Taki Takalou

 is a contestant from Australian Survivor: Venezuela - Fates.

Profile

 * Name (Age): Peter "Taki" Takalou (53)
 * Tribe Designation: TBD
 * Current Residence: Melbourne, VIC
 * Occupation: Teacher
 * Season 01 Contestant You Are Most Like: I would like to be like Father Thomas Fletcher, a good, Christian man. I have met with Father Thomas several times, though I doubt he would recognize me. He is a pillar of stregth and faith in our community.

Taki is a real-life Survivor. He fled the civil unrest in his home country of Sudan in fear of persecution for his Christian religious beliefs ten years ago. He faced the rough Australian immigration regime in search of a better life.

''Things were not good for my family. I held a teaching job, but my community was very violent. Things were not good for Christians, so I take my wife and my children and flee. Many will call me a coward, but my sons were the kind of men the armies were targeting for recruitment. I did not want to see them killed. I made the 'cowards choice' and come to Australia.''

Taki, his wife and five children arrived in Australia with little more than the clothes on their back, they relied heavily on the goodwill of their local church. Taki and his wife adopted the western biblical names of Peter and Mary, though the Takalou clan has now landed on their feet, Taki and Mary volunteer with their Christian outreach program as often as they can.

''When I first arrive in my new country, I find my qualifications are worth nothing. I need to get my children in to Universities and School, this is expensive. I work in a factory through the day and cleaner of a night for many months. This was a hard time for my family, we relied on good Christian people, now that we are able to do so, we make an effort to give back.''

As for his nickname, Taki is now back in the classroom. Though he has not yet finished his degree he has taken several teachers aide and substitute rolls. The children that he teaches had trouble with Mr. Takalou, so he now goes by Mr. Taki.

''I like it, Taki sounds fun. All of my Australian friends they say "Hey Taki, come for a beer, watch the Blues play." I go, of course, because it's nice to have friends, though I will never be fond of Australian beer, though I do like the football."

Taki isn't much of a Survivor fan, but he binged watched last season to prepare for the ordeal.

''The African "wilderness" seemed to throw a lot of these Aussies, but it was like my backyeard back in my home country. (laughter) We will see what Venezuela has to offer, but I work hard and I adapt to the outdoors well, hopefully this gives me an advantage.''

Trivia

 * Taki, Celine Abraham and Rowina de Vries are the first African-Australian contestants to compete on DuskEars' fanon.