Last week Refugee Week celebrations were held at Wollongong Town Hall, a collaboration with SCARF, MCCI, Wollongong Council, Red Cross, IMS, TAFE NSW, Max Solutions and STARTTS.

The event kicked off with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Richard Davis, and a welcome by Deputy Lord Mayor Tania Brown. MC Rasha Hassan spoke of her experiences with the theme of "finding freedom" prominent. We also heard from the winners of the Illawarra Multicultural Services writing competition, who delivered settlement stories via the competition.

Performers included the Mitra – Persian Dance Group, Han Dynasty community dancers, a Chin Community performance of ‘We are the World’, a traditional Burmese dance by Elizabeth, and Dorkas’ African singing performance. The event wrapped up with lunch and Henna, African drumming and Persian dancing workshops.

Ella Yazdani spoke from the heart and delivered a strong message about the misconceptions of people settling in Australia.

“No one leaves home unless home is not safe," she said. 

"I have hopes and dreams, and I didn’t give up on that. We are like you. We had a life like you in our own countries. We are not victims. We don’t need you to look at us like we are victims. We are normal humans in this country. We are here to help you. We could be good doctors, good cleaners, good bus drivers…” 

See more photos from the event in SCARF's online gallery. 

Noor, a SCARF community member and a neuroscientist from Palestine, will be sharing her experience about finding freedom with a new home in Australia this Wednesday, 21 June from 1:30-3pm at Corrimal Library, click here to book your spot