Transforming education for Myanmar's youth. Challenge accepted.
In 2021, political unrest in Myanmar closed schools, disrupted universities and cut off opportunities for many young people in the country. Management student, Rachel Yamin Thet, who grew up in Myanmar, decided she couldn’t sit back and do nothing.
She founded Start Smart – a youth-led not-for-profit organisation, giving young people in Myanmar access to education, career support and hope for the future.
In 2021 a military coup in Myanmar left universities closed, lessons cancelled, and thousands of young people without education or opportunities. Rachel Yamin Thet, who grew up in Myanmar and was then an undergraduate at Manchester, felt compelled to act.
"I realised that want to do something about it because I couldn't just sit back, close my eyes and let everything happen. I was fortunate enough to come to UK and study, but there are a lot of people who are not fortunate like me, and I wanted to do something for them."
She founded Start Smart, a social enterprise supporting students in Myanmar through online courses, workshops and mentoring. Working with lecturers from several big universities to create courses, it offers learning, practical training and personal development – skills young people need to succeed, especially when their situation is so uncertain.
In less than three years, Start Smart has supported more than 5,000 students. Some have gone on to secure scholarships, jobs, or even start their own businesses. Others describe the sessions as life-changing.
"At the end of the session, people from IDP camps thanked me in tears, saying they felt hopeful about their life again after joining our sessions. That keeps us going and keeps us moving forward."
In 2024, Rachel launched a scholarship programme. Awarded to 80 students in Myanmar, the support is there to help them continue with their studies, without the financial stress.
Balancing Start Smart alongside her degree was no easy task. Between lectures, coursework, and online sessions with her Myanmar team, Rachel learnt how to juggle many responsibilities – a skill she now carries into her full-time role at the University of Manchester.
"Volunteering is such a rewarding experience because you are making a positive change in someone's life. And it gives meaning to your life. You'll learn so many skills like empathy and communication – all these skills are transferable to your career or your education journey."
Our student volunteering programmes help you meet new people, feel connected to the local community and build skills that will stay with you long after you graduate.