Nan Nway Nway San, who graduated from the Parami Leadership Program in 2020, has received an ISOW-Prospect Burma scholarship, making her one of the first three Myanmar scholars to receive the award.

The ISOW-Prospect Burma scholarship covers four years of undergraduate education at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. In 2021, the ISOW scholarship team in Canada partnered with Prospect Burma to give three full scholarships to Myanmar students for the first time.

As an ISOW-Prospect Burma scholar, Nway San will study a bachelor’s degree in International Education Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.  

“I see myself studying at Wilfrid Laurier University as a chance to gain knowledge and skills in teaching methodologies, international philosophies, global awareness, and intercultural competencies,” Nway San said.

Nway San aims to establish a foundation for educational development in Karen State to meet the needs of underprivileged children in her community, with a focus on advocacy, documentation, and promoting awareness on inclusive education and vocational training. "When I finish my studies, I plan to start education development projects to provide educational access to children in Karen State's remote areas," Nway San stated.

Nway San worked as an Assistant Teacher at Gateway Learning Center, a non-profit organization in Hpa-an, Karen State, for two years. As an assistant teacher, she had the opportunity to connect with her students and recognize the deep-rooted lack of educational opportunities for children and young people in the area.

“I got a deep understanding of the needs of young people in my community. Some children don’t have equal education opportunities. Due to the civil war, many children don’t have the opportunity to live [the life of] their dreams, and many young people don’t even have access to basic schooling. The existence of education inequality in Myanmar has motivated me to work in the field of educational development,” she explained. 

Nway San is one of the PLP alumni from the 6th Cohort. She stated that her work experience, leadership skills, and knowledge gained from the Parami Leadership Program have greatly guided her during the scholarship application processes.