Ei Pwint Rhi Zan, one of our Australia Awards Myanmar scholars, is making the most of her time in Australia by diving into a variety of extracurricular activities. While she’s focused on her academic goals, she also sees volunteering and attending summits as refreshing breaks and essential steps toward her dream of becoming a social enterprise consultant.

Currently, Rhi is pursuing a Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management at the Australian National University. This program perfectly complements her decade-long career dedicated to creating social impact in Myanmar. Through her studies, she’s honing her skills in entrepreneurship, innovation, presentations, and evidence-based decision-making.

Rhi’s journey doesn’t stop at academics. She’s actively involved in several extracurricular activities. She volunteers for the “Empowering Social Entrepreneurship in Myanmar” project, where she leads sharing sessions to educate others about social enterprises. She’s also the co-chair of the Myanmar Chapter of Catalyst 2030, a global network working towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.

On campus, Rhi serves as a “Senior Resident,” helping new students adapt to university life and their personal lives. She mentors students in course selection and assists in their transition and adaptation through the Set4ANU Mentoring program. She also organises events like “Immersia” under the ANU Burmese Program and volunteers at the Myanmar Update.

Looking ahead, Rhi and other Australia Awards scholars are planning to host the “ASEAN Students’ Conference” in November 2024 at the Australian National University. This research-focused symposium invites Myanmar scholars to apply and present their theses, offering a fantastic opportunity to showcase research, develop public speaking skills, and expand networks.

Reflecting on her experiences, Rhi shared,

“This journey has been truly eye-opening. I’ve learned to approach problems with a fresh perspective, focusing on identifying root causes, exploring existing solutions, and considering all possible alternatives. Sometimes, we even discover that the issue we initially aimed to solve wasn’t the real problem after all.”

In her spare time, Rhi works for Uber Eats, earning some extra income while studying. She also holds a board position with the Third Story Project, a charity that creates children’s books with positive messages, written and illustrated by Myanmar artists.

In July 2024, Rhi attended the “Social Impact Summit” in Sydney. This summit aimed to foster cross-sector collaboration, share disruptive ideas, and build a community dedicated to a fair and inclusive society. It provided her with excellent networking opportunities with professionals deeply involved in the social impact sector. Among the many high-profile attendees, Rhi was thrilled to meet Tara Anderson, the CEO of Social Traders, whose work she had referenced during her studies. The chance to exchange ideas face-to-face was particularly rewarding. Funding for the summit came from the Supplementary Academic Support funding stream, and Rhi encourages fellow scholars to seek similar opportunities and make the most of available resources.

Reflecting on her journey and extracurricular pursuits, Rhi shares some valuable advice for fellow scholars. She emphasises the importance of setting clear goals and embracing a sense of community to manage a busy schedule successfully. While she finds participating in various activities relaxing, she acknowledges that this might not be the same for everyone. Rhi highlights the importance of balancing study and social life, seeking support when needed, and enjoying the unique experiences Australia has to offer.

“If the journey becomes overwhelming, don’t hesitate to seek mental health support. It’s available for students, so take advantage of it. Remember, support is there for you when facing any challenges,” she advises.

Looking ahead, once her scholarship is completed, Rhi plans to combine her passion, knowledge, skills, and networks to become a leading social enterprise consultant across Asia.

Favourite thing to do in Canberra? Walking around campus to appreciate the nature

Least favourite thing about Canberra? It is very quiet and everything closes early.

Favourite place to eat?  I feel fortunate to have friends who are excellent cooks, so I rarely eat out. However, I do love coffee whilst taking in the beautiful mountain view.

What insiders tip would you give new scholars arriving in Canberra? Prepare thoroughly before leaving Myanmar. Do what you can to improve language and cooking skills and obtaining a driver’s license to ease the transition.