htin linn zaw's story

Hi! I’m Htin Linn Zaw, a second-year student studying Business Administration in Mae Fah Lung University.

When I was young, I migrated to a refugee camp at the Thai-Myanmar border to seek education; My parents did not have permanent jobs so they could not afford the expensive school fees in Myanmar. I was also grateful, however, to have attended a post-secondary school in the refugee camp. It was run by an Englishman who drew up a creative curriculum: we were required to intern at non-profit organizations in order to contribute to our community. I worked in the Back Pack Health Worker Team (“BPHWT”), the main provider of primary health care in Myanmar’s rural areas. It was wonderful to see the poor rural residents recover from infectious diseases like malaria after our assistance.

I observed that non-profit organizations, like profit-making companies,  could not operate without skilled management. For example, BPHWT relied on smart managers who liaised with other collaborators to expand BPHWT's impact. This made me appreciate the importance of business knowledge. BPHWT's generous donors from the private sector also showed me how businesses could contribute to meaningful causes. Therefore, I decided to study apply to university and study Business Administration.

University education has greatly broadened my horizons. After graduation, I plan to join the management team of BPHWT as it sponsored part of my school fees. Once I gain sufficient experience, I would establish my own organization or business. For example, I am thinking of opening a restaurant chain, because restaurants provide many job opportunities to low-skilled labour. In the long run, I hope to climb to a powerful position so that I could lead others to contribute to social betterment.

About Htin Linn Zaw
Age : 24
Ethnicity: Karen
Place of Birth: Hpa An township, Kayin. State, Myanmar.

University and Programme
Mae Fah Luang University
Business Administration
3rd year (as of academic year 2022-23)

Goals and Dreams
- Improve access to healthcare in rural areas of Myanmar
- Increase job opportunities in rural areas of Myanmar

Interesting Facts about Htin Linn Zaw
Q: What is your favourite sport?
A: Soccer.

Q: What is your favourite pastime?
​A: Watching movies.