From Refugee Camps to a Brighter Future - Q&A with Grads.

PBBC warmly and proudly congratulate our first Karen High School graduates of 2011: Saw Eh Klay Klay, Naw Ka Mwee Paw, Saw Eh Soe Soe, Saw Aye Min Thu, and Saw Min Oo. These young people came from refugee camps without any knowledge of the US Education system, and limited use of the English language. It has been a great challenge for them to pursue education in US schools    where conditions are absolutely different socially and culturally from what they have experienced in camps. Especially, student-teacher and student- student relationship are just the opposite. The fast pace of life in the US proved to be a great shock for them to keep up with. However, with the help of teachers and support of family members, community, and church, they could not only adjust but also prevail over these hardships and succeed with flying colors. These young high school graduates are the first among those who arrived in Philadelphia in the year 2007.

PBBC caught up with them just after their graduation ceremony and interviewed them. Below are their interviews with PBBC.

Saw Eh Klay Klay

PBBC: What is your name?


Saw Eh Klay Klay

 EKK: Saw Eh Klay Klay
PBBC: What are the names of your father and mother?
EKK: Saw Noah and Naw San San Tin
PBBC: From which refugee camp are you?
EKK: Mae La
PBBC: Do you remember the date you arrived in the US?
EKK: July 26, 2007.
PBBC: How many brothers and sister do you have?
EKK: One younger brother and one younger sister.
PBBC: Which University are you going to?
EKK: Penn State University
PBBC: What are you going to major in?
EKK: Geosciences.
PBBC: Why do you choose this subject?
EKK: Because I like working outdoors and am interested in environmental development.
PBBC: How do you plan to serve your people or community?
EKK: After I’ve graduated, I plan to go back and volunteer in teaching at my former school in Mae La Camp for a certain period of time.

Naw Ka Mwee Paw

PBBC: Can you please tell me your name?


Naw Ka Mwee Paw

 KMP: Naw Ka Mwee Paw
PBBC: What are the names of your father and mother?
KMP: Saw Samson and Naw Gay Nay Paw
PBBC: From which refugee camp are you?
KMP: Umpieng.
PBBC: Do you remember the date you arrived in the US?
KMP: April 1, 2008
PBBC: How many brothers and sisters do you have?
KMP: I have one younger brother.
PBBC: Which University are you going to?
KMP: Penn State University
PBBC: What are you going to major in?
KMP: Nursing.
PBBC: Why?
KMP: I’m interested in medicine and want to help people, especially those who are sick.
PBBC: Do you have any plan for your people or community?
KMW: I want to help my people especially those in the camps and I plan to go back and share my life’s experience and take care of the health of people at the camp where I came from.

Saw Eh Soe Soe

PBBC: What is your name?


Saw Eh Soe Soe

 ESS: Saw Eh Soe Soe
PBBC: What are the names of your father and mother?
ESS: Saw Pujar and Naw Htoo Paw
PBBC: Which refugee camp did you come from?
ESS: Mae La
PBBC: Please tell me the date you arrived in the US.
ESS: July 11, 2007
PBBC: How many brothers and sisters do you have?
ESS: One younger sister and one younger brother.
PBBC: Which University do you intend to go to?
ESS: Either Penn State University or Universal Technical Institute Education.
PBBC: What major subject do you intend to take?
ESS: Either Engineering (Penn State) or Automotive (UTI Education)
PBBC: Why?
ESS: I’m interested in machinery.
PBBC: Do you have any intention to serve your people or community?
ESS: I want to help my people and community but I don’t have any specific plans at the moment.

Saw Aye Min Thu

PBBC: Your name is?


Saw Aye Min Thu

 AMT: Saw Aye Min Thu
PBBC: What are the names of your father and mother?
AMT: Saw Ler Say and Naw Kha La
PBBC: Which refugee camp did you come from?
AMT: Htam Hin
PBBC: Please tell us the date you arrived in the US.
AMT: May 22, 2007.
PBBC: How many siblings do you have?
AMT: I have two elder brothers.
PBBC: Which University do you intend to go to?
AMT: Philadelphia County Community College first, and then continue to some other University later.
PBBC: What are you interested in?
AMT: Medicine.
PBBC: Why?
AMT: I have passion for medicine since I was a kid.
PBBC: So you mean to help your people or community with that education?
AMT: Yes, that’s my intention, but I don’t have any specific plans yet.

Saw Min Oo



Saw Min Oo

 Saw Min Oo, who has a younger brother and son of Saw Kaw Lah and Naw Mee Mee arrived in July of 2007 from Mae La Camp, was not available for an interview as he left for another State soon after graduation.