KWOK-KUEN HO

I am recently retired, so have time to do some volunteer work. Supporting refugees has been an area of concern for me for years.

The refugee family I have been supporting is a young family of parents and 4 children. They have been 'on the run' for over 6 years, since they were first forcibly displaced from their village in the South of Sudan. They lived in Egypt as 'aliens' until their refugee status was finally confirmed through UNHCR and they were allocated a settlement place in Australia 's refugee and humanitarian program. They flew to Australia some 4 months ago.

The family has settled into Australia remarkably well to-date. They have a decent rented house, are studying English, and have made some Sudanese friends who live close by. The father speaks passable English, but the mother and four children only speak their home dialect, Dinka. One of the greatest moments I have witnessed working with this family is the beaming smile on the face of the mother during our English lessons at home, when she manages to get a pronunciation right or the meaning through!

One of the things I have learned from my volunteer experience is that refugees' aspirations and goals in life are no different to ours. They are the same human beings with the same range of emotions and foibles as the rest of us. It takes so little kindness and understanding to elicit a tremendous response of gratitude.

It is remarkable to realise how similar they are to 'us'. The trials and tribulations they have been through (most of it remains their secret unless they choose to bring it up) make me feel how fortunate and lucky I have been. Therefore to offer some help to these survivors seems proper and sensible.

I see my role as a facilitator and helper to a refugee family who is trying to find their way and settle into the Australian society. It has been a wonderful experience to be allowed to share in the development and settling process of a refugee family from half way round the world into our society. It has been very special to be accepted by them as a friend.

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