The Phan Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2022 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award. This annual young leadership award identifies outstanding young Karen leaders who work hard for the development of their community. In addition, $4000 will be given to the organisation or community for whom the recipient of the award works.
“Through this leadership award, the Phan Foundation has been empowering and providing support for young Karen leaders since the establishment of the organisation in 2008. We aim to honour our father, Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, and at the same time provide practical support to community leaders to help bring more positive changes for our Karen people, ” said Nant Zoya Phan, Director of the Phan Foundation. “Every year, we are inspired by many young Karen leaders who are doing amazing work, fighting for the rights of their community, lifting their people out of poverty, and making sure their voices are heard and their needs are met, within Kawthoolei, along the border of Thailand, across Burma and around the world.”
How to nominate someone:
Any Karen person under 35 is eligible to be nominated.
That person can be living anywhere in the world.
Nominations can be made by any individual or organisation.
Organisations can nominate one of their own members.
Please focus on outcomes and achievements in your nomination.
Nominations can be made in Karen, Burmese or English.
You can nominate someone even if they have been previously nominated and were not successful.
Nominations should be sent to Nant Bwa Bwa Phan: bwabwa.phan@phanfoundation.org
Nominations close on 31st December 2022. The winner of the award will be announced in early 2023.
The Phan Foundation was set up by the children of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan and Nant Kyin Shwe with the aims to alleviate poverty, promote education and human rights, and preserve Karen culture. Padoh Mahn Sha, the former General Secretary of the Karen National Union, was assassinated by agents of the Burmese government on 14th February 2008.
Since the establishment of Phan Foundation in 2008, we have worked with civil society and community organisations providing funding for schools and higher education, educational publications, emergency food and medical aid for internally displaced people, emergency aid responding to the COVID pandemic, support for human rights education, promotion and protection of Karen languages, and support for refugee communities.