REFUGEE Week 2024 is approaching, with the Gannawarra Refugee Support Group planning to host a special event at the St John’s Church Hall on Thursday, June 20.
It is a part of GRSG’s annual contribution to the Gannawarra to promote greater awareness of refugees and some of the issues they face, as well as to celebrate the contribution they are making to the Australian community.
This year the group has invited a guest speaker from the Refugee Council of Australia to tell her story and discuss the challenges faced by millions of people around the world each day.
Sidiqa Faqihi is a member of the Hazara ethnic minority and was forced from her homeland Afghanistan along with more than two million of her people, among more than eight million Afghanis in total driven out by the Taliban.
The Hazara are Shi’a Muslims and for more than a century have faced prosecution for their ethnicity and religious beliefs in a Sunni Muslim-controlled country.
Ms Faqihi is one of more than 41,000 Hazara refugees who now call Australia home and had a two-decade long journey to escape persecution and build a new life in Australia.
Founding member of GRSG in Kerang, Judy Warrall, said the group had about six members and a mailing list of more than 100.
It works with refugees in Swan Hill.
“So far we have supplied whitegoods when they have needed them and we also support the children at the high school by paying for their textbooks each year,” Ms Warrall said.
“The first time we went up there we were astonished as to how many (refugees) there were, especially Hazaras.
“When we set ourselves up it was to change the narrative for the local people – a bit of an education thing, I suppose – and to help refugees when we could.
“It has been an interesting journey and a lot tougher than I expected.”
The event is being held after the group was able to secure funds from the Gannawarra Shire Flood Recovery Funding through the Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee.
Starting at 6.30pm there will be finger food provided before the presentation.
Intending attendees are asked to contact Judy Warrall on 0417 514 449 or Ros Maplestone on 0419 508 600 before June 13 to book a place.
