She hopes to be a teacher one day, but when Aye Say (Mai) was growing up in Myanmar her family had a different life path for her. Attaining educational qualifications was not important they felt. They wanted her to be a farmer. Mai’s time in school would often get interrupted up to a month at a time as they needed an extra pair of hands to help out during harvest season. At odds with their expectations and estranged from her father, she ran away to Bangkok when she was only 14.
“I also want to teach them what I’ve learnt at Pratthanadee so they can plan their future and manage their lives better. I don’t want them to drop out of school like me or end up married and pregnant at a young age.”
Life was anything but sweet when Mai arrived in the Big Mango in 2014. Her first job was a live-in housekeeper for a family and their five dogs. It was a tall order for the petite teenage farm girl from Myanmar. After two years of living under constant threats of pay cuts from her aggressive bosses, she left to work in a factory. It did not last long as she was allergic to the chemicals used at the industrial design plant. Mai then found a job looking after three toddlers in addition to housekeeping. Two years later, she had to job hunt again as the children became older so the family no longer needed her. That led Mai to her current work as a domestic helper in a more congenial work environment.
“This is the job that I love the most. I like cooking and my boss is very kind and always encourages me when I do something well.” At peace with her new workplace, Mai was able to think about her future and on a recommendation from a friend, started attending classes at Pratthanadee. “Studying here has helped me to improve myself a lot. I’ve more confidence now, know how to control my feelings, and know about managing my money. Life’s getting better.”
Mai sees herself working another eight years or so before she returns to her hometown to fulfil her dream. “I’ll help my family start an avocado and rice farm. But I’ll also study for a certificate to be a Shan language teacher.” Spoken widely in her village, she wants to teach children to read and write. “I also want to teach them what I’ve learnt at Pratthanadee so they can plan their future and manage their lives better. I don’t want them to drop out of school like me or end up married and pregnant at a young age.”
