Canberra continued to

welcome newly

arrived refugees over

the last six months,

predominantly Karen

and Mon people from

Burma, Tamil people

from Sri Lanka and

smaller numbers of

people from Sudan

and Iraq. In

Goulburn the Chin

community from

Burma are settling

well, but there have

been few new arrivals.

We have seen a large

increase in the

number of asylum

seekers in the

Canberra community

from a diverse range

of countries of origin.

These are all of course

all people who have

sought safety in

Australia from

torture, persecution

and war. They bring

with them many

strengths and skills.

All communities have

much to be proud of

in their achievements

over the first years of

settlement. A good

case in point are the

dozens of Sudanese

men and women now

doing tertiary study at

Canberra universities.

Another is the vibrant

and well organised

Mon community who

were a clear contender

for the most vibrant

food stall at this year's

National Multicultural

Festival.

People face a

multitude of

challenges as they start

to rebuild their lives.

Companion House

had identified a whole

range of important

issues for the coming

years for the ACT.

Examples of these at

the local level

include; strategies to

address the lack of

affordable housing ,

better local support

systems for asylum

seekers, better

engagement between

families and schools

including more

widespread interpreter

use and more

culturally sensitive

responses to Care and

Protection issues. In

Goulburn, the most

important issue is to

build better

employment and

training pathways.

Of course Companion

House can never

address these issues

alone. We are very

happy to have recently

established a working

Group on Refugee

Housing and the ACT

Asylum Seekers

Network. We also

hope to start a

Working Group on

children in the near

future. Please contact

us if you interested in

participating in any of

these and to

contributing to making

systems responsive to

the needs of survivors

of torture and trauma,

refugees and asylum

seekers.

Warm wishes to all

friends at Companion

house over this cold

winter.

Kathy Ragless

Proud achievements and new challenges

Thank you for supporting World

Refugee Day Soccer

Tournament:

The Australian Institute of Sport

Radford College for a wonderful BBQ

Kaleen Sports Club for donating their

minibus

Canberra Milk for their generous

donation of milk

World Refugee Day Soccer Tournament 2

In memory of Jerzy Zubrzycki 3

Introducing new staff 4

Domestic violence 5

Domestic violence and substance misuse 6

Trauma and resettlement: for people from Sudan 8

Dinka folk tales 12

Inside this issue:

Ju

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Companion House

July 2009

The 2009 World Refugee Soccer

tournament, organised by

Companion House, attracted

about 300 people from a wide

variety of backgrounds.

Four teams competed in the

main competition on Sunday

June 21st. They are listed

below with the names of team

captains.

Sudanese Team -Michael Yong

Bul

Karen Team- Moo K'lue Di Gay

Mon Team- Cheam Gakao

Banyar

Sierra Leone/West Africa Team

- Omar Fofaneh

The champion team were the

West Africans, a mix of very

skilled players. Runners up

were the Karen Team. They

deserve a special mention,

being the newest community

to compete and with excellent

team work.

At third place were the

Sudanese team and at fourth

place the Mon team. The

Sudanese team were a young

team who played for fun and

friendship and put up a valiant

effort. The Mon team played

well, but admitted they have

been very busy with other

things, and have not been

training so hard.

There was also a fun match

between a team from

Cameroon and Companion

House staff versus a Chin/

Sudanese/Sierra Leone mixed

team. There was a continuous

children's match all afternoon

and lots of kids’ activities and

childcare available. Radford

College spent all day cooking a

BBQ for hungry team players

and spectators. The

Australian Institute of Sport

provided the venue and a great

group of soccer players who

acted as referees.

The Chin community came by

bus from Goulburn for the

event. They then had a tour of

Canberra before returning to

Goulburn. They are keen to

play in the competition next

year. With some requests from

women to play, there is also

likely to be a women's team

next year. So keep an eye out

for next year’s activities!

Page 2

Fifth World Refugee Soccer Tournament was fun for everyone

JU LY NEWS LE TT ER

Valiant: the Sudanese team Played very well: the Mon team

Champions: the West African team Excellent team work: the Karen team

COM PA NI ON HOUS E

Back in 1989, Professor Jerzy

Zubrzycki and Justice Elizabeth

Evatt agreed to become the first

Companion House Patrons.

At that time, tortured and

traumatised refugees and

migrants mainly from Latin

America and Indo China living

in Canberra had no truly

competent medical or

counselling / advocacy

assistance. Companion House

provided that service initially

with only volunteers and

friends. Professor Zubrzycki

was one of those friends.

His standing in the community

assisted us to establish the fully

professional organisation that it

is today. Some time ago, for

example, we had a difficult

discussion with officials who

insisted on access to client files

that we regarded as absolutely

confidential. We observed a

marked change in their attitude

when they by chance noticed

just who our Patrons were. It

was not long before they

accepted our position.

The reaction of the officials is

not surprising, Professor

Zubrzycki is known as the

‚Father of Australian

Multiculturalism‛ and is

largely responsible for shaping

this nation’s official policies on

multiculturalism. He was one

of the world’s most eminent

sociologists.

Professor Zubrzycki’s

philosophy of life, aligned

closely with Companion

House’s human rights policies.

He fought against inequality,

he valued virtue, he fought for

human dignity; he seemed to

have no fear in furthering his

principles.

As he said in the ABC Wisdom

interviews in 2003, that with

regard to his faith and his

beliefs, ‚there is no going

back‛.

We wish to express our deepest

sympathies to his family

especially to his daughter

Joanne who maintains a family

connection as a clinical advisor

and as a former Board member

of Companion House.

We mourn Jerzy’s passing but

we celebrate his spirit and

legacy everyday in our work

with the people he cared for so

much.

By Digby Habel

President of Companion House

Thank you to CITEA

Companion House staff present a thank you

certificate to Nina Churchward (CEO) and Peter

Robinson (Training Manager) of the Construction

Industry Training and Employment Association

(CITEA). CITEA have worked hard to provide

construction traineeships to people from the Mon and

Karen communities in cooperation with Companion

House.

Page 3

In memory of Jerzy Zubrzycki

with the Catholic Social Service

Society and focused

particularly on psychosocial

care, providing education on

disaster management and

preparing a community based

disaster preparedness plan.

Since starting at Companion

House my work has included a

lot of travel to Goulburn, but

more recently I’ve been

working quite a bit in Canberra

as well.

I’m the Complex Case Worker

at Companion House, and I’ve

been in Canberra for four

months now. Before this I

worked for three years with

earthquake survivors in Jammu

and Kashmir, India. This was

I started working as the new

Trainer/Advocate at

Companion House in April

2009. Before that I was a

secondary school teacher for

fifteen years (from 1990 to 2000

in an Intensive English Centre).

Then from 2000 to 2009 I

worked for an HIV

organisation in Sydney,

running workshops for people

with HIV, and editing the

organisation’s regular

magazine and some Health

Promotion resources.

All the staff, and particularly

James, my fellow trainer, have

really helped me settle into the

role. Companion House is a

wonderful place to work, and

very friendly (so come and say

hello if you’re stopping by).

The Training and Community

Awareness team has identified

priority areas to focus on in

coming months including

schools, the Adult Migrant

Education Program, volunteer

groups, Care and Protection

services, ACT Housing, and the

Australian Federal Police. We

have already had really

interesting training sessions

with the Canberra and Calvary

Hospitals, nursing students at

the University of Canberra,

Intensive English Centres,

Centacare, St John Kippax and

Sexual Health and Family

Planning ACT.

Administration Team:

Loan Freeman

Sai Maung

Elizabeth Lawmi

Complex Case managers:

Pam Mitchell

Mathew Anish

Counselling Team:

Elizabeth Price

Robin Alderson-Smith

Director:

Kathy Ragless

Medical Team:

Fiona McDonald

Silvia Salas Meyer

Dr Chris Phillips

Dr Joo-Inn Chew

Dr Katrina Anderson

Dr Bernadette McKay

Clare O’Rourke

Deborah Nelson

Carolyn Rolls

Fiona Delacy

Ina Susljik

Community Development Team:

Vesna Golic

Hong Sar Channaibanya

Sandra Lloyd

Lucia Costa

Page 4

.. and introducing Mathew Anish

Introducing new staff: Glenn Flanagan

Update on staff at Companion House

JU LY NEWS LE TT ER

Training and Community Awareness Team:

James Atem Mayen

Glenn Flanagan

Bookkeeper/ Accountant:

Gen Hemsley-Wilken

Web Designer and IT

Eric Warner

COM PA NI ON HOUS E

Violence, in any form, is

destructive, either in the

community or at home, and

domestic violence is destructive

in every culture. We all

experience both good and bad

feelings in our day to day lives

and we all have to cope with

the negative impact of

everyday events. These

experiences are never a reason

for acting violently.

Nevertheless, powerlessness

and family stress can be factors

that contribute to domestic

violence. As community

workers, counsellors or

doctors, we need to do our best

to enhance people’s physical

and mental health, and ensure

they have sufficient food and

shelter. These can be protective

factors for families.

Fear or insecurity can also be

another contributing factor.

Refugee communities have to

cope with a great deal: money,

housing, the education system,

building new social networks,

finding employment and

dealing with new parenting

practices in new environments.

Everyone wants to provide a

safe life for their families,

partner and children. However,

some men have different levels

of wisdom, knowledge, skills

and experience, and some may

need help dealing with anger

and violence.

Relationships founded on fear

and violence do not sustain or

nurture partners or families,

and the consequences of

violence can also resonate

beyond the immediate family.

Just as fire cannot put out a fire,

anger cannot be overcome by

violence.

From observations in the last

three to four years, as a

community worker, leader and

cross cultural parenting trainer

to the refugee communities, I

have found both men and

women need support with

knowledge and skills. Newly

arrived parents may lack an

understanding of the local legal

and welfare systems. In some

instances they hold expectations

that are beyond their reach in an

early stage of settlement. It is

important therefore to work

with each community and their

leaders on parenting and other

domestic issues, in collaboration

with local legal, family and

children services providers.

We also need to have a mature

discussion about the roles of

men and women in the family,

in the context of their

community and culture.

Australia is rich, materially and

in resources. Australians are

also rich in compassion in

humanity. We all, as parents,

community workers, community

leaders and family members

have to be rich in good hearts to

promote and build supportive

family relationships.

Hong Sar Channaibanya is a

Community Development

Project Officer at Companion

House.

Page 5

Domestic violence: a community worker and parent’s perspective

In some instances

people hold

expectations that are

beyond their reach in an

early stage of

settlement

While not widespread, a

variety of stressors place

refugees at greater risk of

substance misuse.

People from refugee

backgrounds have experienced

intense and extended periods

of trauma in country of origin

and in refugee camps, often

experiences that have extended

over decades. The stress of

settlement in Australia then

provides new stressors and a

new layer of risk factors. New

factors include culture shock,

discrimination and

intergenerational conflict,

which can exacerbate and build

on previous trauma experience.

This intensifies an individual

or family’s risk factors.

Some survivors of torture and

trauma describe turning to

drugs and alcohol for relief, to

sleep at night, to give energy

when depressed and calm

down nerves when fearful and

anxious. Whilst our own

experience in both medical and

counselling settings draws

strong links between substance

abuse on the one hand, and

trauma history and settlement

problems on the other, these

issues are also well

documented by other

organisations and researchers.

In particular, there are strong

links in the literature found

between PTSD and substance

misuse. Alcohol misuse is in

fact frequently associated with

PTSD, especially in the face of

chronic traumatic experiences.

For some, young people in

particular, drug and alcohol

use can also be an important

part of acculturation. As

people struggle to define

themselves in the new

environment, alcohol and drug

use can be important symbols

of acculturation and give

people access to supportive

and accepting sub cultures of

heavy alcohol and drug users.

In addition, stigma about drug

and alcohol issues in refugee

communities is common and

people are ashamed to discuss

substance abuse issues at all.

A final important risk factor is

simply the lack of information

that people have about drugs

and alcohol in the Australian

context. Most newly arrived

people have spent years in

isolated refugee camps with

little access to health care, let

alone health information.

Mainstream health

promotional and crime

prevention messages about

alcohol use pass them by, for

both language and cultural

reasons.

Compounding the risk factors

are shortfalls in treatment

systems for people with

substance misuse in refugee

communities. This is partially

because of cultural factors and

the lack of culturally sensitive

services.

Traumatic experiences

preceding resettlement and the

stress of resettlement itself can

also exacerbate escalation of

conflict and domestic violence

in refugee families

Research suggests that there is

no data to prove higher

incidence of domestic violence

in refugee families. However

risk factors associated with

different stages of refugee

experience heightens their

vulnerability to domestic

violence.

High exposure to violence can

create a cycle of violence that

might continue in their new

country. Studies have shown

that men who experience

violence in war, and are faced

with stress factors related to

migration are more likely to

resort to violence with their

family members. Women who

experienced gender-based

violence in war are more at risk

of domestic violence after war.

During the resettlement

process refugee families are

exposed to additional factors

that make them especially

vulnerable to domestic

violence. Men often find it very

difficult to deal with changed

gender roles as women gain

more independence through

employment or education, and

may resort to violence as a way

of dealing with traumatisation

combined with possible

frustration caused by changes

to their traditional roles. On the

other hand, women who do

not have employment and

education opportunities

experience an exceptionally

high level of social isolation.

Page 6

The effects of domestic violence and substance misuse and approaches for support and intervention

JU LY NEWS LE TT ER

COM PA NI ON HOUS E

Refugee communities

themselves sometimes respond

to the stress of migration in

specific ways. When

traditional practices and

identity are under threat of

changing under the pressure of

the mainstream domestic

culture, communities may be

more rigid in asserting

traditional values. This

especially applies to gender

roles. While at home women

would find community

support to break the cycle of

violence, in the resettlement

country they might find

themselves under community

pressure.

Children from families affected

by domestic violence are at risk

of delinquency and of

continuing violent behaviour

with their own children and

partners. The impact of

intergenerational domestic

violence crosses the boundaries

of affected families to the wider

community when children who

are victims of family violence

behave aggressively against

other children.

The lack of accurate statistics to

show the extent of domestic

violence in mainstream

populations is a result of the

hidden nature of domestic

violence. This is even more

common in refugee families in

particular because women

from these communities report

domestic violence less

frequently. They tend to have a

general distrust of mainstream

services, fear involving the

police, and fear consequences

from their own communities.

Research shows that refugees

are unaware of Australian

family laws and support

services, and that generally

they often choose not to use

mainstream services in the case

of domestic violence. Fear of

authorities and government

officials can be a result of

violence by authorities in

country of origin and country

of first asylum prior to

resettlement.

Companion House’s

experience confirms research

findings that strong and

supportive ethnic community

represents an important

component of effective

resettlement. In traditional

cultures, community has

obligation to the extended

family. Community

intervention in cases of

domestic violence can be very

positive and there is a need to

build the capacity of

communities to perform this

role.

Consideration of culture and

background are fundamentally

important and programs

tailored for particular groups

more successful in treating

substance and alcohol misuse.

Evidence suggests that

integrated service options

which provide a range of

therapeutic options for drug

treatment, mental health

support and other complex

vulnerabilities and are co-

located in the same service are

likely to be the most effective

for people who have co-

morbidity and complex

vulnerabilities. However,

flexibility in the way treatment

options are delivered is also

key to successful treatment.

For some people integrated

treatment will work best but

for others parallel or sequential

treatment will be more

successful.

Treatment also needs to

emphasise trust and

understanding, harm reduction

and long term support. In

addition, there is strong

evidence to suggest that peer

led strategies are most highly

regarded as effective by clients

themselves.

Further reading

All in the mind ABC Radio

Transcript “Drug and Alcohol

Abuse: The refugee experience”

24th February 2007

Pittaway, E. (2004), The Ultimate

Betrayal: an Examination of the

Experience of Domestic and

Family Violence in Refugee

Communities, The Centre for

Refugee Studies, UNSW)

Department for Community

Development, Government of

Western Australia, Family and

Domestic Violence Unit (2006), A

review of Literature relating to

family and Domestic Violence in

Culturally and Linguistically

Diverse Communities in

Australia.

DrugInfo Clearing House Drug Prevention in Refugee Communities Fact Sheet no 4.16 www.druginfo.adf.org.au

National Drug Strategy www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au

Sowey, “Learning to do Drug and Alcohol Prevention with African Refugee Communities” DrugInfo clearing House, 2006

Page 7

Sudan has experienced political

instability and conflict since its

independence from Britain in

1956., and Sudanese people have

experienced torture and war

related trauma for decades.

The intention of this article is to

build your understanding of the

experiences Sudanese people

have had in war, in exile and

during their journey to

Australia. Hopefully this will

assist with the provision of

culturally appropriate services to

Sudanese survivors of torture

and trauma.

Torture and Trauma

experiences in Sudan

The kinds of experiences

Sudanese people have been

exposed to include persecution,

kidnap and murder of family

members, rape, torture and other

humiliating acts, and for some,

combat experience. People have

experienced persecution because

of their political views or

affiliations, membership of a

particular social group, race or

religion.

Many people have lost their lives

participating in war and by

defending or protecting their

territory and people, and many

civilians have died as innocent

bystanders to this conflict. Many

more have witnessed the killing

of another person. I am sure that

all Sudanese people resettling in

Australia have lost one or more

family members, particularly

those from the southern and

western regions of Sudan.

In addition, civilians were

unlawfully imprisoned and

tortured, sometimes resulting in

their death. Systematic organised

violence against particular

groups of people was a tool used

to abuse or violate people’s

rights.

In southern Sudan life is based

on traditional subsistence living

which depends predominantly

on cattle and vegetables. There is

limited infrastructure and social

services as the few that existed

were destroyed during war.

There is a severe shortage of

food, health services, schools,

clean water and electricity. This

has made life very difficult in the

south in addition to living in a

war zone and with severe

human rights abuses.

Some men and women in

military service and some

civilians were engaged in arms

smuggling which has increased

the number of armed robberies

and bandit activities among

communities. This has created

added violence and further

traumatised communities.

Many people in Southern Sudan

lived in very restricted areas

with no easy way to travel.

There are no formal systems of

protection, and people fueled

insecurity by encouraging

violence towards other groups or

tribes. The tribal clashes among

communities were politically

motivated and incited by

political leaders, to cleanse or do

away with particular groups of

people. In this way, millions of

people, men and women, young

and old have witnessed or have

faced very extreme and violent

experiences.

Page 8

Trauma and resettlement for people from southern Sudan

JU LY NEWS LE TT ER

COM PA NI ON HOUS E

The war and other organized

violence has forced millions of

people out of their villages or

home land with many taking

refuge in camps for internally

displaced people (IDP), or

fleeing to refugee camps in

bordering countries. Usually

fleeing from your country is an

unplanned journey. One doesn’t

have the chance to say goodbye

to family or friends. People are

often forced to leave family

members and all their

belongings behind. The journey

is often characterized by high

levels of secrecy. People take

huge risks in seeking safety.

Often they don’t know what

their destination will be. People

experience self-blame, guilt and

shame when confronted with

hardship during the process of

leaving home.

When fleeing war and

persecution it is extremely

difficult to access medical

facilities, clean water and food

resulting in the death of many.

People also experience long

journeys walking barefoot,

perhaps a thousand kilometers

before reaching the destinations,

with the threat of being found by

rebels, separation from loved

ones and loneliness.

Living in Refugee Camps

In camps, thousands of people

from different nationalities lived

in overcrowded conditions due

to the restrictions on living space

and movement. As many as ten

people would live in a small

mud hut without ventilation or

privacy. Overcrowding claimed

many lives due to poor

sanitation and the inevitable

conflict which arose over the

limited resources available.

Sudanese refugees lived for

many years in the camps with

disease, inadequate health and

education services, inadequate

food and clean water and poor

sanitation. Security issues were

a key concern with many

constantly living in fear of being

shot, beaten or raped. Bandit

activity was common as well as

tribal clashes among refugee

communities.

For the Sudanese refugees in

Africa, the police have, rather

than protecting them, usually

been a protective force but rather

another source of violence and

harm. This has nothing to do

with crime or acting unlawfully,

but is again about discrimination

and racism with police targeting

those with dark skin and a

physical appearance which

reveals them to be part of a

particular ethnic group. This

experience was frequent in

Kenya where most people first

sought asylum. Instead of the

police working to protect these

desperate asylum seekers, they

beat them and looted their

property. Kenyan police are

highly corrupt and committed

some of the worst acts of all the

police that I have ever seen.

Trauma Experiences and

Identity

The experiences have shaped the

way people think about and

manage difficulties they now

face or which may come confront

them in the future. Surviving

very cruel treatment and the

lessons they have drawn from

this are a source of pride for

many. The resilient survivor acts

as a teacher to others and is

always ready and willing to help

those who haven't faced these

situations to understand them.

Page 9

The experiences of the ‘lost

boys’ (see the story of the lost

boys on the Companion House

website for example) forced

young boys to be become self-

reliant, developing within them

an attitude of readiness to live

their lives without external

support. This hope and

spirituality are the greatest

source of strength for survivors

even after they have lost all their

belongings including their loved

ones.

Even when living in relative

safety here in Australia, many

survivors continue to live their

lives on ‘high alert’, ready to

deploy defensive techniques if

necessary. Their experiences

have taught survivors to live

vigilant lives, constantly

observing and listening in order

to detect potential threats of

danger, including those indirect

abusive words which are politely

spoken.

At the same time, many accept

change as being a positive part

of life.

Resettlement in Australia

Trauma and its symptoms can

interfere with many aspects of

settlement including people’s

ability to learn English language

proficiently and therefore their

ability to communicate with

others, which is vital to a smooth

settlement experience.

This can be a source of great

frustration for people and many

blame themselves and feel

shame when they do not achieve

the level in language, education

or work they would like. In some

cases individuals will evaluate

their life and compare

themselves and their

achievements with others their

age concluding that they have

achieved little and therefore that

they have failed in life.

The Australian system of

education can be very confusing,

especially for mature Sudanese

students and those who have

had little or no previous

educational experience.

Another issue for some refugee

students might be that the

memories of their traumatic

experience may disrupt their

ability to concentrate and learn.

Worrying thoughts about what

is happening back in their home

country to family members and

friends.

Many Sudanese refugee students

also have a great deal of social

responsibility and many are

working day and night to earn

money to rescue friends and

relatives from refugee camps

and those at home.

Parenting styles vary

significantly between Sudanese

and Australian cultures and

some people may lack control

over their children according to

the Australian way of parenting.

This is a source of great anguish

for Sudanese parents who feel

that their traditional parental

roles, with the cultural values

and rules that this encompasses,

are undermined and being lost.

Mental health concerns can be

another barrier to settlement. For

others it is the misuse of alcohol

or other drugs, all of which are

side effects of the trauma

experience.

In addition, people affected by

trauma have high levels of

mistrust of others. This has an

impact on their social

relationships and interactions

with others, and some may

appear to act inappropriately.

Page 10 JU LY NEWS LE TT ER

COM PA NI ON HOUS E

Racial discrimination in

workplaces, in schools and in the

media is very damaging. Many

feel misunderstood and rejected

by the negative comments made

about them. For example, key

political figures and the media

have portrayed the Sudanese

community in Australia as

criminal, unproductive,

unhealthy and not integrating

well. Generalized racist

comments and negative

stereotyping reminds people of

the rejection they have

previously experienced.

Many also find that the

difficulties of resettlement and

cultural transition can trigger

past trauma and create new

anxiety and depression. These

can be highly stressful for some

people and some may react

negatively and appear angry and

rude, especially when people

don’t seem to try to understand

them.

While it is very exciting time

when you first arrive in

Australia, not long into

settlement people experience

culture shock as they are

confronted by a world of

difference.

The complexity of culture

Traditional marriage customs are

still practised by Sudanese

people here in Australia

including the way in which

marriages are agreed to and

arranged. The paying of

dowries is still a significant

practice. Marriage and dowry

negotiations with the girl’s

family can be a very long and

stressful process, including the

stress for the man to earn the

money to pay the dowry.

There are also cultural

differences in family planning,

pregnancy and birthing

practices. Sudanese people also

consider having a big family

with many children to be

important. Sudanese women

may not want to receive

antenatal care during their

pregnancies because of these

differences and a fear of medical

intervention. Conflict with the

medical profession can be

distressing in some cases.

Culture and healing

However, in addition cultural

factors can foster healing as part

of resettlement. The emphasis

on community means that many

southern Sudanese are part of

strong communities. In

addition, the majority of

southern Sudanese are religious

and many will participate in

Christian churches and find

great strength in religious belief.

Culture and tradition can be a

great source of pride and

strength more generally for

many people also.

The traumatic experiences

people survived in Sudan and in

refugee camps has had an

impact on Sudanese people for

life. Importantly, however,

surviving the horror of the past

can build pride, resilience and

skill. Although cultural factors

provide many complexities for

resettlement they also enhance

the strength and resilience of

communities.

James Atem Mayen is a Trainer

and Bicultural Worker at

Companion House

Page 11

Many southern

Sudanese are part of

strong communities

COM PA NI ON HOUS E

In February 2009, the Dinka

congregation of St. George’s

church proudly hosted a very

special event: the launch of the

book and audio CD Dinka

Folktales from Sudan. This book/

CD had been more than a year in

the making, requiring the

collaborative efforts of the Dinka

community, Companion House

and the North Ainslie Primary

Introductory English Centre.

For the Dinka, one aim of the

Dinka folktales project was to

revive some of their cherished but

marginalised stories. In

traditional Dinka society, stories

are woven into the very fabric of

everyday life. For the Dinka

women who volunteered to retell

their stories, this was an

opportunity to revive the tales and

once again give them the

prominence they had enjoyed in

the past. Part of the inspiration for

the storytelling project was to hold

onto the old while facing the new.

The wit and wisdom contained in

the folktales could provide a

bridge between past and present.

Traditionally the storytelling

tradition was an oral one. The

documentation of the stories and

the production of an audio CD

were for the benefit of the wider

community. This could be seen as

an act of reciprocity – a gift to the

mainstream Australian community

that could help foster greater

understanding. For the wider

community, the folktales could

help provide an introduction to

Dinka culture and an appreciation

for stories that come from across

the world.

Dinka folktales represent stories of

hope and strength, and of

important aspects of Dinka culture

that could support children’s sense

of wellbeing. Folktales are not

simply entertaining – they can also

be enlightening. They can present

some of the universal

predicaments of the human

condition in novel ways, and

provide ideas for solutions

embedded in values and morals.

For Dinka children this folktales

book/CD might also help them to

solve problems faced in a new

context, with the use of traditional

Dinka wisdom. We all hoped that,

for the children, the Dinka

folktales book/CD would provide

not only a resource for learning

English but also a strong link with

a positive cultural identity that

would bolster self-esteem and

confidence.

An additional aim related to the

children’s task of illustrating the

folktales. The illustrations

provided not only a fun activity,

but also one that would showcase

the children’s creative talents and

imaginations.

Copies of the book/CD Dinka

folktales from Sudan are available

from Companion House. ($30.00

per copy, including postage and

handling, or it can be picked up

from Companion House at a cost

of $25.00). To order, please

contact Companion House.

This is an edited version of an

article published in ATESOL

journal.

Deborah Nelson is a Children’s

Counsellor / Advocate at

Companion House.

Illustrations by Abuk Garang

Mayen, Elrank DengArak, Akon

Maluk Goi and Yar Garang Mayen

Page 12

Bringing Dinka folktales from Sudan to Canberra

Fundraising Dinner

Guest speaker :

Virginia Haussegger

7pm for 7.30pm

Friday 11 September 2009

at

Wests @ Turner

McCaughey St, Turner

Burmese banquet including Chinese tea

Cost: $40 (other donations welcome)

RSVP by 7 September 2009 to:

sai.maung@companionhouse.org.au or ph 62477227

cjkeil@proforte.com.au or ph 62478231

Please note: Cancellations after 7 September must be paid for

Companion House

Assisting Survivors

Of Torture and Trauma

Patrons: Professor William Maley AM

Justice Elizabeth Evatt AO

Honorary Consultant Dr Lucy Ong

Love, tears and laughter

Companion House

will be 20 years old in December

Put Thursday December 3rd in your diary and

join Companion House to celebrate its

twentieth birthday

More updates and info in coming months

41 Fairfax Street O’Connor ACT 2602

COMPANION HOUSE

Do you work with adults or children from a refugee background?

Companion House can provide training to better equip staff, students or volunteers in your organisation.

We can deliver training either at Companion House or your workplace at flexible times to suit your training

needs.

Topics can include:

Who is a refugee? - The refugee experience - Understanding the impact of torture and trauma -

Refugee health issues - Skills for effective support and intervention -

Cross cultural skills - Ways to deal with workers’ emotional reactions

Training can also be tailored to suit your organisation's needs

For more information about training or to request a training session phone 6247 7227 and ask

for Glenn or James, or email: info@companionhouse.org.au

Training in refugee issues

Phone: 6247 7227

Fax: 6247 1416

Email: reception@companionhouse.org.au

Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma

Www.companionhouse.org.au