Pler Paw

Pler is an amazing young woman who has overcome many obstacles in her twenty-one years. Pler’s life started in a refugee camp in Thailand. Prior to her birth, her family fled Burma due to the ongoing civil war, and they faced constant dangers because of their ethnicity. After fifteen years of living in the refugee camp, her family was eventually resettled in the US. Pler was ten years old at the time. One of the things Pler remembers about her earliest days in the US was meeting people from different races and cultures, something she’d never done before. She had to learn a new language, try unfamiliar foods at school, and make new friends- none of whom spoke her familiar language.

When a refugee family is resettled through a resettlement agency, provisions are made for their basic needs for survival- food, shelter, healthcare, and access to schooling or jobs. For many refugees, previous traumatic experiences can create significant barriers to their well-being which, without support, can stunt growth.

In Pler’s case, she was living in an unsafe situation and had the courage to seek safety. She sought help through Thrive and was able to navigate police reports and court hearings which empowered her and her family to secure an order of protection against those causing harm.

In addition to benefiting from advocacy, Pler has been a student in Thrive’s adult education program. In 2021, she graduated from Overton High School. She was the first of her family to earn a high school diploma, and soon she will be the first in her family to become a US citizen. In January of 2024, she began attending our US Citizenship classes as a very enthusiastic student!

On October 1, 2024, Pler scheduled her naturalization interview and passed the test, taking her one step closer to her US citizenship!

Pler is continuing to learn and grow. She loves her family, loves Jesus, and is passionate about prayer and Bible study. She was baptized in the fall of 2023 along with her long-time friend, and now sister-in-law. One day she hopes to serve as a missionary. I know that she is already a shining light to those of us privileged enough to know her.

Thrive South Nashville needs you to help empower more youth by volunteering and/or donating. To volunteer with Thrive Beyond (Thrive’s Youth Program), email volunteer@thrivesouthnashville.org

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