Strategic Community Assistance to Refugee Families (SCARF) provides personal development support for young refugees by identifying what they need. And IMB Community Foundation funding recently helped SCARF stage a weekend workshop in the Blue Mountains for 23 refugee girls. 

Two young women now at university participated as mentors. Both were able to show what was possible as they prepare to embark on their chosen careers. The workshops helped change the lives of the younger girls with similar hopes and ambitions.

Sharyn Mackenzie, of SCARF, and Kieran Biddle, of IMB, described Azita, 27, and Elizabeth, 21, as inspirational young leaders. Mrs Mackenzie said being able to participate in workshops and youth camps allowed the younger mentorees to build connections with other members of the refugee community and expose them to what was possible for the.

Azita, of Iran, wanted to encourage other refugee girls after being helped so much since she arrived in Wollongong three years ago. She came with her mother and five sisters after her father died.

She said SCARF was particularly good in in helping her develop her English skills and manage assignments. It helped her family with everything from driving lessons to groups her mother and siblings could attend together. That helped develop connections and conversations with others in a similar situation. “SCARF has helped with so many things I can’t mention them all”.

Azita’s mother is now learning English at TAFE and her sisters are all studying at university, high school and primary school. “I am doing nursing. I want to be a midwife. It has been a gift for us to have SCARF’s help. When I was in uni the first year I struggled a lot. I didn’t ask for help but Sharyn is really kind and just called and asked me if I did.” Azita said having a support network around was really important and that was why she wanted to help others in the same way.

Elizabeth, 21, has been in Australia for eight years. She and her two brothers were actually born in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her parents are from Burma (Myanmar). And soon after arriving in 2008 SCARF made it possible for her to be able to do her high school work. “The helped me build connections and make friends. They later asked me to go to workshops and do leadership. That allowed me to develop my skills.”

After living in a refugee camp all her life Elizabeth said Wollongong allowed her to enjoy a greater quality of life and set herself a goal to become a nurse.

Now she wants to help other girls dream about what they want to be and go for it.

Elizabath and Azita both volunteer at the Community Gateway Hub where they help with a group run for women and their children. The mums are able to network and get helping filling in form. Both young women know it would have been a lot harder for them and their families without SCARF.

“Whenever I came here with a problem Sharyn would solve it. And they had volunteers who could help us with different things. Now I want to help others. We love being in Australia. It really is the lucky country.”