To celebrate Refugee Week, mothers and young people largely from a Burmese background, who participate in our Settlement Engagement & Transition Support (SETS) program came together for a celebration on Thursday, 22nd June.
CatholicCare Victoria's SETS program helps newly-arrived refugees to settle smoothly into Australia by improving social participation, language barriers, personal wellbeing and community connectedness.
Mothers from our weekly Wyndham Vale cooking group, students from the two homework clubs as well as volunteers attended the event at Wyndham Vale Community Centre.
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Homework club volunteers
Ye Htoo Maung Salai, CatholicCare Victoria Settlement Support Worker, shared his story of fleeing Burma and how thankful he was to be provided with shelter, food and an education when he sought refuge in Australia.
“We’re very lucky we have this day to celebrate and meet each other from different cultures,” Salai said.
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Volunteer Johnson with his wife, who is part of the Mothers' Cooking Group
A certificate of appreciation was then presented to Johnson (pictured above), who has dedicated his time to the programs as a volunteer since 2017, to thank and acknowledge his wonderful efforts.
One of the mums who is from a Karenni background then spoke to the group in Burmese with her young child in tow. She said she too was grateful that she was granted refugee status in Australia and that she wouldn’t know where she would be living otherwise.
The event concluded with a traditional Burmese dance by six young students, and delicious snacks prepared by the mothers beforehand.
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Gaya K | Communications Officer – External Lead