Urgent Support for Lwin and DISP Scholars
Lwin woke up to missed calls and messages—messages that made her heart drop. Her scholarship had been canceled. What felt like a nightmare was unfolding in real-time. Her scholarship was more than just a means to an education; it was a lifeline, offering her the rare opportunity to remain in safety, outside the war-torn chaos of Myanmar. Without it, she faces the terrifying, almost unimaginable reality of deportation to Myanmar, where she could be imprisoned or forced into military service to fight against her own people. Lwin is an ethnic minority woman from Karen State, a region where persecution and violence are daily, deadly realities.
Lwin was awarded a full scholarship for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Saint Louis University, Baguio, Philippines—a testament to her hard work, resilience, and commitment to her community. She has excelled in every aspect of her academic and extracurricular life, earning a place on the Dean’s List and engaging in vital volunteer work. This scholarship was not only a ticket to a brighter future for Lwin but also a means of escape from the constant threats she faces in Myanmar. However, her dream of becoming a nurse and contributing to the betterment of her people is now in jeopardy due to the sudden cancellation of her scholarship.
Despite her unwavering commitment and determination, Lwin’s scholarship was revoked due to a crisis triggered by political decisions beyond her control. Tragically, this decision, to block scholarships for the most vulnerable and oppressed women, came from the world’s richest man, billionaire Elon Musk.
It is crucial to recognize that these political decisions have life-or-death consequences for students like Lwin. The very lives of these students hang in the balance, and it is more than just a funding issue—it is a humanitarian crisis that requires our immediate action.
Background
On February 27, U.S.-funded humanitarian and educational projects worldwide received abrupt termination notices. These included critical programs providing lifesaving care for millions and educational opportunities for displaced individuals in some of the most dangerous and war-torn regions, including Sudan and Myanmar. Among these vital initiatives was the Diversity Scholarship Initiative for Burma (DISP), a program designed to support Burmese students from marginalized and underprivileged backgrounds, allowing them to pursue higher education at universities across Asia. For many of these students, like Lwin, DISP was their only chance to receive an education outside of Burma, where the military regime’s oppressive control over the education system systematically discriminates against those who oppose it.
The fallout from such a decision has devastated countless lives. This wasn’t just a bureaucratic move by an unelected government official; it was an attack on the people who dedicated their lives to helping the most vulnerable. The impact of this “wrecking” has sent ripples through programs that once gave hope to students like Lwin, who now face the looming threat of deportation, imprisonment, or forced conscription.
"At 5pm on a Friday, we received an email saying our particular contract had been shut down. In all, 10,000 professionals were dismissed from their jobs, while Elon Musk called us a criminal organization and its staff – me included – a 'ball of worms'. The wrecking had begun." Christian Smith, a now former USAID officer, shared in The Guardian on March 7, 2025:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/07/usaid-workers-trump
The Impact
We face a moment in time when the call to help those in need has never been more urgent. As human beings, we have a profound moral obligation to lift those who are struggling, especially the most vulnerable among us. Every day, the most basic of human rights—safety, education, opportunity—are slipping further from reach for those who need it most. The truth is that, due to the reneging of existing obligations and promises, the lack of empathy, and the failure of moral leadership from the current US government, the responsibility has fallen upon the shoulders of compassionate individuals and organizations like Daughters Rising to step forward and do what is right!
The cancellation of DISP scholarships has directly affected around 400 students, including Lwin, who now face the heartbreaking possibility of losing their visas, abandoning their education, and being sent back to a country where they face severe persecution, imprisonment, or forced conscription. The ripple effects of this funding cut extend far beyond individual lives. These scholars are not just students—they are the future leaders of their communities. They return home with knowledge and skills that could help rebuild Myanmar, but without support, their dreams will be shattered, and the communities that depend on them will be left without hope.
Following the devastating cuts, former USAID staff in the region reached out to Daughters Rising, asking if we could help as many students as we could afford to support. These individuals care deeply about the students they’ve worked with, and they don’t want to leave these young women stranded in a situation with no safety net. Neither do we! After thoughtful discussions, we determined that we could help an additional 25 students beyond the 80 we are providing with scholarships this year.
However, this decision puts a tremendous strain on our finances. But we believe it is possible—through support from our community and other initiatives that we will put into action throughout the coming months. We are reaching out today with a clear and urgent call for help. Every contribution and every act of solidarity will make a difference in ensuring that these students have the opportunity to continue their education and stay safe. Together, we can give them the chance to build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Our Urgent Request
We are seeking emergency funding to ensure that Abigail and other DISP scholars can continue their education and pursue their dreams of a better life. Specifically, we are asking for your support to:
How You Can Help
Conclusion
It is heartbreaking to recognize that the consequences of stopping USAID’s support are not just abstract political debates, but real, life-threatening risks for the students we serve. For students like Lwin, the reality is devastating: without the critical support that these programs provide, their chances of completing their education and achieving a better future are slipping away. The situation is urgent—decisions made in far-off offices impact lives in immediate, profound ways.
And yet, despite the systemic shortcomings, we will not stand idly by. We refuse to let these students down. We do not want to make promises we cannot keep, but we also cannot sit back when we know we have the power to help. We must act. It is not just a matter of generosity; it is a matter of humanity.
We do not want to let our students down. We cannot promise them a better future without your help. We cannot make promises we can’t keep. Please, stand with us. We need you now more than ever. How can you help? Your support—whether through direct funding, raising awareness, or partnering with us—will ensure that these students can continue to fight for their futures and fulfill their promise as leaders. Together, we can provide them with the chance they deserve.
What is DISP?
The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP) was founded to reflect Burma’s rich ethnic and religious diversity, offering equal educational opportunities to students from backgrounds that have historically faced discrimination under the military-controlled education policies. Many DISP recipients belong to ethnic minority groups such as the Karen, Kachin, Shan, Chin, and Rohingya, all of whom have suffered systemic oppression and violence. DISP provides these marginalized groups with an opportunity to pursue education outside of Burma, where they can build a better future for themselves and their communities.
*Lwin’s name has been change to protect her idendity
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