Karenni Vision | Inspiring Voices from Our Global Family

Wah Stina (Byar Mar) — From Refugee Camp to Community Leader in Buffalo, USA

Every great journey begins with humble steps — and for Wah Stina, known by many as Byar Mar, that journey began in the heart of a refugee camp.

Amid the struggles and scarcity of camp life, she discovered three guiding lights that would shape her entire path: perseverance, community, and education.

While others saw limitation, she saw purpose — the chance to serve, to learn, and to rise for her people.

In 2012, Wah Stina graduated from the Karenni Community College (KnCC) — a place that not only nurtured her academic foundation but also deepened her passion for helping others.

Soon after, she began teaching at Karenni Camp 1, sharing her knowledge with the next generation who, like her, dreamed beyond the fences of displacement.

Her journey continued as a news anchor for Kantarawaddy Times, where she broadcasted in the Karenni language. Through her voice, she became a messenger of truth and unity — keeping hope alive among her people and giving them access to information that empowered their daily lives.

In 2013, Wah Stina and her family resettled in Buffalo, New York, embracing a completely new world — a new language, culture, and way of life.

Though it was not an easy transition, she carried her Karenni spirit with grace and determination.

Through dedication and discipline, she earned her Associate Degree in General Studies from Erie Community College (ECC) in 2016 — proving that education continues to be a tool for transformation, wherever life may lead.

Since 2016, Wah Stina has served as an interpreter in Burmese and Karenni at a community clinic in Buffalo.

Every day, she helps immigrant and refugee families bridge language gaps, access healthcare, and find comfort in an unfamiliar land. Her work stands as a living example of compassion in action — a quiet yet powerful form of leadership.

But her service doesn’t stop at her workplace. She remains deeply engaged with her roots, working tirelessly to support those still in need back home.

As a co-founder of the Karenni Humanitarian Team (KHT), she helped create an initiative that raises funds and provides critical assistance to internally displaced families in Karenni State — especially after the 2021 coup.

And in 2022, her leadership was further recognized when she became the President of the Karenni Community of Buffalo, where she continues to lead with heart, humility, and unity.

Under her guidance, the community has organized fundraisers for IDPs, cultural festivals, and major events like Kay Htoe Boe and Dee Ku, celebrating heritage while strengthening solidarity among Karenni people in the diaspora.

Wah Stina credits her father as her lifelong role model — a man whose unwavering service to others taught her that true leadership begins with love and sacrifice.

Inspired by his example, she has devoted her life to making a positive difference wherever she goes — carrying the Karenni spirit of resilience and compassion into every corner of her journey.

Her story reminds us that the strength of our people lies not only in where we come from but in how far we choose to carry our values.

From the humble classrooms of a refugee camp to the community halls of Buffalo, Wah Stina continues to embody the message that service is the truest form of leadership.

“Accept responsibility for your life knowing that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.”— Les Brown