“It didn’t matter who you were, or where you were, the Tatmataw (Myanmar military) would target you,” said Jordan Pe, survivor of military attacks in Myanmar/Burma and co-founder of the aid organisation, Sharing Hope.

Jordan spoke at a business breakfast in May about his experiences and those of so many of his people, the Karen ethnic people group, as they were forced to flee from their burning villages by the Burmese military. His story resonates with this year’s Refugee Week theme of Finding Freedom: Family, which acknowledges the profound journey of resilience, strength, and unity that defines the refugee experience.

“The Karen live in fear every day,” Jordan shared. “My family had to leave Burma (Myanmar) because all the time the shells and mortar would fall close to our village. We could no longer stay because of the attacks. In 1984 we fled to Thailand when I was 9 years old, to a refugee camp.”

Several years later, he moved to Australia through a sponsorship that enabled him to secure a visa. He was grateful to have a “new life, new journey”, but then he experienced a different set of challenges as a refugee.

“Everything changed because of the freedom – you know that you are safe. You have somebody who can give you a secure life. But, there are challenges with that journey as well. You think about your parents and family back home at times, and your people who are still struggling, moving around and fleeing from the war that is still happening. In the meantime, you have to start learning the language, trying to get into education and jobs. Pretty much my bag with a couple of (items of) clothing, that’s all I had. I didn’t know anyone.”

Jordan’s sponsors helped him to settle into Australian life but it took many years for him to build connections with other Karen people. As more Karen came to Australia he helped to set up communities, churches and organisations to support them as they sought to carry on their cultural heritage, and to support those back in their homeland.

He co-founded Sharing Hope in 2010 to help other Karen either living in camps or internally displaced on the Thai-Myanmar border by providing things like food, medicine and education as they hope for democracy to return to Myanmar.

“I love the name Sharing Hope – hope is my favourite word. The Karen don’t have much to carry with them, but they have life. As we share with them, it gives them hope and a future.”

Now, when Jordan welcomes new refugees to Australia, he is glad that there are many organisations that can help them on their new journey. “The first thing we do is try to encourage them and make sure they have support. We make sure to ask whether they need any help, and seek ways on how we can further support them, despite their language barriers. Overall, for those who may feel alone or isolated, we want to create a church and community where everyone can feel included and accepted, when starting a new life Australia.”

Jordan hopes one day the Karen people will be “free to move around their country, be reunited with their loved ones, and not live in fear”.

Jordan is a member of Croydon Hills Baptist Church – Karen congregation

See related story regarding Jordan’s daughter courtesy of Carey Baptist Grammar School – Best friends and Carey alumni Sarah and Moosay (2018) are both the children of refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar.