Chasing Dreams Beyond Borders: Unlocking World of Possibilities Through Skills Training

Bangkok, Thailand – Hailing from a small village in Myanmar, 27-year-old Kyaw Win is all set to embark on his new journey to work in the hospitality sector in Oman. 

A week ahead of his departure, he visits the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Bangkok, Thailand, a place that holds fond memories and gratitude in his heart. 

“My craving for knowledge and determination to pursue a career in hospitality is all I have ever known,” reminisces Kyaw. “I can’t believe it’s now been over five years since I attended IOM’s skills training in Thailand. It not only changed my life but helped to unlock a world of possibilities for me.” 

In 2018, Kyaw attended the first cross-border skills development and internship programme supported by IOM in Mae Sot, Tak Province. He was among 15 participants selected for an intensive 12-week hospitality training course, followed by another 12-weeks of internship programme in various hotels in Thailand. 

Resilience and fortitude were innate to Kyaw. After his parents passed away when he was six, his brother was the only family he had. In addition to emotional, the economic hardship that came with losing both parents did not hold him back from pursuing his passion for hospitality. 

“There weren’t any universities in my village offering a course on hospitality, so I moved to Mandalay city. By consistently applying for scholarship programmes, I was able to complete my university degree. But finding a job in Myanmar wasn’t easy. I soon realized that I needed a credible certification other than my degree, as well as more practical experience that would allow me to expand my horizons.” 

“A good opportunity will never knock on your door twice,” says Kyaw. “When I stumbled on the news about IOM’s skills training programme, I instantly applied.” 

“From a very young age, I understood that, while luck has its role to play, hard work and persistence are what will get you ahead in life. It might have been luck that got me a spot in IOM’s programme, but I knew that if I wanted to make this opportunity count, I had to give it my all.” 

He would devour the training materials through the night and go prepared to tackle the sessions taught during the day. Towards the end of the 12-weeks training course, he did not only earn a certification but also emerged as one of the brightest students among his batch.  

Going beyond textbooks, IOM-supported skills training programme provided migrant workers with information on their labour rights and legal processes to apply for work permits.  

“After 12 weeks of intense teaching in a training institute in Mae Sot city, I got selected to join a 12-weeks internship programme at a 5-star hotel in Bangkok. It felt like a dream come true for me.”  

“From mastering computer skills for the front desk to understanding guest expectations and ensuring a good customer experience, the internship equipped me with the practical skills and industry experience needed for the real world."  

After completing his internship, he was offered jobs in Hua Hin and Phuket – two popular tourist destinations. However, language barriers prompted him to return home in hopes of leveraging this newfound experience to kick-start his career. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and military take-over soon spurred his hopes to despair, leaving him unemployed for several months. 

“No matter what, I never lost faith. I kept applying for jobs abroad. The skills training certification from IOM truly helped my application stand out and get noticed by employers. In 2020, I was able to secure a job in Qatar as a housekeeper.” 

After four years of working in Qatar, he is now ready to take on a new challenge that awaits him in Oman, where he will be working as a server at a 5-star hotel.

“Every opportunity I embrace brings me a step closer to accomplishing my goal of becoming a hotel manager,” he shares. 

“Migration has been a gateway for me to chase my dreams and build a successful career.” 

Reflecting on his migration journey, he adds “Navigating through new environments and adapting to different cultures is always a challenge, but that’s also what adds to enrich the experience.” 

Today, Kyaw is supporting his brother in Myanmar to learn a new language, paving the way for him to migrate as well one day and pursue a career as an interpreter abroad. 

Kyaw was one of 407,260 migrant workers who have benefitted from the Poverty Reduction through Safe Migration, Skills Development and Enhanced Job Placement (PROMISE) programme – a regional initiative aimed at increasing migrant workers' access to gainful employment and enhanced protection. 

This story was written by Anushma Shrestha, Media and Communications Officer at IOM Thailand.