29/01/2026
Media Release From Phan Foundation
For Immediate Release Thursday 29th January 2026
Padoh Naw Lwe Htoo Say Wins 2025 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award
The Phan Foundation is pleased to announce that Padoh Naw Lwe Htoo Say is the winner of the 2025 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award.
Padoh Naw Lwe Htoo Say is the Head of the Justice Department of the Karen National Union (KNU), Director of the Karen Legal Assistance Center, and serves on several KNU committees. She was elected as a member of Central Standing Committee member during the 17th KNU congress.
The Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award is given annually to an outstanding young Karen person, to recognise and encourage young people working to help their communities. It is named after Padoh Mahn Sha, former General Secretary of the Karen National Union, who was assassinated by agents of the Burmese military in 2008. The award comes with $4,000 to support the work of the winner.
Nominating Padoh Naw Lwe Htoo Say, Saw Tha Taw Gay Wah, Deputy Director of the Karen Legal Assistance Center stated:
“Despite her significant responsibilities at the central and leadership levels, Naw Lwe Htoo Say remains deeply committed to community-level justice work. She actively engages with village, township, district, and central-level actors to strengthen community justice mechanisms, improve access to justice, and reinforce the rule of law in Kawthoolei. Her leadership bridges policy and practice, ensuring that justice reforms respond to real community needs.”
The nomination described how, through the Karen Legal Assistance Center, Naw Lwe Htoo Say has contributed to:
• Strengthening village-level and township-level justice mechanisms.
• Supporting community legal awareness and legal empowerment.
• Building the capacity of justice actors and community leaders.
• Developed and strengthened the Community Legal Volunteer (CLV) model, working closely with communities to provide legal consultation and advice, thereby improving community members’ access to justice.
• Established the first-ever Legal School Program in January 2025, launching the inaugural four-month cohort aimed at equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to become legal professionals serving their communities.
• Improving coordination between KNU departments, CSOs, and community structures.
“I am deeply grateful to the Phan Foundation for this recognition and would like to sincerely thank everyone who nominated and supported me. This award does not belong to me alone, it belongs to the many community justice volunteers, colleagues, and partners who work tirelessly every day to ensure that our people can access justice, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Inspired by the legacy of Padoh Mahn Sha, I remain committed to continuing this work alongside the KNU Justice Department, KLAC, and our communities to strengthen fair, inclusive, and accountable justice systems in Kawthoolei. I also hope this recognition encourages more young people, especially young women, to step forward as leaders in justice and public service. Our communities are strongest when women and youth are empowered to participate, lead, and shape the future of our society. Together, we will keep building local capacity, nurturing the next generation of justice leaders, and ensuring that justice reaches even the most remote and vulnerable communities,” said Padoh Naw Lwe Htoo Say, recipient of 2025 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award.
"For a young woman to have achieved so much aged just 33, and to be elected with so many responsibilities, gives encouragement to all young Karen women that they can break free from expectations of traditional roles of women and achieve anything," said Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, Director of the Phan Foundation.
The award will be presented to Padoh Naw Lwe Htoo Say on 31st January 2026 at Karen Revolution Day in Kawthoolei.
For more information please contact:
Nant Bwa Bwa Phan: [email protected]
About the Phan Foundation:
Phan Foundation is a UK-registered charity established in 2008 by the children of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan and Nant Kyin Shwe, in their memory. The foundation is dedicated to supporting the Karen people by fighting poverty, promoting education, and protecting human rights and culture. You can donate to the Phan Foundation to support our work at https://phanfoundation.org/
