14 November 2024
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is excited to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of our flagship community engagement program, Face to Face: Schools and Community Education Program, which will be re-branded as Refugee Stories for Change, on 14 November. This milestone event will highlight a decade of powerful refugee stories and launch our new evaluation report showcasing the program’s significant impact on social cohesion across Australia.
Since its inception, Refugees Stories for Change has connected refugee speakers with schools, community groups, and businesses. By sharing their personal stories, Refugee Ambassadors like Atena Kashani have played a pivotal role in breaking down barriers and building understanding.
Atena’s journey from Iran is a powerful testament to resilience. At just nine years old, she faced unimaginable challenges when her family was forced to flee Iran due to government threats. “I remember being scared and worried, when my mum said that we need to leave, I wanted to ask so many questions but the look on her face made me realise I probably shouldn’t. But I never showed fear. I remember saying goodbye to my grandparents one last time and hugging them as tightly as I could. I remember sitting on my grandma’s lap and her braiding my hair ensuring me everything will be fine.”
After a perilous journey via Indonesia, Atena and her family arrived in Australia via a fishing boat, and spent two months in detention centres in Melbourne and Christmas Island. She remembers, “There were security guards all around us. I once burnt my finger badly and needed medical attention, but we didn’t have medical aid in our detention camp, so they had to transport my mum and I to another camp to see a medic. We were also surrounded by a lot of animals that were dangerous, but we had to survive. It really was the survival of the fittest.”
In the 11 years since, she has thrived academically, earned a university scholarship, and became a Taekwondo champion. Her story highlights the strength and contributions refugees bring to our communities.
Deena Yako, RCOA’s Director of Community Engagement, shares her pride in the program’s achievements over the last decade:
We finally have a platform that welcomes the voices of people with lived experience. The transformation we see in people’s eyes when they interact with our refugee ambassadors is beyond anything I have ever witnessed.
Paola Tamberlin, Director of Culture & Community at Queenwood School for Girls, says the program has had a huge impact on her students: “For many of our students, hearing from refugees for the first time transforms their understanding of displacement. These personal stories help them see each individual as someone with hopes and dreams, motivating them to engage with these issues on a deeper level and fostering a profound empathy that drives advocacy and social responsibility.”
The evaluation report, conducted from January 2019 to June 2023, reveals significant increases in understanding and empathy towards refugees among participants. Many students reported feeling inspired to take positive action after engaging with our ambassadors. The report will also introduce the program’s new name, reflecting its growth and evolution to better serve communities.
On November 14, we look forward to an engaging evening filled with live music led by Evan Yako, a former speaker in the program and independent artist, delicious food, and the chance to hear inspiring stories from our Refugee Ambassadors. Together, we will celebrate a decade of change and envision a future where every voice is heard.
For more information on Refugee Stories for Change change visit https://stories.refugeecouncil.org.au/.
