Naw Eh Khone

Youth Leadership Group-8

joined Rays of Youth in 2023

“You can’t win at everything, but you can try.”

A decision that changed Naw Eh Khone’s life in ways she never expected. Her inspiration started when she was in her first year at Thoo Mweh Khee Learning Center. She still remember clearly the day when Youth Leaders from Rays of Youth came to her community hall to conduct a training. She watched how they spoke with confidence, how they shared knowledge, and how they connected with the students. At that moment, something sparked in her. She felt a strong desire to be like them—to stand in front of people, to share knowledge, and to become someone who could help and guide her community. She had always dreamed of becoming a helpful person, someone who could contribute to positive change, so when the opportunity to apply for the Youth Leadership Program finally came, she didn’t hesitate at all. She grabbed it immediately because she knew this was a chance she should not miss.

Before joining the program, she didn’t have much experience. She lacked confidence, especially when it came to speaking up for others or sharing her thoughts in public. She was also very innocent about many issues. However, the Youth Leadership Program completely transformed her. Throughout the Youth Camp and the different trainings, she gained not only knowledge but also courage and self-awareness. She learned about Child Rights, SRHR, types of leadership, public speaking, content writing, and media production. These were topics she had never had the chance to explore before. Every lesson pushed her to grow and helped her understand .The more she learned, the more she became aware of the challenges migrant youth face, and that awareness sparked a strong desire in her to support them in any way she could.

After completing the leadership program, she didn’t want to stop there. She continued by joining the Youth Network Group, which allowed her to stay involved and contribute even more. Step by step, She started giving trainings, sharing what she had learned, and slowly building her confidence through real practice. She is currently working as volunteer in Rays of Youth for two months while preparing for my continuing education. During this volunteering period, she saw how much work goes into community development, and she had the chance to support different programs and activities. 

Her motto, “You can’t win at everything, but you can try,” has guided her throughout this journey. It reminds her that success is not always about being perfect or being the best; it is about trying, learning, and improving. There were moments when I felt afraid or unsure, but her motto helped her stand up again. It pushed her to accept that failure is part of growth and that she can always learn from others who have more skills or more experience. As long as she don’t give up, the effort she put in will eventually show results.

From the bottom of  her heart, I truly want to thanks Rays of Youth. Without this program, she wouldn’t be the person today, and she might not even know what direction she want her life to go. Rays of Youth became like a light that guided me from being a quiet girl with little confidence to someone who can speak, lead, and serve my community. This program helped her discover herself, opened her eyes to new opportunities, and gave her a path to follow. She is very grateful for every lesson, every experience, and every moment that has shaped her journey through the Youth Leadership Program.