The Humanitarian

Lahpai Seng Raw was unpacking her bags. It was her first day of university, and she was excited. As she set up her new room, Lahpai Seng Raw daydreamed about her future classes and classmates. She was surprised to look up and see a group of boys staring at her from the doorway. They looked surprised, too. "This is the boys’ dormitory. Get out," they told her.

Lahpai Seng Raw was not intimidated.She grew up in a family of all boys. "My name is on the door," she said calmly. She later learned the university had confused her Kachin name for a boy’s name. But Lahpai Seng Raw never let that, or anything else, stop her.*Kachin are a group of people who live in Myanmar, China, and India and share similar cultures and languages.

Years later, Lahpai Seng Raw lived in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. Years of conflict had made life very hard in Kachin State.Roads were bad, hospitals were few, and parents were afraid to send their children to school. Many people fled their homes to escape the violence. Lahpai Seng Raw wanted to help her own people, as well as other people around the country who suffered from conflict.

She was a widow, a mother, and 48 years old when she did something bold: she started an organization to help others. This organization helped children get an education, farmers grow more crops, and entire communities get the health care they need. Lahpai Seng Raw believed that building trust was necessary for peace, so she bravely listened to and worked with everyone—the government, the military, religious groups, and ethnic leaders.

Today, Lahpai Seng Raw's organization helps thousands of communities across the country of Myanmar. After many years of leading the organization, Lahpai Seng Raw stepped down. It was time for new, young leaders to continue the work she began to build a strong, peaceful Myanmar.

Use these prompts to write your own story on a piece of paper. When are you happiest? What do you love doing? Life can be tough sometimes. Describe a time when you overcame a tough moment in your life. Tell a story of your future. What do you dream of doing?

Draw your portrait.