Parami’s student-led Project Luminary wins First Place in the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship

Parami University is proud to announce that Project Luminary has been awarded First Place in the 2026 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, presented by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities. As the First-Place prize-winning program, it will receive $10,000 to support the program’s activities. Alongside Project Luminary, the 2026 MacJannet Prize winners include ELEDUC (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, second place) and the Frontliner Model (American University of Beirut, third place). Honorable mentions were awarded to HEC Paris, Sabancı University, and Strathmore University for their student-led initiatives. The MacJannet Prize recognizes outstanding university and student initiatives that advance civic engagement and social impact worldwide, highlighting the role of higher education in addressing urgent global challenges through community-centered action.

Project Luminary was selected for its work supporting underserved Burmese youth affected by the 2021 military coup, which severely disrupted education pathways. The initiative delivers free, structured programs that combine access to higher education support, skills development, and civic engagement, enabling students to continue learning and build pathways for the future amid ongoing instability.

Founded in December 2023 and led by Kaung Myat Phyo, Ei Phyu Sin Win, and Moe Honey, Project Luminary expands access to higher education while fostering social responsibility and critical thinking. Across three program cycles, it has delivered the Pilot Program, Pathways & Perspectives, and LARC, with the latest cycle—Pathways & Perspectives—combining university application support with facilitated discussions on social issues to strengthen both practical readiness and civic awareness. 

“This dual focus of the P & P program embodies and empowers the broader dual mission of Project Luminary itself - to equip youth with tools, skills, and knowledge necessary for their personal development, and at the same time to cultivate critical awareness of social issues by fostering their intellectual development and civic responsibility,” explained Kaung Myat Phyo, Project Lead and Advancement Lead.

Across its three cycles, the initiative received 210 applications, reached 96 youth aged 16–25, and engaged 121 community members. Participants came from across Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and a refugee context. The program was supported by 10 student and youth contributors, 18 faculty and staff members, and 15 guest speakers and instructors, and was delivered entirely free of charge.

Project Luminary was shaped by the lived experiences of its founders, who navigated Myanmar’s disrupted education system before joining Parami University. It began when one founder started informally supporting peers in accessing university opportunities, which grew into a broader effort to address gaps in guidance, scholarships, and learning pathways. With support from Parami University’s civic engagement grant, the idea developed into a pilot initiative that has since grown into a sustained, youth-led civic education program.

“Project Luminary would not have come into existence without Parami University. The idea began with our simple desire to encourage other young people to access opportunities that we ourselves were fortunate enough to discover through Parami.”  — Project Luminary Project Team

The founders explained that what started as informal encouragement gradually evolved into a broader mission of creating spaces for learning, critical engagement, and community contribution. They added that they view this recognition not only as an achievement of Project Luminary, but also as a reflection of Parami University’s values and philosophy, including intellectual curiosity, civic responsibility, and the belief that education should be used in the service of others. They also expressed gratitude to the faculty and staff whose encouragement, mentorship, and example helped shape both the project and its development.

Most importantly, they hope the award highlights the many civic engagement initiatives and community-centered efforts across the Parami community — both within the university and among its students — guided by inspired leadership, compassionate service, and global citizenship.