Success stories of Refugees in Pennsylvania
Current Story: San Kyi
His name is San Kyi and he came to Pittsburgh in September 2007.
He was forced to flee his country a few years earlier, leaving behind his wife and son, after he was tipped off that authorities had discovered an underground newspaper in his vehicle. It was a paper that he and his friends had started in protest of the military government, which was using force to subdue pro-democracy activists like Kyi.
He had witnessed many killings over the years, and fearing his own death or imprisonment, he left for Malaysia.
There, he worked various construction jobs until he was jailed for protesting in front of the Burmese embassy. Upon his release 20 months later, the United Nations granted him refugee status.
Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services program helped to resettle Kyi and moved him into an apartment in Troy Hill. Since Kyi knew some English, staff was able to find work for him immediately at a Strip District sausage business and then he later became employed at Breadworks on the North Side where he is currently working in the machine maintenance department.
His knowledge of English and the primary Burmese dialects paved the way for Breadworks to hire 16 additional refugees. Kyi notes that he is eager to help his fellow Burmese succeed on the job because “so many in Pittsburgh went out of their way to help me.”
Kyi’s relationship with one of Breadworks owners, David Thomas and his church, Discovery Church in Cranberry has helped him to flourish. Discovery and two other Pittsburgh area churches, established a church for the Burmese refugee community in Troy Hill and provide ongoing support, mentoring and resources for the Burmese.
For Kyi, that also meant helping him to secure financing to purchase a home.
His hope for the future includes becoming a citizen and being reunited with his wife and son.
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