From Refugee to Community Leader: How UoPeople Helped Me Turn Education Into Action

I lost my home, but I never lost my dreams.

I was born and raised in a Rohingya village in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar. From an early age, I experienced discrimination and restrictions because of my Rohingya identity. Access to education, healthcare, and even freedom of movement was limited. Yet I held on to my education, believing it could open doors to a better future.

In August 2017, when I was just 15, I was forced to flee Myanmar amid the military’s violent campaign against the Rohingya. After a harrowing 15-day journey, I reached Bangladesh in September and began a new life in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar. I had left behind my home and the life I knew, facing an uncertain future as a stateless Rohingya.

But even in those difficult circumstances, I refused to let go of my dreams. I wanted to live in a world where everyone could enjoy equal rights, freedom, and dignity. As I came to understand the barriers facing my community, that dream grew into something bigger: I wanted to help other Rohingya young people access the education and opportunities that had been denied to so many of us.

Turning Challenges Into a Purpose

Life in the refugee camps brought significant challenges. Higher education opportunities were extremely limited, financial resources were scarce, and my future remained uncertain. Despite these obstacles, I was determined to keep learning and find ways to support my community.

In December 2019, I founded the Rohingya Students Network (RSN), a youth-led initiative focused on education, youth leadership, and community empowerment. Through this work, I saw how access to education could help young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, and create opportunities for themselves and others.

Leading RSN also made me realize that passion alone is not enough to sustain an organization. I needed practical skills in management, communication, planning, and decision-making to turn ideas into meaningful, lasting initiatives.

Finding a Path to Higher Education With UoPeople

I began searching for ways to pursue higher education while living as a refugee in Bangladesh. According to my experience, opportunities to enroll at universities in Bangladesh were limited by my Rohingya identity and the restrictions affecting Rohingya education.

When I discovered University of the People, I saw an opportunity to continue my education through an online, tuition-free university. Its flexible learning model made it possible to pursue a degree despite the circumstances I faced.

I enrolled in September 2021 to study Business Administration. I chose the program because I wanted to strengthen my leadership and organizational skills and learn how to manage programs, lead teams, and develop sustainable solutions for my community.

UoPeople gave me the opportunity to study while continuing my work with RSN. I could balance my coursework with my community responsibilities without having to put my education or advocacy work on hold.

How UoPeople Helped Me Grow as a Leader

I graduated from UoPeople in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. My education helped me become a more capable and confident leader, strengthening my skills in management, strategic planning, communication, and decision-making.

I have applied these skills directly through the Rohingya Students Network, which has reached approximately 18,000 people through education, youth leadership, and community development initiatives.

What I valued most about UoPeople was its flexibility and international learning environment. I learned alongside students from different countries and backgrounds, gaining perspectives that broadened my understanding of the world.

My experience reinforced a belief I had held since childhood: education should not depend on where someone is born, how much money they have, or the challenges they face. UoPeople helped me continue my education when traditional pathways were difficult to access and gave me skills I could put to use in my community.

From a Refugee Camp to New Opportunities

After graduating from UoPeople, I continued my academic journey at New York University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a concentration in International Studies in May 2026.

In October 2026, I received the inaugural Kofi Annan Geneva Youth Peace Prize in Switzerland. This recognition marked an important milestone in my journey, from growing up amid discrimination and displacement to pursuing education, community leadership, and opportunities to contribute on international platforms.

Education has been central to this journey. UoPeople helped me build the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to pursue opportunities I once thought were beyond my reach. More importantly, it helped me see how learning could translate into action and support the work I was already doing for my community.

My Advice: Never Give Up on Your Education

My advice for current and prospective UoPeople learners is simple: never give up on your education, no matter how difficult your circumstances may be.

You may face financial challenges, personal struggles, or uncertainty about the future. But your circumstances do not have to determine your potential. Stay disciplined, manage your time carefully, and make the most of every opportunity to learn.

I also encourage students to think beyond their own achievements. Education can open doors for you, but it can also equip you to help others access opportunities and overcome barriers.

For me, earning a degree while managing work, community responsibilities, and the challenges of being a Rohingya refugee was not easy. It required persistence and careful time management. I am grateful to UoPeople for making higher education accessible to students like me and helping me continue building toward my goals.

Looking Ahead: Education, Justice, and Opportunity for All

My journey is far from over. I hope to continue my education, strengthen my leadership, and pursue legal education in the future. My long-term goal is to contribute to international justice and accountability while expanding educational opportunities for Rohingya young people and other marginalized communities.

I dream of a future Myanmar where no child is denied education, dignity, or opportunity because of their identity. I want to help create the conditions in which young people can learn, lead, and contribute to their communities without facing the barriers that shaped my own childhood.

I know what it means to grow up with your future constrained by circumstances beyond your control. I want Rohingya children and young people to have opportunities I once struggled to find—to learn, lead, and pursue their dreams without their identity standing in the way. My journey is proof of what education can make possible, and I hope to help make that possibility real for others.

About the Author

Maung S. is a Rohingya community leader from Myanmar, currently based in New York. He graduated from University of the People in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, concentrating in International Studies, from New York University in 2026. He founded the Rohingya Students Network in 2019 to advance education, youth leadership, and community empowerment. His work focuses on expanding educational opportunities, supporting marginalized communities, and advancing peace, justice, and human rights.