Merry (Nan) Kham Oo

Myanmar

Merry (Nan) Kham Oo

Myanmar

Merry (Nan) Kham Oo was born on Christmas Day in Muse, Northern Shan State, Myanmar in 1972. She studied at the number 1 State High School in Muse from 1978 – 1984. Upon graduation, she moved to Mandalay in 1984 and continued her studies at State High School #13 of Mandalay. In 1996, she graduated from Mandalay University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany. When she studied at Mandalay University, she was active in the Shan Traditional Culture Association.

In 1997 she moved to Yangon and learned and worked in fashion and costume design, which integrated well with her actives at the Shan Traditional Culture Association in Yangon. In 2001, she returned home to Muse, Shan State, and opened a fashion shop, began teaching English, and began to teach at the Shan Youth Cultural Association in Muse. She received Costume Designer Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for the Myanmar team in its Celebrations of Friendship between Myanmar and China.

In 2011, she moved to Bangkok, Thailand and began work as a hair stylist, while she continued her work with the Shan Youth (Tai Yai) Network of Thailand as an English teacher and teacher of Shan (Tai Yai) Traditional Culture.

In 2018 she served as a translator for Burmese monks and as a representative of Shan State Culture at the United Nations in Bangkok for Vesak Day. Then covid came and businesses shuttered. One day, Merry Kham Oo was asked to accompany some Burmese monks as a translator to Dhammakaya Temple. She did so and was invited to remain on December 18, 2020. She has subsequently become the Zoom manager for the Global Buddhist Alliance and Dhammakaya Temple, specializing in international relations between Myanmar and Thailand. She now hosts a daily show online which has successfully reached Buddhist temples and laity despite covid and political conditions.

Merry (Nan) Kham Oo is being honored today for her dedication to the preservation of Shan Tai Yai culture and for being a bridge of understanding between countries. Her networking brings hope to Burmese Buddhists, young Burmese monastics, and resources to young nuns-in-need.

At this time, the nuns at 9 temples in Myanmar need assistance of funds to pay for internet access. Thank you.