Mariam’s refugee journey from Somalia to Kenya, and ultimately to Australia, was filled with many challenges. As a child, Mariam Issa dreamt of travelling to faraway places. She did not dream she would need to flee Somalia’s civil war on a leaky over-crowded boat to Kenya – pregnant and holding her two young sons for dear life. Neither did she dream that 21 years later she would become the heartbeat of her Australian community by pulling down her back fence and creating a community garden built from love, hope and connection.