Ramon Magsaysay awards: Widow’s leadership helps heal Myanmar

MANILA, Philippines - One of this year’s recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards hopes that the honor will help draw national and international attention to ongoing efforts to find lasting peace in Myanmar.

Lahpai Seng Raw, who was cited for her inspiring leadership to empower “damaged communities” in the midst of ethnic wars, has promoted a non-violent culture of dialogue as a foundation for Myanmar’s peaceful future.

The country may have taken measures toward a more open and democratic future – it has ended its isolation, freed Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees, and instituted a civilian government.

But not many people are aware that ethnic wars continue to divide Myanmar and displace thousands of impoverished Burmese people.

Myanmar was ruled by a military junta until 2011 and is still undergoing transition to attain a more democratic rule.

Fighting continues between the Kachin rebels and the military, with civilians caught in between and suffering most of the brunt of the war.

Seng Raw is a ray of hope for thousands of displaced people in Myanmar. She is constantly providing support for displaced people through her Metta Foundation.

The foundation addresses population displacement and emergency relief in the country’s conflict zones, starting in northern Myanmar, where fighting has already displaced over 70,000 people.

A daughter of a state-level public official and a teacher, Seng Raw finished psychology at Yangon University. Widowed early in life, she devoted her time to improve the living conditions of displaced people caught in the ethnic war while taking care of her only son.

As a student, she experienced the military’s abusive rule when she was detained on suspicion that she communicated with her brother who was in the Kachin insurgency.

In 1987, she began to involve herself in relief work for displaced people in the Myanmar-China border. Moving to Bangkok in 1990, she then worked as development-in-charge officer in ROKA, the Kachin Independence Organization’s humanitarian wing.

In 1997, with the help of faith-based groups and non-government organizations (NGOs), Seng Raw took the bold step of establishing, in military-ruled Burma, the NGO called Metta Development Foundation.

Seng Raw’s main concern was for Metta to build trust among all stakeholders through united efforts in comprehensive, participative, long-term interventions.

In agriculture, Metta has established more than 600 farmer field schools, enabling over 50,000 farmers to improve the management of their farms and forests.

Metta also established schools and training centers in early childhood education. It introduced community-managed water, health and sanitation systems, and other healthcare projects.

The NGO provided funding and technical support for a wide range of livelihood projects.

In 2008 when Tropical Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar – the worst natural disaster in the country’s recorded history – Metta took the lead in massive rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development efforts that

covered large sections of the country and benefited hundreds of thousands of cyclone victims.

Under Seng Raw’s leadership, Metta has grown to be the largest NGO in Myanmar, with a staff of 600, branches outside Yangon, and three research and training centers.

Its various programs have reached over 600,000 people in 2,352 communities.

Working in a war-torn and socially fractured country, Seng Raw has shown both amazing courage and a unique ability to work with both government and rebels.

She believes that in addressing conflict and instability, it is essential to build a foundation of stable, self-reliant communities. With this conviction, she has advocated peace and reconciliation process in Myanmar.

“For the future of Metta, we will continue to support internally displaced people. My fervent hope is that peace will prevail, all displaced persons return home and appropriate development will bloom,” she said.

She said her people’s biggest concerns are land security, foreign investments and that peace negotiations are peaceful.

Seng Raw believes that ceasefire would not initiate political transformation in Myanmar unless there is a reintegration program that should be part of the process.

“In time, I would like to see a peaceful and harmonious community as well as a peaceful region. Democracy will only work if we resolve all the issues of ethnic groups,” Seng Raw said.

She herself has been an example of inclusiveness, and an embodiment of what metta means: loving kindness.

A Kachin Christian and twice a member of the minority, Seng Raw has demonstrated tact and openness as a leader, working harmoniously with various groups across ethnic, religious, and political divides.

After serving as Metta’s executive director for 13 years, she relinquished the position to empower a new generation of leaders.

But she remains active in the NGO community and peace and development efforts.