Leading change from the heart: Win Win Phyu’s journey to empower women

I lead a small but passionate Civil Society Organisation called Swan In Thit, based in Loikaw, Kayah State. Our mission is to empower women, challenge harmful traditions, and build stronger communities in Loikaw, Demoso, and Ayetharyar ၊Nyaung Shwe.

But this journey didn’t start with big dreams or titles. It started at home, with my father, my family, and a calling to help others.

A Daughter's Duty Becomes a Lifelong Purpose

I was in Grade 8 when my father had a stroke. I took a health worker course just to care for him properly. That experience opened my eyes to the importance of community health, and it planted a seed that would grow into something much bigger.

Since Grade 5, I’d been a proud member of the Myanmar Red Cross, and my values of service were already taking root. Later, I completed Grade 10 (B list) and got the diploma by attending a Bible Correspondence Course from Roma International. But more than any certificate, it was my father’s example that truly shaped me.

He was a community leader himself, teaching children in our ward who couldn’t attend school during the day. He was the kind of person who gave without expecting anything back. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Balancing Roles: A Mother, a Wife, and a Leader

Today, I’m a mother of six, five daughters and one son. Life has not been easy. My father remains paralyzed, and my mother has diabetes. But through it all, my husband has been my rock.

He supported me in everything, from raising our children to driving me to far-off villages so I could continue my work. When I gave birth to five daughters, some relatives made hurtful comments, influenced by old religious beliefs about the value of sons. But my husband never wavered. “It doesn’t matter if they are girls,” he said. “They are our children.” When our son was born later, his love and support didn’t change.

Stepping into Community Work

Back in 2007, when World Vision started working in Loikaw, my ward, Minsu, wasn’t part of the target area. At the time, I was already working on an HIV/AIDS education project with the Myanmar Christian Council.

I saw how much positive change World Vision was bringing to other communities. I wanted that for my own. So I advocated for Minsu Ward to be included, and by 2009, we formed our own ward-based development committee while working with World Vision for the ward. I served as treasurer, secretary, and later vice-chairperson. That was the beginning of my formal journey in leadership.

Founding Swan In Thit

In 2017, I co-founded Swan In Thit to promote gender equality, with a strong focus on child protection, education, and livelihoods. The inspiration came from my own community, where domestic violence has been a long-standing challenge for women and girls. As we engaged more deeply with women in the villages, we expanded our efforts to address gender-based violence, advocate for women’s rights, and develop leadership skills, particularly for rural women who are often excluded from decision-making processes.

In Kayah State, many traditions continue to hold women back, denying them the right to inherit property, limiting their education, or excluding them from religious activities. For example, one daughter who took care of her aging parents was denied inheritance by her brother. We worked with the family, held community discussions, and helped them understand her rights. The brother eventually changed his mind.

We also spoke out against the “washing village” ceremony, a tradition where both a man and woman were punished if found to have had a sexual relationship before marriage, even in cases of rape. We explained that women in such situations are victims, not wrongdoers. Slowly, we are changing minds by working with faith leaders, elders, and village heads.

Building Women’s Confidence, One Step at a Time

When I became secretary of Minsu Ward’s supportive and development committee, I was the only woman on the township-level committee. I was nervous. Some men accused me of leading women to "cause trouble" just by encouraging their involvement. But I didn’t give up.

We started small, inviting women to attend meetings, encouraging them to speak up, helping them understand how their voices mattered. We offered vocational training, supported savings groups, and gave leadership training. Over time, women gained the confidence to run small businesses, lead community groups, and even challenge unfair norms.

We didn’t do this alone. We worked with men and boys too, starting conversations about respect, shared responsibility, and what true gender equality looks like in practice. Together with INGO partners, we helped bring agricultural training to women, opening new doors for income generation and independence.

Standing Firm in a Difficult Time

Myanmar’s recent economic and political instability has made life even harder, especially for women. Families are struggling with food insecurity, unemployment, and stress. In response, we’ve added programmes focused on financial resilience, income generation, and emergency support like food assistance.

Still, we keep our focus on the bigger picture: a future where women and girls are safe, valued, and empowered.

Why I Keep Going

When people ask me why I continue this work, even with all the risks and setbacks, my answer is simple:

Because I believe change is possible when we lead from the heart.

My father’s courage, my husband’s love, and the resilience of the women I meet every day give me strength. I’m grateful to World Vision, our partners, and above all, to God, for walking this path with me.

Win Win Phyu is the Director and co-founder of Swan In Thit, a woman-led local civil society organisation based in Kayah State, Myanmar. A dedicated grassroots leader, she champions gender equality, child protection, education, and sustainable livelihoods. As a mother of six children and long-time community advocate, Win Win Phyu draws strength from her personal journey and her father’s legacy of service. Through Swan In Thit, she works to challenge harmful traditions, support survivors of gender-based violence, and build leadership among rural women who are too often excluded from decision-making spaces. In the face of political and economic adversity, Win Win  Phyu remains a powerful voice for inclusion, resilience, and justice—leading change from the heart.