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Any humanitarian organization that does not prioritize staff members with lived experience misses a vital and invaluable element of humanitarian response. At the ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ), clients and staff members with lived experience are who we learn from most. Today, on World Refugee Day, we want to celebrate the story of a changemaker, a future maker, and a dream maker. The following story details the remarkable journey of Eh Kaw, an instructor at the ̽����ѡ's Dallas office. As a child, the ̽����ѡ resettled Eh Kaw and her family. Here is her story!

Eh Kaw Thaw, Digital Skills Instructor at ̽����ѡ Dallas, was only eight when her family decided to find safety outside Thailand. Before Eh Kaw was born, her mother and father fled persecution from Burmese militia until they found refuge in the Ban Don Yang Refugee Camp where she was born. “Life in the refugee camp was very unstable, and there was no future there,” Eh Kaw said. Frightened with nowhere to go, her family sought safety and stability and applied for resettlement in the US. “My family wanted to move out of the refugee camp and wanted better opportunities for me and my brother in education, career options, and life in general,” she said. Eh Kaw journeyed to Dallas, Texas with her family in January 2009, dreaming of a future where she could make a difference.

Eh Kaw says she does not remember much about her journey to America. “Everything was happening very quickly, and it was my first time leaving the camp and traveling by car and plane,” she said. “I just remember feeling so hopeful as soon as we arrived in Dallas. Even though being in a new country was scary, I knew I had a better future waiting for me.”

Eh Kaw in Thailand, age seven

Being able to resettle helped Eh Kaw build a foundation for her future and grow as a young woman. Her choices and passions guided her to success. With immediate enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and involvement in extracurriculars, such as art and soccer, Eh Kaw found her equilibrium as a young female student in America.

When Eh Kaw entered her senior year at Conrad High School, she got involved in a college readiness program where she began to explore different career paths and higher education opportunities. Working with this program, Eh Kaw discovered she was incredibly passionate about social work. “I was inspired by the teachers because I wanted to also become someone who could help make a difference in the life of others,” Eh Kaw said. “Whether that’s through academics, social, or mental support. That’s why I chose social work as my major.”

After graduating in 2018, Eh Kaw attended Texas A&M, majoring in social work. During her senior year of college, she landed an internship at the Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service program. Eh Kaw found a great purpose interacting with clients from different backgrounds, hearing their stories, and helping them with digital literacy skills.  

After her internship, Eh Kaw applied for a full-time position as a Digital Skills Instructor at the ̽����ѡ in Dallas. Passionate about her work, she sees growth within the ̽����ѡ, hoping to develop her skills and knowledge on refugee history and expand her reach to refugee clients outside of the United States.  The Digital Inclusion (DI) program at the ̽����ѡ in Dallas operates to ensure that families and individuals can understand the basics of everyday technology software and services such as Google, Zoom, Gmail, Chrome, etc. Our DI program ensures that clients who have not had access to the digital world are included and able to navigate technology with ease as they work and prepare for their professional futures in America. At the ̽����ѡ in Dallas, we believe it is our duty to welcome refugees in America, creating spaces for them to thrive such as a proper digital space which focuses on building technological skills and ensuring clients have computer literacy and access. If you would like to volunteer to become a Digital Inclusion Volunteer, please visit this link.

In late 2022, Eh Kaw connected with ̽����ѡ Thailand to discuss her passion for helping others, especially looking to connect with those in her home country. She spoke with Kloelupho Mongkhonphob (Kalu), who has been with the ̽����ѡ for 15 years. Kalu was also raised in a refugee camp and is now the Senior Women’s Protection and Empowerment Manager with ̽����ѡ Thailand. Kalu is a testament to the bravery of women in Thailand, especially those who have experienced the life of a refugee. In their program, they target female youth, helping to provide young girls with education relating to reproductive health, identity, and self-esteem. Through these programs, refugee youth are learning from generations of women who are encouraging movements and creating tangible and positive change in their communities. In her first steps toward change, we celebrate Eh Kaw’s journey as a refugee woman working with clients building their lives in Dallas, just like Eh Kaw and her family did.

Refugee stories are all uniquely meaningful and reveal the reality of the resilience and courage needed to bravely journey to a new country amid unimaginable trauma and devastation to pave a legacy for future generations. Thank you to Eh Kaw for bravely sharing her remarkable story. On this World Refugee Day, we celebrate stories like this which influence the world and communities around us. Refugees are changemakers, just like Eh Kaw. Join us in sharing this story and other stories of refugees today and every day. Stay informed of the meaningful work and stories coming from ̽����ѡ Dallas by visiting Rescue.org/Dallas.