working with refugees in action
Working with Refugees in Action
Australia is a major re-settlement country for refugees, offering re-settlement to people requiring humanitarian protection. For many refugees this can be a very difficult time, with feelings of homesickness, isolation and culture shock compounding people's abilities to start a new life in Australia.
Members of the Rotary Club of Bundoora and Ivanhoe, with friends, assisted Rotarian Francis Acquah (Rotary Club of Bundoora) in establishing a Homework and Study Skills program for children with an African background.
Rotarian Francis initiated the program when he saw that the children of refugees were at a disadvantage because their parents were unable to help their children with homework and unable to afford coaching. Students range in age from Prep Grade to Year 12. An end- of- term excursion to the zoo was financially supported by the Rotary Clubs of Bundoora, Ivanhoe and Greensborough.
Greensborough Scouts and their families joined in the activities and later many of the senior scouts assisted in tutoring the students. The program is now fully assisted by people from the community and includes a number of young African-Australians who are currently doing tertiary studies.
President Ray Wilton (Rotary Club of Bundoora) a volunteer guide at the zoo,
supervises some of the children in the Butterfly House.
Working with some of the younger students on their homework.
Teaching the students to knit was a popular activity.
The next week their mothers came to the class asking to have lessons in knitting themselves.
This worked well, because we were able to meet and talk with them about their
children's schooling and provide a model for hearing their children read each night.
Rotarian Jan Macdonald (Bundoora) conducts Australian Citizenship classes for
women from a number of different backgrounds. Young mothers are taught
English using a variety of methods, including card games. Babies always come too!
Rotarian Andrew Treadwell (Bundoora) takes a break with the boys he is
coaching at Whittlesea Community Connections, a Non- Government
Organization based in Epping.
Past President Roy Mangos (Reservoir) presents a Pride of Workmanship Award
to Burundian-Australian Valerie Mukeshimina at Burundi's National Day.
The whole Rotary Club of Reservoir attended the celebrations, joining in the food and dancing.
Rotary Club of Bundoora's Children's Christmas Party, an annual community
project, supporting families from the local area needing support, usually
includes a number of recently arrived families.
Mentoring families brings great joy to each family, both those being mentored as well as the Rotarian families who make these people part of their own families and their lives.
Mentoring families brings great joy to each family, both those being mentored as well as the Rotarian families who make these people part of their own families and their lives.