Maipheng’s Journey to the NYLF Fellowship: A Story of Perseverance and Purpose

Maipheng

Maipheng, a young and humble girl from Laos, always dreams of becoming an exchange student. She loves to expand her culture and explore new traditions abroad. She always tries to put herself up, and chases every opportunity available. And then one day her hard work paid off, she got selected to be one of 2 representatives from LaoPDR to join a 5 days exchange in Singapore and an opportunity to work closely with ASEAN fellows for 9 months. 

For the past two years, Maipheng had been tirelessly chasing every opportunity that crossed her path. Despite facing nearly ten rejections, she never gave up. Each setback only fueled her drive to keep improving. So, when she learned about the NYLF Fellowship through a friend, she hesitated and fearful that she might face another "no." But this time, something was different.

She thought of her initiative, the team she worked with, and the children she aimed to represent those who lacked access to the very opportunities she was striving toward. It wasn’t just about her anymore. She reached out to her mentor and advisor, Htay Aung (Theo), the founder of Dāna Education, to share her plan to apply. To her joy, not only did he encourage her, but the entire Dāna Education committee came together to nominate her for the NYLF Fellowship.

Even with the nomination, the journey was far from easy. The most daunting part of the application was a one-minute video where she had to deliver a powerful message, something that felt impossible at the time. Days passed, and as the deadline loomed, she was still struggling.

Then came a spark of hope. Until nearly the deadline, she still struggled, when the light behind the tunnel had appeared, she met a girl named Paula. Paula was a famous content creator in Laos with Paula and other friends' help, she could make a great video, and submitted it just on time.

Weeks later, an email arrived: she had been shortlisted for the interview. Maipheng screamed with joy, her heart dancing with excitement. But she had only 14 hours to prepare. Though she felt she could have done better, her passion and sincerity spoke volumes.

And then, the moment of triumph: Maipheng was officially selected to represent Lao PDR as one of only 12 ASEAN fellows in the prestigious 9-month NYLF program, including a 5-day exchange in Singapore this coming July.

We at Dāna Education are immensely proud of Maipheng, our Laos project director, for her resilience and courage. Her journey is a shining example of what can happen when heart and determination align with purpose. We eagerly await her return from Singapore to hear what she learns, how she grows, and what she plans to do next in her mission to empower youth in Laos and beyond.

Stay tuned for more updates on Maipheng’s journey, this is only the beginning.

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