Aung San Suu Kyi has been a figurehead for her country’s struggle for democracy since 1988. She was born to lead her nation; her father was Burma's independence hero. He was assassinated when she was just two years old. Suu Kyi had an international upbringing. She was educated in Burma, India, and the United Kingdom, where she got her PhD.

 

In 1988 she returned home to care for her dying mother. Burma was in political chaos after a new military junta took power. A nationwide uprising against the Generals started and Suu Kyi campaigned for freedom and democracy. The brutal regime clamped down on the people and slaughtered 10,000 demonstrators. This made Suu Kyi more determined to help her people.

 

Suu Kyi increased her efforts to fight the dictators who were leading her country. She was put under house arrest. Even though the government arrested her, the party she led won a staggering 82% of the seats in the 1990 election. The regime never recognized the results. The Generals offered her freedom if she left the country, but she refused.

 

Suu Kyi was under house arrest for the best part of two decades. Ms Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize while being detained. She was given her freedom by the military dictatorship on November 13th, 2010. She was greeted by thousands of adoring Burmese at the gates of her home. World leaders welcomed her release. Her new goal is to work with anyone and everyone in Burma to make a better country for her people.