I am Ah Eh Soe. I was born on 17th May 1970 in Myanmar. I’m married with six children. I have three daughters and three sons. The eldest is 20 years and the youngest one is 5 years old.
I derived from the poor family and my parents were farmers; due to an armed conflict between the KNU (Karen National Union ) and Burmese military force in my area therefore, I had to flee from my homeland. During that time KNU soldiers came to seek our support and we helped them in providing protection and supplying them with food. After (KNU) went back to their headquarter, a month later, about midnight, on the 10 May 1982, the Burmese soldiers came into our village and surrounded my house. They suspected us that we gave support to KNU. During that time my father was the head of the village. Then they took my father and tied him up and began torturing him by beating him with a gun, slapped him, and covered his head with a plastic bag and poured water into his nose. Then they took him away to town and later two months we came to know that my father was in Insein Prison. While he was in prison the Burmese leaders came to us saying that whether we want to give money in order to get my father released. So my mother had to sell out my farm, animals and gave to them but they didn’t release him.
After 5 years my father was released but he was not strong, got sick all the time and finally we moved to refugee camp to start new life. In Thai – Burma border we lived as refugees for 20 years. My father died while we were to move to refugee camp.
In the camp I worked as a school teacher and help the community as possible as I can. But in the camp now, most of the rations are cut down. So, it is hard for us to continue our lives there. To go back to our own land is not also easy. The armed conflict between government troops and ethnic groups are still going on.
Finally I made decision to resettle in Australia. Through the help and support of Werribee Karen Baptist Church and Australia Immigration, my family was granted humanitarian visa and we are able to call Australia home. We are very grateful to the Baptist Union of Victoria for proving airfare loan without interest.
So, I would like to give thank to the government of Australia for allowing us to build our new life and future. I also pray for the leaders here in Australia and its people that the peace of God will reign in this Land. Now I am in Australia and I get whatever I need. The government provided me for my daily needs. Everything is going well in my life in Australia.
God bless Australia, Amen.
Faith Fully Ah Eh Soe
The Refugee Airfare and Assistance Loan Scheme (RAALS) was created in 2004 by the Baptist Union of Victoria, in response to hearing stories of the difficulties faced by refugees trying to bring their families to a new life in Australia. These stories continue today and tell of homes that are lost and communities destroyed through the violence of war. Visas may be granted to come to Australia but unless there is money to pay for the airfare, the visa will lapse.
Imagine your wife and children struggling to stay alive in an African refugee camp, you desperately want to bring them to Australia to join you, but there is no money for the airfares. Or maybe you’ve been living in Australia for a few years but still struggle with the language and finding employment. You have been offered a job, which will be a huge boost for you and your family, both financially and socially. But the new workplace is too difficult to reach by public transport and you have no car. RAALS helps people by enabling access to a loan fund for airfares and other assistance such as purchasing a car.
Donations are made by individuals and churches to the RAALS which operates as a ‘revolving loan scheme’. A refugee in Australia can apply for a no interest loan from this fund to sponsor a relative to be brought here. The loan is then repaid in instalments, and when repaid in full, the funds can be used again for another refugee. RAALS supporters can make tax deductible donations and can also help by spreading the message about RAALS to family, friends and church communities. Find out more about BUV RAALS here
Source: BUV News