Life in the refugee camp in Bangladesh was difficult - we were completely reliant on humanitarian aid. I could not find any happiness. Mentally, I was in a terrible headspace and relied on sleeping pills for some respite.
There were strict restrictions on movement, and education was almost nonexistent. I could only study up to Grade Five (equivalent to Standard 5 in the Malaysian public education system), and even that was not in a formal school setting. I learned the English I speak today from a private learning center I attended from 2008 to 2011.
In 2019, I came to Malaysia. Like many others, I arrived through unofficial means, seeking safety and a better future.
Life here is safer in some ways, but it is still full of challenges. I have two young children - one is three years and six months old; the other is one year and six months old.
My eldest is non-verbal, but as refugees...