Part of the Solution
Miriam Mylvaganan, who is about to become a Rotary Peace Scholar, is driven
by a desire to be part of the solution to the problems facing the world,
particularly those involving refugees and economic development in poorer
countries.
She’s already a graduate in international relations from Victoria University and
has volunteered in several countries, and from September this year will study
for a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies at Bradford University in the UK.
Miriam Mylvaganan, who is about to become a Rotary Peace Scholar, is driven
by a desire to be part of the solution to the problems facing the world,
particularly those involving refugees and economic development in poorer
countries.
She’s already a graduate in international relations from Victoria University and
has volunteered in several countries, and from September this year will study
for a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies at Bradford University in the UK.
Miriam Mylvaganan, who is about to become a Rotary Peace Scholar, is driven
by a desire to be part of the solution to the problems facing the world,
particularly those involving refugees and economic development in poorer
countries.
She’s already a graduate in international relations from Victoria University and
has volunteered in several countries, and from September this year will study
for a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies at Bradford
University in the UK.
Of Sri Lankan descent but born in Hamilton and raised in Palmerston North
after her parents migrated to New Zealand in the 1970s Miriam now works at
MBIE where she was recently in charge of a migrant resettlement programme
for over 1 600 people fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.
She quoted Simon Sinek, a British-born American author and inspirational
speaker, about needing to know one’s ‘why’ as the key to one’s life and work.
Miriam’s “why” is helping others to get what she has. She told of a
transformational moment in her life when she was a volunteer in Cambodia in
2012 shortly after graduating from Victoria.
She saw an eight year old in a refugee camp, “who could have been me. I feel it
was only right for me to use my privilege to help others.”
She subsequently did volunteer work in Malawi, Thailand, Vietnam and in New
Zealand.
In Afghanistan selecting refugees to come to New Zealand, “I worked a lot of
overtime, but I was in my element. I talked to the refugees to understand how
the situation in that country unfolded. I listened to their stories and learned a
lot from them,” which has guided her in her work.
John Bishop
by a desire to be part of the solution to the problems facing the world,
particularly those involving refugees and economic development in poorer
countries.
She’s already a graduate in international relations from Victoria University and
has volunteered in several countries, and from September this year will study
for a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies at Bradford
University in the UK.
Of Sri Lankan descent but born in Hamilton and raised in Palmerston North
after her parents migrated to New Zealand in the 1970s Miriam now works at
MBIE where she was recently in charge of a migrant resettlement programme
for over 1 600 people fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.
She quoted Simon Sinek, a British-born American author and inspirational
speaker, about needing to know one’s ‘why’ as the key to one’s life and work.
Miriam’s “why” is helping others to get what she has. She told of a
transformational moment in her life when she was a volunteer in Cambodia in
2012 shortly after graduating from Victoria.
She saw an eight year old in a refugee camp, “who could have been me. I feel it
was only right for me to use my privilege to help others.”
She subsequently did volunteer work in Malawi, Thailand, Vietnam and in New
Zealand.
In Afghanistan selecting refugees to come to New Zealand, “I worked a lot of
overtime, but I was in my element. I talked to the refugees to understand how
the situation in that country unfolded. I listened to their stories and learned a
lot from them,” which has guided her in her work.
John Bishop