Insight Myanmar
“Protecting the children’s rights it to educate them, not to give them weapons!”
Ei is a former member of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) who initially participated in the armed resistance but later shifted her focus toward education and humanitarian work, particularly concerning child soldiers and youth affected by conflict.
Ei joined the PDF at the age of 28. While the official age requirement ranged from 18 to 35, the reality of war brought many underage participants. Some joined voluntarily out of patriotism, others were pressured, and many simply had no alternatives due to the violence in their communities. During her four months of PDF training, Ei witnessed both bravery and abuse. She recounted cases of sexual harassment from trainers and the execution of fellow fighters over minor financial disputes. These experiences led her to conclude that revolution must be rooted in education and ethics rather than weapons. “We have different skills for education, for healthcare, for the citizens,” she says. “My mastery is not in my arms, it is in my brain.”
After leaving the training camp, Ei relocated to a Karen village, where she lived for more than three years. Initially met with suspicion due to her Bamar background, she eventually earned the trust of the local community by helping teachers and launching nutrition and agricultural programs. She planted vegetables and raised pigs and goats to support food security. To encourage participation, she organized school competitions and gave vegetable seeds as prizes, which inspired villagers to start their own gardens. Her work demonstrated that sustainable education and agriculture could exist even in war-torn areas, and she became a bridge of trust between Bamar and Karen communities.
Life in the village was marked by hardship. The community had little to no internet access, making communication difficult. Airstrikes and artillery attacks were constant threats, and schools and religious buildings were often targeted by the military. Despite these risks, Ei helped build two schools and a library, promising that if they were destroyed, she would rebuild them again. Her conviction was that education had to continue regardless of war.
From these experiences, Ei founded the A Lin Eain Shelter in Mae Sot, Thailand. The shelter provides refuge for children under 18 who have been involved with armed groups or otherwise affected by conflict. It accepts children from all sides—including those associated with the State Administration Council (SAC) military, the PDF, and various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs). At the shelter, children receive formal education, vocational training, trauma counseling, and emotional support. Courses include hospitality, phone repair, and mechanical skills, with the goal of preparing the youth for community reintegration. Ei stresses that the shelter is not a permanent institution but a temporary, rehabilitative space designed to help children rebuild their lives.
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