“Beam is the best thing that has happened during 2022 and 2023.“

We are thrilled to announce that Beam student Cosec has been awarded the prestigious Institute of International Education (IIE) Scholarship! Cosec has just completed his GED preparation studies at Beam and will be sitting the exams in the next few weeks. This four-year scholarship not only covers tuition fees but also provides financial support for living expenses. Cosec has worked incredibly hard to achieve this honor, and we are excited for his next chapter. Cosec will be using this scholarship to attend Chiang Mai University, where he will study Social Sciences and Sustainable Development.

It was a never wracking month for Cosec after the IIE interview while he was waiting for the result.

‘I couldn’t eat well during the day and sleep well at night. When IIE sent me the email that I got the scholarship, I jumped through the air,’ he says. ‘I have been studying really hard the whole year and if I did not get the chance, I would have to wait for the next whole year. But when I knew that I got the scholarship, I sent messages to my teacher and called my mom immediately to share the good news.’

‘I was very happy, excited and shaking and I still am when I think about it. It has become one of my core memories and I will remember it for the rest of my life.’

Cosec is well aware that his future is looking brighter since joining the Community Youth Leader Development (CYLD) program at BEAM. Cosec’s position was difficult due to his situation in Myanmar.

‘I had to abandon my home. I lost my job. I had no income and worst of all, I lost my education. It was everything I had. I wanted to finish a bachelor degree and work for my dreams,’ he says.  ‘Now, I have all of them again because of BEAM. I have a second chance to choose the major and I can become what I want to be.

Cosec has a very clear vision of how he wants to work to help create a better society in Myanmar. He wants to use his leadership skills to try and develop a more equitable society.

‘I want to start an organization which will help minority people gain citizenship and equal rights,’ he says. 

‘I want to become a representative at Pyi Htaung Hsu Hluttaw (The Parliament) for my people. I will advocate to amend the unjust citizenship law with a new and fair one. I still need to protect those rights even if I succeed in amending the law. I am not very certain about the future but I am certain that I will be part of rebuilding our nation.’

 Cosec is very thankful for BEAM’s contributions towards him securing his education. Not positioned to be able to pay for the GED exams and not having a budget to pay for teachers, BEAM was a great support.

‘When Beam accepted me, all those worries and concerns disappeared. All the teachers are very kind and helpful to me. I learnt the subjects like I had never learnt before since their lessons are very interesting and modern,’ he says.

‘Since the course is in English, my speaking skill has significantly improved. BEAM teachers not only teach those GED subjects but also they share knowledge about how to become a critical thinker. They also helped me throughout the whole process, encouraged and supported me all the time.’

Cosec even has some wise advice for any students that are successful applicants for the next GED program at BEAM.

‘Be honest and frank with the teachers. They will help you reduce your worries and concerns if you talk to them,’ he says. ‘Do not face it alone. Contact your friends or student leaders if you face struggle throughout the course.

‘I might be the most dramatic student in the CYLD 2022-2023 cohort but they did make me feel safe to study. Ask questions when you do not understand the lessons. The teachers will not get mad for that. We had a system that teaches us just to obey back in Myanmar but here at BEAM, you can believe your teachers.’

Cosec can see that if you get a chance to study at BEAM, you should really take advantage of the opportunity.

‘You are the lucky one that has the chance. You are lucky among all those applicants, so use the chance properly,’ he says. ‘There are also some students who get rejected during the application process so, please be committed to the program.’

‘Don’t forget to share the knowledge with your family and friends after you have joined the program too. I wish all of you to have all the best things in your lives.’