International Alumnus of the Year

Mong Marma

Mong

International Alumnus of the Year, Mong Marma

Kyasingmong (Mong) is from the remote village of Dongnala in Bangladesh. He belongs to the ‘Marma Indigenous Community’, who have been struggling for their rights and identities against the majority Bengali dominant government since 1971.  

In 2007, he was awarded an AusAID scholarship for his Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies at Southern Cross University.  

It has been an amazing journey for Mong in his determination to overcome language, geographical and political barriers to achieve what he has. 

After graduating, he began working with Peace Brigades International in Nepal as a Human Rights Field Officer where he provided protective accompaniment to at-risk human rights lawyers and defenders.  

“This was such a unique opportunity for me because Nepal was just coming out of civil conflict. I was interested in studying how that conflict happened and how can I, coming from a neighbouring country, help them out,” according to Mong. 

The inherent dangers involved with Mong’s studies didn’t faze him. After Nepal, he joined the Nonviolent Peaceforce in Mindanao, in the Philippines, as an International Civilian Protection Monitor. His primary responsibilities there involved monitoring, verification and reporting on ceasefire-related violence between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  

Mong’s focus then turned to Thailand where he joined the Indigenous Peoples Organization based in Chiang Mai as a Human Rights and Policy Advocacy Officer. He conducted advocacy work on the issues concerning Indigenous peoples’ lives and livelihoods at various regional and international forums including ASEAN and the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva, Switzerland.  

In 2015, after years of contributing to the fight for Indigenous people’s rights in Bangladesh, and in Asia, Mong was awarded a Rotary Peace Fellowship. 

“My long-term objective personally is to enrich my understanding of my own culture. I want to work with Indigenous communities so there can be some positive social change.” 

He is now pursuing his doctoral studies in Indigenous Philosophies at Southern Cross University where he is researching the justice system for the Marma people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. 

“We are part of this global movement of indigenous people asserting our rights. It’s been a great experience in a sense of where I came from and who I am now.”  

My name is Kyasingmong Marma.
Marma refers to my community back home in the Dongnala region in Bangladesh.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies from Southern Cross University and
that was part of the Australian Government awards, the scholarship I received.
When I did my bachelor, I did one course in human rights and also some internship in Sydney.
I attended a couple of human rights conferences and I myself presented one in Byron Bay.
After graduation I went to work on human rights issues – that was in Nepal this was such
a unique opportunity for me because Nepal is just coming out of civil conflict. I was
interested in studying how that conflict happened and how can I coming from a neighbouring country
help them out.
Currently I’m doing a doctorate in Indigenous Philosophies focusing on the justice system
of our people in Bangladesh.
My long-term objective personally is to enrich my understanding of my own culture.
I want to work with indigenous communities so there can be some positive social change.
We are part of this global movement of indigenous people asserting our rights.
It’s been a great experience in a sense of where I came from and who I am now.

2020 Alumni Impact Award Recipients

Alumnus of the Year, Professor Debra Jackson AO

Debra is a distinguished nurse scientist and scholar. She was the first nurse – and is still today the only nurse – appointed to a Principal fellowship of the NIHR-funded Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, awarded in recognition of sustained contribution to generating knowledge to enhance the care of NHS patients in the United Kingdom.

Learn more about Debra
Debra

Young Alumnus of the Year, Nikita Austin

Nikita is a speech pathologist who is passionate about working with rural, regional and indigenous communities to improve access to healthcare. She has created an Indigenous-friendly communication board for Speech Pathology Australia.

Learn more about Nikita
Nikita Austin - Young Alumnus of the Year

International Alumnus of the Year, Mong Marma

Kyasingmong (Mong) is from the remote village of Dongnala in Bangladesh. As a Legal and Justice Studies graduate, Mong has worked in countries around the world to protect the rights of indigenous communities, at-risk human rights lawyers and defenders, and civilians impacted by ceasefire-related violence.

Learn more about Mong
Mong Marma - International Alumnus of the Year

Community Impact Alumnus of the Year, Aula Sakinah Muntasyarah

Aula is a champion of agroforestry and community programs that solve environmental problems while creating revenue streams. She has worked with young farmers in West Lombok to increase their knowledge of sustainable agroforestry systems including soil management.

Learn more about Aula
Aula Sakinah Muntasyarah - Community Impact Award

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