Melton council is celebrating Refugee Week with a number of activities, from Sunday, June 16, to Saturday, June 22.
This year’s theme is #Finding Freedom: Family.
This year, the focus is on the importance of family during displacement, highlighting the resilience and unity within the refugee experience.
Refugees find solace, support, and belonging through familial bonds, emphasising the vital role families play in times of adversity.
In Melton, refugees have exemplified resilience and courage, contributing to the workforce, achieving success in business, and becoming leaders in society.
This year, Melton council’s Refugee Week celebrations extend throughout the week, featuring various events in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. We aim to engage directly with refugees, asylum seekers, students, and service providers, fostering dialogue and support within the community.
On Tuesday, June 18, the Melton Library is hosting a Journeys of Hope: Refugee Narratives Explored Q&A Session in conjunction with Djerriwarrh Community and Education Services.
The free event will go from 11.30am to 1pm.
The event will teach people about refugee journeys and challenges from the refugees through interview and QA sessions.
On Wednesday, June 19, Melton Primary School will have a Lessons of Resilience Showcase
From 10am to 12pm, refugees will share stories with school children and celebrate the inclusion and contribution of the refugees to Melton.
On Thursday, June 20, there will be a celebration of finding family hosted by the Melton Interfaith Network, at the Fraser Rise Community Centre from 10am to 1pm.
It will help to identify current challenges faced by the refugee families and how to address them from a family perspective.