Vietnam's Modern Day Boat People: Bridging Borders for Freedom - Paperback

by Shira Sebban (Author)

In 2016, a newspaper published an article about four childrendue to be sent to an orphanage after their parents were punished for attempting to flee Vietnam. Among 46 asylum seekers trying to reach Australia by boat, they were intercepted by the Australian navy and returned to Vietnam, where intense retribution awaited. This newspaper article sparked a unifying response in people across the globe.

This work tells the story of volunteer advocates who banded together to help a group of Vietnamese refugees on their journey to freedom. Highlighting the courage of "ordinary" people--and with tales of human rights, communal living, reuniting families and their eventual resettlement in Canada--this book paints a vivid picture of Vietnamese families' struggle for liberty in the 21st century.

Author Biography

Shira Sebban, a migration agent for refugees, is a writer in Sydney, Australia. In June 2022, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Jewish community. A member of community group SASS (Supporting Asylum Seekers Sydney), she also serves as a guide at the Sydney Jewish Museum.