From Learning to Leading: How Ma Nay Chi Found Confidence and Community in Exile

Ma Nay Chi Phyo, a freelance journalist and one of the participants of How She Did it’s Zin Yaw Women Rising program in 2025, describes the experience as a turning point that transformed not only her digital skills, but also her confidence, self-esteem, and understanding of her own potential.

Before joining the program, Nay Chi mainly contributed articles through more traditional forms of journalism and writing. Although she had already been actively producing stories and information for communities, she never saw herself as a “content creator” or understood how digital storytelling and content production could become part of her professional identity and future opportunities.

Through Zin Yaw Women Rising, Nay Chi began to connect those dots. The training helped her strengthen her digital literacy, content creation skills, and confidence in using online tools and platforms more independently.

Beyond technical skills, the program also helped shift her mindset and confidence. Nay Chi described how the training sparked her curiosity and encouraged her to apply what she learned within her own community. What began as learning digital storytelling skills gradually evolved into community engagement. After completing the program, she went on to organise her own content creation classes for others in the exile community. The 3-Day Practical Content Writing (Online) Batch-1 was successfully signed up by eight participants, and preparations are now underway for a second batch due to growing interest.

Reflecting on her journey, she shared:

“Previously I was never so tech savvy and always relied on my husband for things related to technology. Now I’ve learned how to make the best use of digital skills and the internet to the point where I can even create certificates for participants attending my content creation classes.”

The experience at Zin Yaw Women Rising also strengthened her understanding of community needs and the importance of creating supportive spaces in exile. Together with others, Nay Chi later co-founded the “Inner Light Art & Healing Group,” an initiative that offers creative and healing activities for exiled communities. 

One of her ideas was simple but intentional: hands-on art activities that encourage people to use their senses, focus on the present moment, and take a break from overwhelming thoughts.

“I believe when people use their hands, eyes, and minds together in the creative process, it can help them step away from toxic thoughts, even if only for a while,” she explained.

The initiative soon expanded to include children from the exile community. During her free time, Nay Chi began facilitating art-based healing activities where children sculpted figures from clay, drew, and explored their imaginations freely.

As she watched them create, she found herself healing alongside them.

“Watching them create so freely and joyfully felt like a gentle reminder of childhood — a time when curiosity came naturally and imagination had no limits. For a moment, I felt as though I had been transported back to my own childhood, seeing the world through their eyes once again.”

Today, Nay Chi continues working as a freelance journalist while also sharing knowledge and building spaces of care and creativity for displaced communities. Her journey reflects how access to digital skills, confidence-building, and supportive learning environments can empower women not only to strengthen their own livelihoods, but be able to lead within their communities.