How a young refugee rose to become a scholarship winner and community leader
To mark International Women’s Day in March, SCARF Refugee Support’s Cristina Sacco shared the story of Boe Meh. Arriving in Australia had its challenges. With no prior education or experience, Boe Meh spent the beginning of her schooling...
To mark International Women’s Day in March, SCARF Refugee Support’s Cristina Sacco shared the story of Boe Meh.
Arriving in Australia had its challenges. With no prior education or experience, Boe Meh spent the beginning of her schooling learning English outside of her normal school classes.
Following years of hard work and determination, Boe was awarded the Year Advisor Award at the end of high school. The award recognised her many leadership roles and her involvement in events such as the Young Women’s Forum.
Boe was selected to participate in SCARF’s Youth Safety Road Program and the Karenni Youth Group run by Illawarra Migrant Services. She was also involved in the Refugee Forum Leadership Camp. The Public Education Foundation awarded Boe the Friends of Zeinab Senior Secondary Scholarship, which she will use to fund her university education.
Boe said that her mum inspired her to not give up during the hard times. Fleeing the Karen War, her mum raised six children within refugee camps. Boe’s mum also fostered an abandoned Thai child, raising her alongside her own children. It was her mum’s compassion and selflessness that Boe says has shaped her into who she is today.
As a refugee, Boe faced many challenges. Now she wants to help others. “I want my accomplishments to serve as evidence that no matter what challenges we face, and even if we are at a disadvantage compared to others, we can conquer them and achieve our goals,” Boe says.
Boe hopes to continue to raise awareness about ethnic groups in Myanmar. She is an inspiration to the SCARF community.
