Jue Jue
Two decades after graduating from Atlantic College (2004 - 2006), Jue Jue continues to embody the college's values of service, compassion, and global citizenship in a powerful and deeply personal way.
Originally from Myanmar, Jue Jue came to Atlantic College under exceptional circumstances. Exiled to Thailand due to her father’s political activism, she grew up stateless—without formal protection from any government. Her early life was shaped by political instability, activism and extraordinary resilience.
“When I first arrived at AC as a scholarship student, I couldn’t speak English and missed the orientation camp due to visa delays. Early on, I felt isolated and alone, but I reminded myself that I received this scholarship to share my story and connect with others, so I pushed myself to try.”
That courage quickly translated into action. At AC, Jue Jue launched the Free Burma Campaign and helped organize fundraising events through cultural food nights. Her dedication earned her the Peace Project Award, which enabled her to take a group of fellow students to the Thai-Burma border to teach English and art in a refugee camp.
“The project marked a turning point for me, launched while I was at AC and carried forward with even greater purpose after I graduated.”
Today, based in Hawai’i, Jue Jue is the founder of Jue Jue’s Safe Space and works at Queen’s Medical Center as a medical social worker. Through her efforts, she has shown the power of mental health and psychosocial support for Burmese communities in crisis across Myanmar, Thailand, and beyond. What began as a personal page to share her own mental health journey has evolved into a lifeline for thousands.
“Our mission is to build inner peace toward national peace in Myanmar,” she explains. “We support one person at a time, one community at a time. Especially women and youth leaders who are doing the hard work of building peace from the ground up.”
Furthermore, Jue Jue’s Safe Space provides trauma-informed therapy, suicide prevention support, and leadership training to people affected by conflict, including survivors of torture and sexual violence. One of its hallmark achievements has been the successful organization of the Annual National Mental Health Conference which was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with remarkable success.
“My dream of starting a helpline for Burma began at AC. At the time, I didn’t feel confident enough in English to volunteer. But the idea stuck with me and now I’m running one. So far, we have been able to help over 400 people escape life-threatening dangers and emotional distress. This number ,400 lives, reflects just how much the public trusts and relies on Jue Jue’s Safe Space. AC planted that seed.”
Reflecting on her time at the College, Jue Jue describes it as “life-changing,” a place that gave her both the tools and the belief that she could make a difference. Today, she pays that forward by supporting current and prospective Burmese students at AC, understanding first-hand the financial and emotional challenges many face.
“If I can help others access what I was given, I will.”
Jue Jue’s journey from statelessness to becoming a beacon of hope, fuels the mission at Jue Jue’s Safe Space: healing trauma, nurturing inner peace and rebuilding communities shattered by conflict. To learn more about Jue Jue and her work, please visit https://www.juejuessafespace.org.