Say Paw was born in a village in the Karen state in Myanmar. She has four brothers and four sisters. Her mother passed away when she was nine years old, and then aged ten, she was taken to the Mae La Oo refugee camp by her older brother, to live with her sister. Say Paw continued her education in the camp. She can speak, read and write in both Karen and Burmese. In the camp she met and married Be Be and they had three children. In 2019, Be Be’s aunt sponsored them to come to Australia, and they settled in Nhill. Say Paw studies English at the Nhill Learning Centre and is learning to sew at Paw Po, where she is making great progress. In her free time, she likes to talk to her family members in Myanmar and America. In the future she would like to get a job and buy her own home.

Ma Aye was born in Karen State, Myanmar and continuously had to flee from conflict while she went to kindergarten. When she was six years old, she fled to Mae La refugee camp. Later in life there, she had two children and her youngest child was born in Queensland, Australia. While she was in the refugee camp, she became a cleaner for the local authorities. In 2015 she emigrated to Melbourne and after a few years moved to Pittsworth, Queensland, finally she settled in Nhill in 2019 with her family. Ma Aye loves all things sewing and loves to do embroidery. She loves to come to Paw Po to learn more about sewing. Ma Aye’s children go to the local school and her husband works at Luv-a-duck. She enjoys her life in Nhill because she has many friends and her family here. 

Paw Meit was born in Karen State, Myanmar and was a farmer. She met and married her husband and had five children. Paw Meit had to flee her home because of war and conflict and had to travel a rough path with her family to get to the Nu Poe refugee camp when she was twenty-seven years old. Sadly, Paw Meit lost her husband and one of her children in Nu Poe. Here she sold vegetables, took weaving, sewing and cooking classes while her children went to school. Paw Meit moved to Australia with one of her sons at the end of 2022 to start a new life in Nhill. Paw Meit loves to go to the Nhill Community Garden, Paw Po to sew and English classes to learn English.

Ma Lwar Bo was born in Karen State, Myanmar and at eleven years old, her mother and three younger siblings moved to Ma Ra Moo refugee camp. During this time, she took care of her siblings while her mother found some work to care for the family. She met and married her husband at the refugee camp and since then, they have had seven children, and her youngest was born in Australia. In 2017, Ma Lwar Bo and her family came to Australia as refugees in the hope that her children would receive a quality education and have the freedom they deserve. When she arrived in Australia she lived in Noble Park, a year later she moved to Nhill with her whole family. Ma Lwar Bo loves Nhill because her house is spacious enough for her to garden and raise chickens. She enjoys going to English classes to further her knowledge and loves sewing at PawPo to expand her skills.

Nga Shwe was born in Karen State, Myanmar, one of ten siblings. She was eighteen years old when she met and married her husband, they had six children together. Due to war and conflict, she then moved to the Mae Ra Moo refugee camp with her family for refuge, and stayed there for twenty years. In 2014 Nga Shwe and her family all moved to Australia and settled in Werribee for six and a half years. Nga Shwe and her family moved to Nhill due to work opportunities for her children. She really loves the peacefulness of Nhill and the community here. Nga Shwe also loves to go fishing in her free time and regularly goes to the Nhill community garden to grow vegetables with her husband. She enjoys the simple life that she has in Nhill.

April was born in Burma and at the age of 7 her family moved to a refugee camp in Thailand for safety. April lived in the camp for 16 years and felt like she was in jail, with no hope for the future. Fortunately her family was able to come to Australia in 2006 and initially settled in Brisbane. April was married in 2012 and now has one son. April and her family moved to Nhill in 2016. Since arriving in Australia April has worked at Hungry Jacks, Australia Country Choice and McLeans Chicken Farm. She would like to find another good job in the future and buy her own home. April enjoys sewing, cooking, gardening and listening to music.

Hser Wah was born in Burma, at 17 she moved to the border area to care for her aunt. Later she married. Burmese soldiers destroyed their village and so they fled across the border to a refugee camp. During this time, she cared for her 3 children. Later they moved to Mae La camp where Hser Wah worked for a hospital as a home visitor, checking on patients. She lived in this camp for over 24 years. In 2007 Hser Wah (now a widow) and her children came to Australia as refugees to seek safety, a good education and to live in freedom without fear.  In Australia Hser Wah studied English, worked on a duck farm and did volunteer work. Recently she has shifted to Nhill to live with her son’s family. Hser Wah joined the team at Paw Po where she has advanced her sewing skills. She enjoys sewing, spending time with her grandson and gardening.

Lah June was born in Burma in a Karen village. She is the fourth eldest of seven children. When she was 7 years old she went with one of her brothers to live in a refugee camp with her grandparents. She attended school in the camp up until grade 10. Lah June came to Australia in July 2018 and her brother has gone to live in America. She came directly to Nhill to live with her Auntie and Uncle. She is studying English at the Nhill Learning Centre and is enjoying learning to sew at Paw Po. Lah June appreciates the education opportunities in Australia but does not like the cold weather. In her spare time she likes to read stories and listen to music.

Cho was born in the Karen state in Burma and when she was one her parents took her and her brother and sister across the border to a refugee camp. Her desire for further education and a good life led her to apply to come to Australia when she was 21. She arrived in Darwin in 2008 on her own, and stayed there for 10 months before settling in Melbourne where she studied Year 11. Later she met and married her husband, Ah Bu. They relocated to Nhill for work, and Cho was able to support her parents in the camp because of her employment at Luv-a-duck.  She now has two boys – Ah Nee and Thee Thee. She continues to study at Nhill Learning Centre and one day hopes to open a shop. Cho enjoys being a mum, fishing, walking and visiting friends. She would like to thank Australia for allowing her to settle here and for supporting her.

Christina was born in Burma.  Her village was not a peaceful place to live and her parents had to hide the family in the forest away from the Burmese soldiers. They fled to the Thai border and lived in temporary camps for 3 years before arriving in the Sho Klo refugee camp, and after 9 years moved to the Mae La camp. While in the camps she studied, taught, got married and had four children. In 2004 her family applied to come to Australia and in 2009 they arrived and settled in Werribee. They feel very blessed to be here and are thankful for the opportunity to build a new life. Later the family shifted to Nhill for employment. Christina likes living in the quiet and peaceful town. She hopes to improve her English skills so that she can communicate well.

Coreena was born in the Sho Klo refugee camp on the Thai Burma border; the oldest of 6 children. Her parents fled there from Burma for safety. She lived for 20 years in the camp before her parents chose to apply to UNHCR to come to Australia. They chose Australia for its educational opportunities and Coreena’s aunty, who lived in Melbourne, sponsored them. Coreena studied English at AMES and worked for one and a half years before shifting to Nhill with her husband. They have a daughter, Savior. Coreena likes Australia because it provides opportunities to study and work. In the future she would like to work in childcare. In her free time she likes to watch movies and read.

Htoo Boh was born in Burma. When she was 21 she moved to a refugee camp with her husband and son to escape the military and find food and shelter. While living in the camp Htoo Boh had another son and learnt to weave. Her husband worked in a Thai village as a builder. In 2008 they came to Australia and settled in Werribee where she studied English with AMES for 5 months and had another son. In 2010 they moved to Nhill and had a daughter. Htoo Boh enjoys cooking, cleaning and gardening. Htoo Boh hopes that her children can get work when they finish their schooling and considers it a blessing to be living here in Australia.

Reehta was born in Burma, the youngest of 5 children. When she was 2 years old her mother passed away and this led to her father moving with his children to a refugee camp. Reehta remembers her father as a good, loving man who took very good care of his family. Reehta only attended school for one year and then at the age of 9 began working as a housekeeper to help support the family. She was married at 16 and had 4 children while living in the camp.  She moved to Australia when she was 30 years old. Her family lived in Werribee at first, where she had another daughter. In 2012 they moved to Nhill, due to her husband getting work at Luv-a-duck. Reehta loves to sing, sew and garden. She hopes her children are able to get work, have their own homes and a better life than her. She feels blessed to live in Australia but feels sad for family and friends still living back in hard conditions in the camps.

Si Blu was born in Burma. The Burmese soldiers returned to her village many times burning the houses to the ground. Her parents would flee and hide in the jungle. When Si Blu was five, her parents decided to go to the safety of Noh Poe refugee camp. She studied at school and graduated from Year 12. Her uncle lived in Australia and encouraged her family to apply to come here. Since arriving in 2010 Si Blu has completed study at AMES and Year 11, 12 VCE at Victoria University. The family moved to Nhill for employment. She studies English and sewing at Nhill Learning Centre and is completing a diploma in Early Childhood Education. She hopes to work in childcare and would like to pass on the Karen language to Karen children. In her free time she likes to practise the piano, learn to cook and sew.

Susana’s parents fled Burma because of the civil war. Their village was burnt down by the Burmese soldiers, they escaped, re-established another village and again it was burnt down. Susana was born on the Thai/Burma border and when she was one, she and her sister went to live in the refugee camp with her grandmother. Her mother shifted to the camp when she was 12. When 17, Susana came to Australia with her sister and settled in Werribee where she studied with AMES, and then completed VCAL Year 11 and 12. Susana attained a Certificate III in Aged Care and a Certificate III in Employment. Susana gained seasonal work in a plant nursery. Susana followed her partner to Nhill. She is now married and has a daughter. She enjoys watching TV, sewing, crafting and making jewellery. She hopes to get a job when Elinor is at school and will continue sewing for Paw Po.

Wah was born in the Mae La refugee camp on the Thai/Burma border. She studied at school and graduated from Year 10. Wah came to Australia by herself in 2015 when she was 20 years old and settled in Nhill with her aunt’s family. She misses her family but she likes Australia because it is a good place to learn and is a free country. Wah studies English and sewing at the Nhill Learning Centre. In the future she hopes to study child care. Wah’s hobbies include knitting, crochet and watching TV.