Refugee family embracing new life in Bass Coast

WONTHAGGI’S Mitchell House, the home of the Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre, has been buzzing with activity throughout January. 

The children of the recently settled refugee family have been enjoying three sessions each week of learning fun and activity to assist with their transition to their new homeland, and the beginning of the school year. 

The family finally arrived in Bass Coast in late November from Iraq, where they lived for 10 years after previously fleeing conflict in their native Syria. 

The local Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group working in conjunction with Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, facilitated their passage to a new life in Wonthaggi. 

Parents, Lukman and Khadija are extremely grateful for all the support provided enabling them and their four children to have a new start in a safe and welcoming community. 

Both are eager to improve their English language skills and contribute to their new local community. 

Their four children meanwhile, have already begun to pick up new skills and the older three, Kobani (8), Ali (6) and Aysha (5) are eagerly looking forward to commencing school at Wonthaggi North Primary this year. 

The youngest Rosila (3), will participate in the supported playgroups offered through the Neighbourhood Centre at Mitchell House.

The ‘Preparation for School Program’ delivered throughout January was made possible by a group of enthusiastic volunteers from the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship group and the local community, including trained primary school teachers. 

The Neighbourhood Centre willingly offered the space at Mitchell House.

With no previous experience of school, the program was designed to give the children a taste of what to expect and to equip them with some basic language skills that will hopefully enable them to transition to their school environment more easily. The children embraced each activity with great enthusiasm and have quickly learned some basic English vocabulary.

Together with a few other local youngsters who were happy to join in as good role models, the children have spent three mornings each week learning to line up, sit on the mat for story time, listen, concentrate, sing songs, learn colours, numbers and letters and to write their names. 

As the family further establish themselves in their adopted community, they will continue to be supported by the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group. 

If you would like to assist the group with a donation or in other practical ways, they would be keen to hear from you. 

Visit them on Facebook (facebook.com/BassCoastRSG/) for more information or drop into the Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre.