Ploy shares May’s Story
Actress and model Chermarn Boonyasak shares a story for World Refugee day:
“Hello, my name is Ploy, and I would like to share with you a refugee story that really moved me. This is the story of May Toke. Please join me and help tell May Toke’s story with the world.”
May and a friend. Photo by May/2014.
May’s Story
I am the 3rd child of six children in the family living in Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand. Life in the camp was simple and without purpose and hope for the future. Everyday was the same. The food you had for breakfast, lunch and dinner was the same everyday and always include rice, salt, chilli and dahl. Until the day I finished school year 12 in the camp, I started to wonder if I was ever to live in a country which I could call home. I prayed everyday that we would get to go back to Burma, but then the opportunity came along for us to apply to resettle in Australia.
It was the biggest decision we ever made as a family and we left our dream of going back to Burma, our mother land, behind. Life in Australia is amazing. Life is free. I went to University to do my Diploma and I am still able to continue my study anytime if I want to. I am involved in so many interests and activities which keep me busy everyday. I work to support myself. Food is always abundant. No more skin rashes due to the lack of shower. I feel free, hopeful and happy.
