Oo Meh

Oo Meh is a Karenni/Kayah woman born in Myanmar. The Karenni people are one of the many ethnic groups from Myanmar. While Karenni serves as an umbrella term encompassing several subgroups and dialects, including Kayaw and Kayen, Kayah is the most widely recognized. Throughout her life, Oo Meh has remained deeply connected to her identity, carrying her culture with her across land and generations. She believes that identity is something that must be actively preserved through language, traditions, and relationships, especially for those who have experienced displacement. Her story reflects the strength of her community and the determination to ensure that future generations remain connected to their culture.

Oo Meh spent her youth in a bamboo home located on the top of a hill. Her days were filled with freedom, like running through the fields, playing outdoors with her friends, and being surrounded by her community. She vividly remembers her last day in her village, when she said goodbye by shaking everyone’s hands. One by one, each person wished her and her family a safe journey. But the journey to America was filled with unfamiliar experiences: her first ride in a car, a bus, and an airplane. The long bus ride left her motion sick, and at the airport she and her family nearly missed their flight after getting lost. Although she was only a child, the experience marked the beginning of a life of resilience and the courage to face difficult situations. Leaving behind familiar places and loved ones was hard, but it also opened the door to new possibilities that would shape her future. 

In 2009, at the age of nine, Oo Meh and her family resettled in the United States. They first lived in Missouri, where the transition proved challenging and at times felt lonely due to no Karenni community nearby and little awareness of Karenni culture. She entered school without knowing any English and struggled to fit into the unfamiliar culture and new education system.  With no support outside of their social worker, her parents struggled to find work and their family struggled to adjust to living in the United States. 

After a year, an uncle encouraged her family to move to Minnesota. The relocation transformed their experience. For the first time, Oo Meh found a Karenni community and felt a sense of belonging. Schools offered ESL support and resources that helped her succeed. Surrounded by people who shared her culture and experiences, she felt deeply supported and less alone. In high school, Oo Meh dreamed of becoming a teacher. She was inspired by her parents’ sacrifices, reminding herself, “I’m here because my parents wanted better opportunities for me.” She pursued higher education and completed internships in schools, but her growing involvement with the Karenni community led her on a new path. She changed her major to Family Social Science and focused her studies on immigrant and refugee experiences. 

Oo Meh is now a leader in the Karenni community. She helps organize cultural events, connects families with resources, mentors young people, and coaches soccer. Her commitment to preserving Karenni culture is personal. She believes cultural events help people remember who they are and where they come from. Her work is grounded in resilience and gratitude. As a child, she often served as a bridge for her parents, translating and helping them navigate systems they could not fully understand because of language barriers. Those experiences shaped her understanding of responsibility. She believes that people’s stories are powerful and that the challenges of the past help shape the future. Rather than forgetting her journey, she is inspired by it. Whether she is raising her son, working with Karenni youth, supporting newly arrived families, or organizing community celebrations, she strives to create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected. She hopes that her work encourages others to embrace their heritage and the opportunities created for them. 

Motherhood has added another meaning to her life. She is determined to ensure that her son understands his heritage while also embracing diversity. She wants to provide him with the support, opportunities, and guidance that her parents struggled to access. Understanding the language and systems around her allows her to show up for her son in ways that were not always possible for her own parents. Looking forward, Oo Meh hopes to achieve emotional and financial stability while continuing to serve her family and community. To her, success is not defined by money. Rather, it is about having a healthy family, creating stability, and being a good mother, wife, and person. All in all, she hopes to leave a legacy of cultural pride, community connection, and opportunity for the next generation.