Just over two years ago, some 46 Afghan children and young people fled their country of birth, seeking security, safety and a life of richer possibilities. The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) repatriated these young people to Australia, and into our care as part of the Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors (UHM) program, beginning a new life in Sydney and the ACT.
In recent and coming months, some of our UHM young people have or are turning 18, and have or will transition from our care. We are strongly invested in them, their successful move to adulthood and all this will bring-especially housing, training, employment and navigating all the systems and processes that come with adult citizenship and engagement.
From connections and networks established through our Partnerships and Advocacy Coordinator, Kudzi Maforimbo, four of our transitionary group are exploring a Civil Construction pathway, through a collaboration between TAFE NSW, John Holland and SydWest Multicultural Services.
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To this end, they joined a group of others aspiring to a Civil Construction pathway on
20 November, visiting two sites which are part of the Sydney Aerotropolis development and construction, as well as hearing from sponsors and previous participants in the program. Together, they heard about the requirements of the program, as well as the some of the benefits and challenges associated taking on this rewarding and demanding pathway.
There were a variety of reflections and perspectives our UHM young people offered; these included:
‘I have found this course to be very eye opening and empowering towards the civil engineering and construction pathways.’
‘This tour of the Water Recycling Centre and Tunnelling site was amazing. We got to experience the creation and pre-casting of tunnel concrete blocks that are currently being used in the engineering work.’
‘This is best program I have done since coming to Australia 2 years ago. I love it.’
And a quote from a TAFE colleague:
‘It is so great to see the UHM young people grow in confidence across the 9-week process. Their communication and application has really matured.’
These young people have taken enormous steps in the past two or so years. Our UHM staff have invested a great deal of their time, talents and belief in these young people. We hope and pray their next step(s) bring them a rich life, great promise and satisfaction, as they embrace all their adult lives will be and become. They, in many respects, are like the Aerotropolis that some may come to work in and on-moving from a dream, to conception, to now an exciting and emerging reality.
Marist180 belongs to the wider global Marist community of schools, welfare agencies, universities and colleges, youth advocacy, and young adult ministry that has a presence in eighty-one countries. They provide a range of programs and services to help a young person create positive change in their lives. Read more about their work.Â
Written by Patrick O’Reilly, Director Mission, Inclusion and Identity, Marist 180.
Pics courtesy - Marist 180. Â
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