A Tale of Two Burmese Families in Austin

By Lizzie Chen

Sisters Pad Too Raw and Pad Doh Too, members of the ethnic Karen culture indigenous to parts of Burma and Thailand, escaped Burma, leaving behind political and religious persecution by the Burmese government. The sisters and their families now live in a two-bedroom Austin apartment. Because Burma, also known as Myanmar, is a predominantly Buddhist country, Christian Karens are targets of persecution and ethnic cleansing. While their futures are uncertain, the sisters and their families are working to find promise for themselves and their children.