By Mee Mee is an inspiring one-woman operation, the work of our sister Lauraline. Lauraline hand-crochets beautiful children’s toys using soft cotton to create classic keepsake toys such as bunnies and teddies. Nicknamed ‘Mee Mee’ as a child, Lauraline felt it the perfect name – meaning ‘cute cat’ in her native tongue – for her business.
Lauraline’s family are Karen ethnicity – an ethnic minority in Burma, her parents fled persecution, war and conflict in 1984. Lauraline was born in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Life in the refugee camp was very difficult but Lauraline survived living here for 18 years.
In 2007 Lauraline and her husband, her parents and sister received word that they could resettle in Australia. She now lives in safety in Canberra and her and her husband are raising three children of their own. There, working closely with Global Sisters, Lauraline’s determined efforts have seen By Mee Mee develop and grow into a sustainable business.
