Pyoyo Johdee was born and raised in a refugee camp in northern Thailand.
He knew very little of the world other than what he saw in the enclosed camp he and his family had to live in for years after escaping the atrocities of Myanmar.
On July 14, 2016, Johdee was able to move to Canada, settling in the Qualicum Beach area with his father Ahdee, mother Tapautmu, grandmother Kyinthaung, brothers Myintoo and Hlanaingoo, sister Ehnyawpaw and cousin Pyint Thu Zar.
It was a major transition that Johdee, to this day, is still adjusting to. He is extremely grateful for the opportunity to start anew and build a life devoid of all the trouble and despair he experienced with his family at refugee camp.
On April 15, 2021, Johdee received another milestone, one that has lifted his spirits tenfold when he took part in a life-changing virtual ceremony that officially made him a citizen of Canada.
B次元官网网址淚 am very, very happy,B次元官网网址� said Johdee. B次元官网网址淚 am the first one in my family to become a Canadian citizen and I am so excited about it.B次元官网网址�
This milestone, the 19-year-old says, has made him feel even more liberated from his gloomy past. He now eagerly looks forward to the opportunities he plans to pursue in his life.
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B次元官网网址淚 grew up my whole life in a refugee camp and I didnB次元官网网址檛 know anything,B次元官网网址� said Johdee. B次元官网网址淭his is important to me to become a Canadian citizen. Now I can travel and do a lot of things. I have never been anwhere else and I would like to see a lot of places. I can do many, many things and travel around in Canada. I have a lot of plans for myself.B次元官网网址�
Johdee, who graduated from Kwalikum Secondary, is currently in the automotive service program at Vancouver Island University, on a full scholarship. He is the first recipient of the Alfred Heringa Bursary for new Canadians. He is also has part-time employment at Arrowsmith Automotive, where he drew inspiration to become a mechanic.
B次元官网网址淲hen I started work there, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 speak English,B次元官网网址� said Johdee. B次元官网网址淎ll I did was help clean up the shop. Then they teach me to do mechanic stuff and I became good at it. So I decided to go to VIU to take an automotive course.B次元官网网址�
The rest of the JohdeeB次元官网网址檚 family is still working toward their Canadian citizenship.
Johdee said he is grateful to the community and individuals who gave him and his family a better life.
B次元官网网址淚 want to say thank you to all the people from Qualicum Beach and Parksville and (the) credit union that helped me when I first came to Canada,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 also appreciate all the help they have given us to become a good family in Qualicum Beach.B次元官网网址�
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