Founder’s Story
Mrat Twan
Founder&Director
Growing up in a small village in Rakhine, surrounded by mangrove forest and salty creek—with no electricity, no internet and only simplicity of rural life.
In 2013, a child once without clear direction and dream took a meaningful turn when he joined NEED Myanmar. There, he discovered a deep passion for nature conservation and sustainable farming.
Then, Mrat spent his time as an environmental educator at some non-profits in Myanmar, leading environmental education campaigns and youth-led organic model farms.
Driven by passion to work for this community, Mrat returned to his home state after kanthari and spent about two years at the farming organization in Rakhine.
With deepen understanding of the on-ground environmental and social challenges facing his home community, Mrat founded Twinleaf Arakan – a youth-led initiative dedicated to empowering rural youths and small scale farmers.
Through center for soil defenders and community impact programs, Mrat want to bring the positive change into his home communities while protecting the natural resources and nearby environment.
Khaing Zaw Htoo
Co-founder/Operation Manager
Khaing Zaw Htoo was raised in a family family in a remote village of Rakhine, where transportation is limited and daily life shaped with resilience. Growing up, he witnessed the growing disconnect between generation of farmers and increasing deforestation in the central and northern parts of Rakhine.
His perspective began to shift after joining Kant Kaw Education Center, where he was introduced to environmental activism social studies. Inspired by what he learned, Khaing Zaw Htoo began promoting reforestation and ecological awareness in his community.
Today, as the co-founder of Twinleaf Arakan, he is committed to empower his home community and preserving traditional agriculture practices. Through this work, he aims to bridge the generation gap in farming, support a more sustainable future of rural Rakhine.