Rebuilding from the Border: The Journey of Thapyay

• An estimated 3.7 million people have been internally displaced in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup.
• Thapyay, a former university lecturer who participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), fled to Mae Sot, Thailand, in 2022.
• Through the Zin Yaw Women Rising Program, she transitioned from academia to a career as a content writer.

Background and Displacement

• Before the coup, Thapyay spent over 20 years in academia as an Associate Professor in Central Myanmar.
• Her involvement in the CDM made remaining in the country unsafe, leading to her migration to the Thai-Myanmar border.
• The transition required moving past her previous professional identity to embrace new possibilities in exile.

Professional Development

• The Zin Yaw Women Rising Program, supported by Exile Hub, provided essential career coaching and digital skills training.
• Thapyay credits the program with helping her redefine her self-identity and confidence, rather than just teaching technical skills.
• She now works securely from home as a content writer, viewing this as the start of a new chapter.

Guidance for Fellow Refugees

• Thapyay encourages other women in exile to protect their mental well-being despite exhausting conditions.
• She advocates for "trusting the process," noting that every small step toward recovery holds value.
• Her message emphasizes that while circumstances may be restrictive, individual talent and effort remain limitless.