Refugee & Migrant Workshop - Collaborations with Heart

Since our inception Rotary of Elizabeth Quay (REQ) had focused on our mission of facilitating generosity when pursuing project partners. Building on member networks and connections, we seek to engage the community in projects of interest, where a clear need is identified and where our resources will have most impact.

One of the partners that we have continued to regularly collaborate with since 2016 is St Vincent de Paul. Vinnies’ works across the community through numerous and varied initiatives which has provided the opportunity for REQ to leverage member skill sets and interests to partner on specific projects. One of these collaborations which is close to my heart is our work with refugees and migrants in Perth’s Northern suburbs.

Refugee and Migrant Engagement

Over the course of 8 months in a series of 3 workshops, REQ projects team collaborated with Vinnie’s English Language Centre based in Nollamara, to provide an opportunity for refugee and migrant participants to co-design some life-skills workshops facilitated by REQ members and subject matter experts.

The participants identified the need for strong English skills and increased knowledge around becoming job ready- including the importance of volunteering, upskilling and work experience.

During the workshops REQ members connected with the participants through conversation practice and helped participants create (sometimes for the first time) a CV. Guest Speakers included employment agency staff, TAFE English Language lecturers, lived experience speakers and recruitment consultants.

Additionally, through the support of the Knights of the Southern Cross and Iluka Resources, our tech savvy REQ members were able to refit second-hand computer equipment to provide the English Language centre with more than 20 laptops to support language learning.

What made this project so special?

The update from the club for this event was exceptional. Our president at the time Tristan Kolay (TK) engaged members with an interest in refugee issues, those who loved hands on activities and those with technical skill sets. A number of project participants went on to take leadership roles in the club including Projects Director, Secretary and Membership Director in the following year. The camaraderie that hands on activities generate is something that sustains volunteers to continue to facilitate generosity. Which after all, is what REQ is all about.