Founder of Free English School at Ngapali Beach, "Mami Suu," Awarded MBE by the British Royal Family

News December 22, 2025

In Rakhine State, Ngapali town, Ngapali Beach area, "Mami Suu" (also known as Mommy Sue or Susan Ozturk), the founder of the free English school (The Vera Thomson English School), has been awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the British Royal Family, according to reports.

On December 6, an official photo was taken and posted on the social media page of The Vera Thomson English School, showing her holding the MBE medal awarded by the British Royal Family during a royal ceremony.

The MBE is an honour bestowed by the United Kingdom to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in fields such as community service, education, health, culture, and others.The free English school (The Vera Thomson English School) was established in 2001 and operated normally until fighting broke out due to the Myanmar military's coup.

The school's objective is to help children and youth in the Ngapali Beach area become proficient in English, and to play an important role in improving education levels for local residents.

Currently, although the Ngapali Beach area is under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), most schools in the Rakhine region, including the free English school (The Vera Thomson English School) at Ngapali Beach, have not yet resumed operations due to airstrikes by the Myanmar military.

Photo: Mami Suu, founder of The Vera Thomson English School.

(Note: "Mami Suu" is a local affectionate name for Susan Ozturk, the school's founder, who received the MBE in the King's Birthday Honours 2025 for services to children’s education and healthcare in Myanmar.)

source@onenationsnews