One of my 'goals' for the last year has been to get more involved in African issues whilst based in Australia. I figured that if I couldn't get myself back 'home' anytime soon, I had to do SOMETHING to keep that restless spirit satiated.
Mid last year I watched a documentary on SBS about refugees on Humanitarian Visas, and how difficult it can be for them settling into a new country, learning the new culture and language and customs and just coping with day to day life and all the things we as Australians (and those in the western world at large) take for granted. It stirred something up in me, and I began looking at tutoring and conversation classes for refugees with an African background.
Not too long after, B's best friend Dion made me aware of a group called VoRTCS (pronounced Vortex). A not for profit organisation based in Brisbane that works under St Vincent De Paul, and matches volunteer tutors up with refugee families to help them learn english, improve their communication skills and ultimately feel more a part of the Australian community. I signed up with them back in October, had my orientation sessions back in November, and have been waiting patiently (ha! My nose seems to be growing!) ever since to be assigned a family to work with.
Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting my family, and the tutors I will be working with. They are a Sudanese family that have been here for around five years, and just need a little bit of extra help to develop their English skills a bit more. They have a few children, and we'll be helping them with their school work once a week for an hour or so.
I'm constantly amazed as to how small the world really is. One of my fellow tutors works with my mum and the other works as an OT at my work! I can't believe it!
So I'm very very excited about this new tutoring adventure, and it feels good to get involved in something that is doing a lot of good in the local community.
For more information on VoRTCS - please visit www.refugeetutoring.org
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1 comment:
Hey Sasch, you truly are an inspiration - what a great idea. You do have a gifting in helping others (I will never forget how you were there for me in my time of need) and this is something as you say you can do whilst you are here in Australia. Goodluck with this :) Bec
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