. to help her parents carry cement bags. During school breaks, she worked in factories filling, labeling, and packaging insecticides. She also worked as a housekeeper, waitress, and gardener to support her family.

After completing middle school at age 17, she nearly gave up on pursuing further education due to financial difficulties and issues with her legal status. Upon turning 18, she was no longer considered a dependent of her parents, meaning she needed to undergo a costly nationality verification process to obtain a work visa or leave Thailand to re-enter with a student visa. Both options were expensive and stressful. Fortunately, with a scholarship from Shan Youth Power funded by Child’s Dream Foundation, she resolved her visa issues and enrolled at Chiang Mai Vocational College.

During her vocational studies, her father suffered an accident that left him unable to work, adding to the family’s struggles. Shwe Kyar often had to help him carry heavy loads, such as cement bags. She also faced conflicts with her mother, particularly over financial matters, which added emotional strain.

After completing vocational school, Shwe Kyar aspired to study architecture but struggled to find scholarships for her chosen field. Most available scholarships were partial and limited to universities in Bangkok. Determined to follow her passion, she applied to Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna to study Architecture (Interior Design). Using her savings, she managed to pay for her first semester but lacked funds for subsequent semesters. She then applied for a partial scholarship and an interest-free student loan from Kwah Dao. After a thorough review of her background, academic performance, and behavior, the Kwah Dao Scholarship Selection Committee awarded her the support she urgently needed.

Currently, Shwe Kyar is a second-year student majoring in Architecture (Interior Design) at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Chiang Mai. The support from Kwah Dao covers her tuition fees, living expenses, and other educational costs, allowing her to focus on her studies and pursue her dreams.