Ah Lum

Htu Lum was born in a remote village in the mountains of Kachin State. Her father was a teacher and a farmer, and she helped to raise buffalo from an early age. Fighting in her area was constant, and the family was forced to flee many times. One time the villagers rebuilt their community in the jungle.

Although she attended school for a while, she never completed her studies because her school was far away, and she never received the message that school was important. She married a boy she first started dating in middle school, and they had 2 children. They also adopted her brother-in-law’s child. She became a Sunday school teacher and kindergarten assistant.

In 2013, her husband was arrested and killed by the Myanmar army. In 2016, her family was once again forced to flee because of fighting, and their house and property were destroyed. Her mother-in-law died while fleeing. Htu Lum lives in an IDP camp near her village; she struggles to survive and rebuild her home and village. She joined a local group linking survivors of human rights violations, where she shared her story and got encouragement from other women like her.

With a birthmark on her face, her body also carries scars from pregnancy and from caring for farm animals. Her knee bears the mark of a dog bite from a time when she had to flee her village as a child.

“My symbol is a horse because I am a hard-working person. Horses carry firewood and people [like I do]. I have to earn money on my own two feet for my children.”

Htu Lum hopes to one day open a shop in her village. Noting that many people have suffered losses due to conflict, she wants more safety in her community. Connecting with other survivors, she believes that if all women come together, they can bring justice and peace to their community.