Mary Tawn K.D.

Mary Tawn K.D. is a Kachin aid worker, and Founder of the Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN), a homegrown organization providing humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons (IDPS) and conflict-affected people from Kachin and the Northern Shan State of Myanmar. Her work in improving the lives of young people and women in particular is multi-dimensional – encompassing skills training, income generation and highlighting the differentiated treatment and sexual violence faced by women.

Mary has further initiated a social enterprise project, GRACE (Cheju), which creates job opportunities for young school dropouts and women living in IDP camps. Through this project, over a hundred women were provided with skills and small income jobs producing natural soaps, hand-sewn bags and juices in a small resort in Mai Ja Yang during 2017.

Mary served as a speaker at the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation Symposium (2015) on the experiences of women and children in conflict situations. She is the recipient of the Free Burma Rangers Achievement Award (2013), and the International Visitor Leadership Program presented by the United States Department of State (2016).