Since the early 2000s, Kyaw Thu has devoted much time to do social work for the poor, and in the process has gradually emerged as a vocal critic of the Burmese military government.

Kyaw Thu won the 1994 Myanmar Academy Award for Best Actor in Da-Byi-Thu Ma Shwe Hta (တပြည်သူမရွှေထား; lit.

In October 2007, his latest HIV/AIDS awareness film, A-Kywin-Mè Longyon-Ya (အကြွင်းမဲ့ လုံခြုံရာ), has been blocked by the government censorship board.

[1] In collaboration with the famous author/movie director U Thukha, Kyaw Thu and his wife Shwe Zee Kwet founded the Free Funeral Service Society (Yangon).

In 2007 April, the organisation was expanded to Thukha Charity Clinic where free healthcare is provided with the help of volunteer doctors, medical specialists and surgeons.

Through his funeral services society, Kyaw Thu was active in rescue and support efforts in the aftermath of May 2008 Cyclone Nargis which completely devastated Burma's Irrawaddy delta and cost over 130,000 lives.

The humanitarian efforts Kyaw Thu has made through FFSS (Ygn) include Nargis Cyclone relief, contribution of potable water and building water wells and reservoirs in water shortage areas, distribution of relief aid to fire victims of Mingalataungnyunt Township and Hlaing Thaya Township, rendering humanitarian assistances to war victims in Kachin State and refugees in the unrest area of Rakhine, donating medicines and cash to the injured monks and people in crash against the Letpatdaung copper mine project, providing foods, medicines and cash to the victims of the communal violence and Meiktila and speaking words of encouragement to them.

The FFSS led by Kyaw Thu supported numerous people involved in the civil disobedience movement and also announced it wouldn’t provide family members of police or military personnel with funerals and health care after witnessing the security force's killings of the protestors, whereas the military council made terrible threats to the civil servants and forced them to work.

On 4 March, Kyaw Thu was prosecuted for inciting the government staff to participate in the CDM under Article 505(a) of the Myanmar Penal Code.

In 2009 April, he was awarded the prize “the artist who stands for the fellow people” by the Myanmar community in London.

In 2011 November, Immanuel Theological Institute (Main Church), Union Biblical Seminary (Yangon), International School of Theology (Bangkok), and Online Bible College International (Australia) together awarded him with D.H.S.S (Doctor of Humane Social Services) and his wife with M.A.S.S (Masters of Social Services) at the Emmanuel Church, Yangon.