The Phan Foundation is pleased to announce that Saw Hsa Nay Thaw is the recipient of the 2019 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award.
Saw Hsa Nay Thaw is a student leader at the Karen Student Network Group (KSNG), and Education Worker, Training and Curriculum Officer at the Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD).
The ceremony and announcement of the award was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The award ceremony will now take place at the 70th commemoration of Karen Martyrs’ Day in Hpa-An District, Karen State, and will be attended by Saw Say Say Phan, son of Padoh Mahn Sha.
Describing Saw Hsa Nay Thaw in their nomination, KSNG stated: “We see him as a leader with ability and skills and a role model for us all. His strong commitment, good work and leadership has contributed so much in our Karen society especially in the educational field.”
Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, Director at Phan Foundation said: “Saw Hsa Nay Thaw is an outstanding young Karen leader well deserving of this award as recognition for his hard work and commitment towards Karen education. Growing up in a conflict zone himself, and struggling to get an education, he has gone on to help ensure thousands of children have the life-changing opportunity to receive a good education.”
Saw Hsa Nay Thaw said: “I am so thrilled and excited to receive the Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader award, as it is a great honour of my work in helping my people. This award is also an important recognition of our collective effort as a community that will be remembered in our Karen history. The award money will enable me to provide text books for Karen students across Kawthoolei where students are struggling to have enough text books and other learning materials.”
The Padoh Mahn Sha Young leader award was established to provide recognition and encouragement to young Karen people working for their communities. The award comes with a $3,000 contribution to support their work.
The Phan Foundation was established in 2008 by the four children of Padoh Mahn Sha and Nant Kyin Shwe, in their memory. It provides grants towards education, poverty alleviation, promoting human rights and protecting Karen culture.