Over five years ago, Sein Nyar Tin fled fighting in Burma for refuge in Thailand. She and her family live at Umpiem Mai, an ARC camp on the Thai-Burma border.

Sein is a wife and mother of five. Her entire life she has worked only to care for her family. But, at Umpiem Mai, she was given an opportunity. And, as she says, it started a revolution in her life.

In 2002, Sein began educating herself. Reading books. Taking courses offered in the camp. Learning new skills. Around this time, she also became pregnant with her fifth child. Sein and her husband had no money to support the family. Her husband couldn’t work. Sein began carrying coal and rice and washing clothes to make ends meet - so she could take care of her family.

But all the while, she kept attending trainings and even began volunteering. People told her she was crazy. That she should only be taking care of her children and family, not learning or volunteering.

Sein gave birth to a daughter in 2003. During her pregnancy, she’d learned about community management and health, farming, business and computer skills.

She admits there was a time she felt unable to do anything but obey her husband. Back then, she felt she had no options, no say in her life. Sein made a change and has worked tirelessly ever since to encourage women in her community - for those who feel like she did.

Sein has been an ARC team member since 2004 first as a community health educator and now with the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) program at Umpiem Mai. She has reached out to many women and has helped make the GBV program a voice for all women and girls in the camp.

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