Refugee Joanna Khin, spent 24 years in refugee camps before finding a real refuge in Werribee, Australia.Her face, smiling and warm, and her friendly manner, give away nothing of the decades she spent in the camps on the Thai-Burma border. The youngest of three children, Ms Khin was just six when her parents were forced to uproot their young family to save their lives.
Ms Khin said the camp of about 50,000 refugees was in a constant state of fear, and during her time there her family moved regularly. “We lived in the refugee camp for nearly 24 years. I think it’s typical for our people to be afraid, because the Burmese sometimes shoot people in the camp. We have to move and run into the hills... we ran away because we are scared of them shooting.
Because they had to move often, her parents had to build eight different houses. She said, “One year, we have to go to another place and start to build again, then again; each time we ran away from the shooting.”
In 2006, Ms Khin was sponsored by her brother and sister, who had already escaped, to move to Australia. “I came here two years and six months ago, she said. “My dad is here but my mum passed away in the camp, so I was very sad because my mum wanted to come here with me and my brother and sister.”Since settling in Werribee, Ms Khin has done more than 1300 hours’ study in courses to improve her English and living skills and is now helping other refugees who have fled similar situations in their home countries. “Before, in the camp, I never spoke English. I learn to speak English in Australia, with friends and teachers,” she said. “Now I work volunteering here at the Werribee community centre every Thursday. I help students to ring for something, interpret a little bit... I cook for the staff at the community centre. I enjoy it very much because I practice English and it is good for me.”
Ms Khin will continue her English studies this year, but is keen to broaden her education and take up employment in a familiar field. “I want to work with children,” she said. I like to, because back in the camp I taught primary school and kindergarten. There were lots of children there, nearly 800 or 1000, so we had about 22 primary schools and many high schools.”
But it’s not the language, the education and definitely not the material benefits that Australia offers, that attract Ms Khin the most. “I like it here because for me, everything is so open and free," She said. "Men and women are equal,” she said. "But more importantly, It’s safe for me here.”
From Werribee, Hoppers Crossing Star
