Today is Election Day in Australia when we vote for who will govern the country for the next three years.To some people having to vote is an inconvenience but really we are privileged to have the freedom to vote for our government unlike in many other countries around the world.
I am volunteering to teach basic English to some of the many refugees here in our city and am currently doing some training. It has made me realise how fortunate we are to live in a peaceful country and not have to fear for our lives every day as they have had to in their own homeland.
They are lovely people and so friendly although it is difficult to communicate with someone who doesn't speak English. They must think we have it made here in Australia by being able to vote for who we want to. Perhaps in time some of them will become citizens and have that privilege too although I would love it if they could return to their homeland and live there in peace once again as it must be so difficult trying to get used to a completely different culture here and I am sure that, like most of us, they love their own country.
We have a number of organisations working hard to settle refugees here in Toowoomba.
TAFE is always on the lookout for volunteers who would like to help with teaching basic English and if you are interested then contact them about their Adult Migrant English Program AMEP and I am sure they would be very happy to hear from you. You don't have to have been a teacher by the way.
Then there is MDA which I hear a lot about but haven't had anything to do with as yet. MDA has a Humitarian Settlement Program.
The Mulberry Project turns underutilised land into market gardens where refugees can grow plants
and recently Costa was filming at the Mercy Centre where the gardens are. I just read on their Facebook page that there will be a 'watching party' at Mercy Community on May 31st as the Mulberry Project will be on Gardening Australia on that date by the looks of it. I must watch that episode. There is an invitation to go along to celebrate and share some food together. Just RSVP to themulberryproject4360@gmail.com for catering. This should be a great night.
Another organisation I hear about quite often is TRAMS - Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Support. This organisation has just had a funding boost as I believe a lot of funding was cut last year which really isn't a good idea in a city with so many refugees needing assistance.
I am sure there are many other organisations I haven't heard about that are working to resettle our refugees and if you are a local there is no doubt they would appreciate any help you could give them.
Working with these people who have suffered so much can only make us appreciate all that we often take for granted here in Australia.
That’s so nice of you to spend your time teaching English to refugees Chel.
ReplyDeleteCan you vote by mail?
Nil, yes we do have postal voting here. It is especially good for those who are unable to travel to the voting booths. Voting is compulsory here.
ReplyDeleteI agree voting is a privilege. We went to the polling centre in Kandos after lunch and it and the town was nearly empty. There was just one guy handing out National Party How to Vote Cards and no other parties to be seen. It was quite surreal since in the mountains we usually have to run past a huge number of people thrusting their how to vote material on us then queue up at the booth.
ReplyDeleteI always vote after lunch and it is very quiet then so no waiting in line. The ABC website had practice how to vote forms so I had already written down the way I wanted to vote and took that with me to vote.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Chel. A privilege, and if living in a small town, like we do - turning out to voting day can be a real community event. We like to vote at our Son's school (Withcott) and they always run a bake sale to raise funds for the school. I contributed to it, this year. Plus we get to catch up with all the various mums and dads, neighbours, shop owners, etc. So it's not just a privilege to vote, but an opportunity to strengthen community ties.
ReplyDeleteSomewhat like your volunteering to teach English too. A lot can be achieved for community, through volunteering. It brings people together, for a common goal. My husband used to work at an Organic Cafe, down Ruthven street, and the owner let his kitchen out to the local African community, to host dinner on a select day of the week. It was all African cuisine, using vegetables they're used to growing in their own country - but not so familiar here.
It was a place for them to participate in aspects of their homeland, but also invite the wider community, to enjoy their traditional meals. Unfortunately, the establishment closed down, a while ago. I'm sure they must have found another place to go though. Because it sounded like an awesome group!
Chris, I wonder if they were from The Mulberry Project. We were trying to get someone from there to do a cooking demo for our simple living group using food grown at the Mercy Centre where they have their gardens.
ReplyDeleteVoting day here is a lot like Chris's experience.....a bit of a community get-together, time to grab a democratic sausage, buy something at the school cake stall and bump into people you haven't seen for ages. You're lucky to have groups of refugees there, and able to sign up to teach English. Imagine the fun you'll have learning about their culture.....good on you for volunteering.
ReplyDeleteYes Nanette, we have lots of refugees here including the Yazidi people from Syria. They would have some dreadful stories to tell about how they were treated before escaping. If only I could speak their language.
DeleteI worked for the Immigration Dept in WA in early 90s when refugees and asylum seekers were arriving from El Salvador. My job as toture/ trauma counsellor was made really hard by not having a common labguage, and most were not trusting enough to use an interpreter. Despite their horrific stories, we had a lot of laughs trying to understand each other with sign language and charades. It certainly tested my counselling skills.....
DeleteThis is one of the reasons I follow you Chel, because of your appreciation (for what many take for granted) and for your kind generosity and tolerance. What an amazing world this would be if more people could take a leaf from your book. Your students would love and appreciate your kindness to them more than they could ever show you. XX
ReplyDeleteSally, It is a great English program for our refugees. You don't realise how difficult it is for them to communicate until you try to teach them English. We have so much trouble communicating with Centrelink for example. It must be so stressful for them.
DeleteChel our English language is so difficult to learn, and not so easy to teach either. We have so many 'exceptions to the formula' unlike most other languages. I was a volunteer English teacher in Nepal, simultaneously Studying Nepali language at their Languages University. Learning Nepali made me realise just what a difficult language English is. XX
DeleteSally, I agree about English being such a hard language to learn. I will be starting with those who speak no English at all and I believe I will be given resources to use. Lots of flash cards I guess.
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