Progress report for Educate Myanmar’s Youth fundraiser
March 2025
Overview
In the past few months, the 14 students undocumented students studying subjects such as Master of Business, English, Political Science and Social work have faced many challenges, the most difficult of which was the cancellation of the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Programme. These scholarships are lifelines for these bright, determined individuals—many of whom are the first in their families to pursue higher education.
The Master’s degree is a stepping stone to education and livelihood opportunities that are sustainable, but will also mitigate the risk of the student’s relying on donations from family members abroad, so they can plan their futures with dignity. The scholarship programme relied totally on this funding, and without replacement funding all 14 students will be forced to leave their Masters courses, and most likely return to the refugee camps that exist on the India-Myanmar border. In order to mitigate this, we are currently seeking replacement funding from a variety of courses, however at the time of writing no additional funding has been secured.
Protection
This challenge comes at a time when the central Indian government exerting increased pressure on displaced communities on the Myanmar-India border. Indian media has recently covered the proposed restrictions on Freedom of Movement that would have a devastating impact on displaced people trying to flee from violence,[1] and the heightened risk of deportation[2] faced by refugees. Increased conflict in Chin state means refugee camp populations are likely to swell, and the cuts to humanitarian funding from the U.S and U.K governments, among others, mean that the already under resourced support structures are further diminished.
Stories of impact
Example 1: Nant is 27 and is studying English. She was an English teacher in a high school in Chin state, and was a key figure in leading women’s groups in her community to advocate against domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Because of her passion for women’s rights, before the coup she was planning to run for local elections to stand for a democratic party, with the hope of taking the fight for women’s rights to the state level to reach more people. When the coup happened, she protested the junta and took part in the htamein revolution in Hakha, capital of Chin state. Because of her activism, she was targeted for arrest by security forces, and had to flee her hometown and spend the next 3.5 years moving from refugee camp to refugee camp. This scholarship programme is the first opportunity she has had to get back on track with her career, and hopes to use her degree to create wider networks to support women in Chin state.
Example 2: Van is 30 and studying political science. He was a journalist before the coup, and left his profession in Chin state to join the national strike movement to protest the junta. He worked alongside other media professionals during the coup to translate Chin language and Burmese language news for international audiences, as he believes the human rights abuses and war crimes undertaken by the junta should be documented and shared, to contribute to accountability measures in the future. He moved to the capital of the Northeast Indian state where the scholarship programme is held with 7 family members; his wife, his parents, his parents in law and two children under the age of 5. Until the scholarship programme, he was living in a refugee camp in a shelter with his 7 family members and 5 other families, relying on financial assistance from an uncle living in Malaysia. Van is an exceptional student and has achieved excellent grades in his course so far, and hopes to return to Chin state once the conflict is over to support independent journalism and activism.
Example 3: Su is 26 and studying maths. She was enrolled in the first year of her maths Master degree in university in Kalay when the coup happened, and she left her university course to join the strike movement. Due to conflict in her hometown, she had to flee with her elderly parents to a refugee camp on the India border, where she taught maths for two years to displaced children as a volunteer. This Masters course is the first opportunity she has had to continue her studies and fulfil her dreams of becoming a maths teacher. She thinks it is important for women to learn maths and financial management, to give them independence and essential life skills. She is studying and taking care of her elderly parents.
Continuing need:
The students are embarking on the second half of their first year. Currently, there is enough funding to last until the end of July 2025, and we are therefore increasing our fundraising goals to $154,308, to provide support for the 14 students to complete their Master degrees and gains the skills, learning and opportunities needed to contribute to building a future as leaders for Myanmar and Chin state.
[1] Vanlalruta, H.C. (2025, January 29). Zoro burns copies of government orders restricting freedom of movement on the Mizoram-Myanmar border. Retrived from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/zoro-burns-copies-of-govt-orders-restricting-movement-on-mizoram-myanmar-border/articleshow/117698395.cms
[2] Lu Htet Naing. (2025, March 6). Myanmar Refugees in India Encounter Risks of Deportation. Narinjara News. Retrieved from https://www.narinjara.com/news/detail/67c8907fdc62d2c5bbbc87be
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