Episode 03 - May Joy Naw Nyo | My Migrant Soul
From Stateless to Home
A migrant’s journey of resilience, identity and belonging in Australia
What happens when you’re born… without a country?
No passport.
No citizenship.
No official identity.
For most of us, identity is something we inherit.
For May Joy Naw Nyo, it was something she had to build from the ground up.
From a refugee camp to a new beginning
May was born in Thailand after her parents fled Myanmar.
Stateless.
Unrecognised by any country.
Her early life was spent in a refugee camp, where survival shaped everything - how you think, how you act, how you see the world.
There was no long-term plan.
No roadmap.
Just getting through each day.
And yet, within that environment, something powerful formed:
Perspective.
Starting again in Australia
When May arrived in Australia, life didn’t just change - it reset.
A new language.
A new culture.
A completely different way of living.
Even the simplest interactions felt unfamiliar.
Ordering food.
Understanding systems.
Knowing how things worked.
Everything had to be learned from scratch.
But instead of pulling back, May leaned in.
Learning everything, one step at a time
One of the defining choices in May’s journey was simple:
She chose to keep learning.
Volunteering became her entry point into the community.
It helped her:
Build confidence
Practice English
Understand how workplaces function
Step outside her comfort zone
Rather than staying within what felt safe, she intentionally placed herself in environments that challenged her.
And that changed everything.
A different way of seeing challenges
What stands out most in May’s story isn’t just what she faced - it’s how she processes it.
Challenges in Australia are viewed through a very different lens.
Because when you’ve lived in a situation where survival is uncertain, everyday stress looks different.
Work pressure? Manageable.
Financial stress? Temporary.
Her perspective is grounded in something deeper:
She knows what “real difficulty” feels like.
And that creates a quiet kind of resilience.
Redefining money, opportunity and growth
In the refugee camp, money meant survival.
Nothing more.
In Australia, May discovered a completely different reality.
Money became:
A tool for opportunity
A way to create freedom
A path to support family and community
This shift in understanding opened doors.
It allowed her not just to earn - but to think, plan, and build a future.
What does “home” actually mean?
For many migrants, the idea of home can feel uncertain.
Is it where you were born?
Or where you are now?
For May, the answer is clear.
Home is the place that accepted her.
The moment she received her Australian citizenship certificate, something shifted.
For the first time, she had:
Recognition.
Belonging.
A place to stand.
Building a life with purpose
Today, May works as a community development professional, contributing to youth engagement, cultural inclusion, and sustainability initiatives.
Her work reflects her journey:
Creating spaces where others feel supported, included, and seen.
She doesn’t just understand community - she builds it.
It’s not about where you start
If there’s one thing May’s story makes clear, it’s this:
Your starting point doesn’t define your future.
She arrived with no formal identity.
No system knowledge.
No roadmap.
And yet, through learning, persistence, and perspective, she built a life filled with opportunity.
Key takeaway
“If you’ve lived through survival, you stop focusing on what’s missing - and start valuing everything you have.”
About the Host - Imran Abul Kashem
Imran Abul Kashem is the founder of Westend Business Hub, Westend Photography, Westend Digital, Westend Podcast, and Wyndham Entrepreneur Connect. An award-winning photographer and serial entrepreneur, Imran brings ideas to life at the intersection of creativity and business. As an author, investor, business advocate, and cultural ambassador, he is passionate about building platforms that empower communities and spark meaningful conversations.
About the Guest - May Joy Naw Nyo
May Joy Naw Nyo is a Karen refugee who came to Australia as a child and a community development professional based in Victoria, Australia, known for her work in youth engagement, cultural inclusion, and environmental sustainability. She has served in various roles within the Wyndham City Council, including Acting Cultural Youth Development Officer, focusing on empowering young people from diverse backgrounds.
May Joy has actively participated in environmental initiatives, such as community clean-up and tree-planting events in Hoppers Crossing, contributing to the greening of the area. She has also been involved in waste education programs, including composting and worm farming workshops, promoting sustainable practices within the community.
Her contributions extend to broader community engagement efforts, coordinating with community groups to facilitate rubbish collection and promote environmental awareness. Through her various roles and initiatives, May Joy exemplifies a commitment to community service, cultural inclusivity, and environmental stewardship, making a positive impact in the Wyndham region and beyond.May Joy Naw Nyo, a Karen refugee who arrived in Australia as a child, is a community development professional based in Victoria, Australia. She is recognized for her contributions to youth engagement, cultural inclusion, and environmental sustainability, having served in various capacities within the Wyndham City Council, including Acting Cultural Youth Development Officer, where her work centered on empowering young people from diverse backgrounds.
Ms. Naw Nyo has actively participated in environmental initiatives, such as community clean-up and tree-planting events in Hoppers Crossing, thereby contributing to the ecological enhancement of the area. Furthermore, she has been involved in waste education programs, including workshops on composting and worm farming, promoting sustainable practices within the community.
Her involvement extends to broader community engagement efforts, coordinating with community groups to facilitate waste collection and foster environmental awareness. Through her diverse roles and initiatives, Ms. Naw Nyo consistently demonstrates a dedication to community service, cultural inclusivity, and environmental stewardship, thereby making a significant positive impact in the Wyndham region and beyond.
If this story shifted your perspective, pass it on.
These are the stories that stay with you - and sometimes, change how you see your own.
Special Thanks to Our Partners
This podcast is proudly supported by our incredible partner businesses, whose ongoing support helps bring these conversations to life:
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Keywords
migrant journey Australia, stateless refugee story, identity and belonging, refugee camp experience, migration resilience, life in Australia, cultural adaptation, community development Australia, migrant perspective, May Joy Naw Nyo
