AFRICAN MIGRANTS

The Gentle Neophyte

2008-01-03T15:05:00.000+10:30

against the darkness…
the jacaranda flowers in earnest
purple lawn

the gentle
neophyte in fancy clothing
this golden dawn…
bright sparks of new
life in Oz

celestial melody
in the dreamtime garden
the sound of laughter

there’s nothing
more beautiful as your
smiling eyes...
welcoming the new moon
with glee

the visions
of the Dreamer in hot pants...
summer folly

protect and nourish
the fertile crescent of your
soul in times
of drought and flooding rains
oh frisky neophyte of Oz

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Happy Holiday

2007-12-25T17:46:00.000+10:30

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Notes on Suicide

2007-03-18T12:39:00.000+10:30

Suicide continues to be a major public health issue in Australia, in recent years. Although death by suicide is a relatively uncommon event, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the human and economic costs are substantial.

Read the full story on http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

The Sudanese in Tamworth

2007-01-17T08:27:00.000+10:30

The road to paradise is not for the fainted-hearted; just ask the Sudanese refugees who are trying to settle in Tamworth, the so-called country music capital of Australia.

The Tamworth city council voted last year to reject an offer by the Australian Department of Immigration to settle the Sudanese families in the area, saying the town did not have the resources to cope.

But detractors of the local authority, including some members of Tamworth council are absolutely convinced that the decision was simply racist; arguing the city has the resources to look after 50,000 extra people every year when it holds its famous country music festival.

Weep not! This story has a happy ending. The Tamworth council has now reversed its decision to ban the Sudanese refugees in the area. And the African community leaders welcome the news.

This, indeed, is a great victory for the good citizens of Tamworth who fought (and continue to fight) for the rights of African migrants and refugees to live in the city.

The wheel of compassion turns ever so slowly.

More stories on http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com/

Echoes of Love

2007-01-04T16:07:00.000+10:30

Amorous rose
In antipodean garden
Toasting
The New Year with
Songs of love

Echoes of love
And passion in Eden, this
Waxing moon
The beautiful sound
Of the nightingale

Beyond the fragile
Archipelago of the soul…
Cupid’s lair

Dawn of harmony…
Sensitive hot lips melting
The heart of stone

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Summer Poem

2006-12-25T20:19:00.000+10:30

They woke
Up to a white Christmas
Down Under…
Summer transformed
Into a winter wonderland

From fire to ice…
Even the snowflakes are
Having a field day

Miracles of
The festive season foretold
Santa Claus
In the Milky Way…
Snowfall in summer

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Christmas Poem on the Menu

2006-12-22T22:23:00.000+10:30

Christmas
Poem on the menu, this
Festive season
But who read the last
Haiku by candle light?

Santa Claus
In shopping frenzy on
Christmas Eve
Breaking the Bank of Fortune
In broad daylight

Tales of
Love and adventure
On Christmas day…
The neophyte turns on the
Light with a smile

Inspired
By the Christmas spirit
The dreamtime poet
Composed his first tanka
Over the rainbow

The young
Nigerian artist in festive mood
Surfing the menu
In the true spirit of
Antipodean Christmas

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Merry Christmas

2006-12-21T10:06:00.000+10:30

Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year.

The Church and Water Conservation

2006-10-29T14:53:00.000+10:30

The church in South Australia is taking a great leap forward in water conservation. Adult baptisms, in the Western suburbs branch of the Uniting Church in Adelaide city, have been banned in the wake of the prolonged drought conditions in the State; according to the Sunday Mail report.

The ban is a symbol of the emerging new sensibility in church policy towards the environment and water conservation.

One Woman's Journey

2006-10-10T17:55:00.000+09:30

Susan Nakawuki, the youngest MP to be elected to Uganda’s 319-Member Parliament, is on a goodwill mission to Australia – a one-woman crusade aimed at creating cross-cultural awareness.

She arrived in Adelaide, South Australia early this week.

While in Adelaide, Mrs. Nakawuki, who dreams of becoming her country’s President one day, will holds talks with members of the new and emerging Ugandan community in South Australia.

The principal objective of the visit is to raise funds and find sponsors for community development projects in Uganda, according to The Advertiser newspaper report.

African Migrant Choir

2006-09-22T20:37:00.000+09:30

After a successful performance at the Festival Theatre a few days ago, the Woodville High School’s African migrant choir, Uhuru Voices, has been invited to perform at the Multicultural Festival of South Australia later this year.

A Test for New Migrants

2006-09-18T20:25:00.000+09:30

The introduction of a new test for migrants, in Australia, has ruffled some feathers.

From now on, migrants applying for the Australian citizenship are likely to face rigorous examination to ensure they understand enough English to talk to workmates, fill out forms and read safety signs, according to The Australian newspaper report.

Africa Down Under

2006-09-02T12:12:00.000+09:30

The Africa Down Under Conference will take place next week in Perth, Western Australia, 7-8 September 2006.

At least 50 corporate booths have been allocated to delegates; reflecting a diversity of commodity and geographical location which has made the “boutique” conference the enormously successful event that it is.

Apart from the corporate show-and-tell presentations, key-note addresses will be made by top-ranking government officials from South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Eritrea and Libya.

Africa offers boundless opportunities for big discoveries and profitable investments.

New Australian Migration Laws Defeated

2006-08-14T20:16:00.000+09:30

A back bench revolt has forced the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, to withdraw the new migration bill from the parliament. The legislation was aimed at forcing asylum seekers into offshore detention centres in Nauru.

With the emergence of a growing opposition to the bill and the government MPs crossing the floor, it was clear that the legislation was going to be defeated in the senate.

Below the Poverty Line

2006-08-04T18:18:00.000+09:30

Many welfare recipients in Australia are living below the poverty line, according to the University of Melbourne’s quarterly report.

The report shows that single people on unemployed benefits were living on $77.09 a week below the poverty line in the March quarter.

Unemployed couples without children were $28.23 worse off.

Not to be forgotten are the unemployed couples with children who (the report says) were on $31.39 a week below the poverty line.

Migrants at Work

2006-07-21T17:22:00.000+09:30

A migrant’s work (like the proverbial charity) begins at home but does not end there.

The latest annual snapshot of social trends from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found that migrants, who held a job in their own country before leaving, are more likely to be employed when they arrive in Australia.

Consequently, of those migrants who worked before they came to Australia, 71 per cent secured employment, compared with 50 per cent of those who did not have a job in their own country.

Nevertheless, success of any magnitude requires self-discipline, hard work, and a high degree of moral integrity.

The ABS data also found that the longer the period since arrival, the more likely migrants have obtained educational qualifications, improved their English proficiency, and developed a good knowledge of the labour market.

Exports of Australian Wine

2006-07-15T21:07:00.000+09:30

The exports of Australian produced wine increased 6.1% on April 2006 to 66.9 million litres in May 2006, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Australia exported 716.1 million litres with a value of $2.7 billion in the twelve months ending May 2006, an increase of 7.8% in volume and 1.0% in value over the corresponding period to May 2005.

Working Visas

2006-07-13T15:03:00.000+09:30

The semi-skilled workers, foreign truck drivers and farm hands, could be given working visas as the Australian government tries to deal with the chronic labour shortage.

Meanwhile, the captains of industry are looking forward to a wider range of occupations for which foreign workers might qualify, according to The Australian newspaper report.

The Immigration Department is negotiating with the Australian Trucking Association over a proposal to bring qualified heavy truck drivers and diesel mechanics to Australia on a temporary basis.

The Migrant Adventure

2006-07-09T13:22:00.000+09:30

The migrant adventure
And the constant search for meaning.
A spiritual journey!

Behold the sun chasers!
The reality of powerlessness exposed
In omnipotent universe.

Golden days
In the new frontier
Who moved the goal post?

Seize the moment
To witness the birth of a star
I’m right behind you!

The lost boy in space
Haunted by the near brush with
The red giant.

The Big Bang!
Unravelling the mysteries of the universe.
But who lit the fuse?

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

The Migrant Boom

2006-06-24T16:40:00.000+09:30

Today, I have been greatly encouraged by the news that the idyllic state of South Australia is experiencing a migrant boom.

This development is fuelled by the influx of new migrants from the United Kingdom, China, Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

The growth in the state’s population is the highest in 14 years and this trend is likely to continue, according to the Advertiser newspaper report.

The point to note, however, is that the new generation of Africans have added to the migrant boom in South Australia in recent years; having brought a great deal of vibrancy, freshness, and vitality to the land Down Under.

Jobless Program for Muslims

2006-06-05T18:46:00.000+09:30

Unemployment in the Muslim community in Australia stands at a relatively high level of 19 per cent (compared with the national rate of less than 6%), according to the Australian Financial Review.

Now, the government is about to sign off on a major new jobs program for Muslim Australians in order to contain the spread of radical fundamentalism.

Asylum Seekers and Human Rights

2006-05-14T16:36:00.000+09:30

The proposed changes to the Migration Act to allow the offshore processing of all asylum seekers who arrive by boat - the so-called “Pacific Solution” – would undermine Australia’s commitment to human rights, according to the recent statement by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity commission. It could also breach Australia’s obligation to protect children.

Miners Celebrate their First Day of Freedom

2006-05-09T10:45:00.000+09:30

The mine rescue workers in Australia have done an amazing job under the most difficult circumstances, effectively saving precious lives.

And the trapped Beaconsfield miners, Brant Webb and Todd Russell, are now celebrating their first day of freedom after two weeks of entombment almost 1km underground.

This, indeed, is the greatest escape of all!

Compulsory Test for Migrants

2006-04-28T19:53:00.000+09:30

Migrants to Australia may soon find it difficult to become citizens of the country because of the English language requirement.

There is also a new proposal for compulsory testing of all migrants for their basic knowledge of Australian culture, history and values as a pre-requisite for citizenship.

But the advocates of a more liberal immigration policy strongly believe that no formal proposal should be adopted without a vigorous public debate.

Desperately Seeking Asylum

2006-04-26T15:41:00.000+09:30

The team officials and athletes who attended last month’s Commonwealth Games in Australia have stayed on to enjoy Australian hospitality, according to The Australian newspaper report.

Some are desperately seeking asylum. In fact, three young women from the West African nation of Sierra Leone are among the 26 athletes and officials who have declared their intention to remain in Australia permanently.

The women are fearful of being forced to undergo the brutal traditional female circumcision, if they return to Sierra Leone.

Thus, down in the trenches, there is a desperate struggle for freedom and survival, so to speak!

The recent report suggests that participants from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Cameroon are among the 126 athletes and team officials who have over-stayed their special Games visas.

Monica's Eye

2006-04-25T17:15:00.000+09:30

The Australian city of Darwin managed to evade the eye of the storm, as Cyclone Monica is downgraded to a tropical low.

Cyclone Monica

2006-04-19T17:36:00.000+09:30

The residents of Australia’s Cape York Peninsula are battling gale force winds as cyclone Monica, a category three tropical storm, crosses the far north Queensland coast. This is the second cyclone in less than a month.

New Detention Plans for Asylum Seekers

2006-04-17T09:37:00.000+09:30

Under the new hardline approach to asylum seekers, people who enter Australia by boat, illegally, will be sent to the Pacific Island of Nauru, Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, or Christmas Island for processing.

They will, then, be relocated to a third country, according to The Australian newspaper report.

The Uniting Church has attacked the new detention plans as an act of moral abandonment. And refugee advocates argue it will lead to the long term incarceration of children.

The tough new policy on asylum seekers threatens to rekindle the debate about the best possible way of dealing with the problem.

African Athletes apply for Visas

2006-04-13T19:12:00.000+09:30

Eight of the 14 Sierra Leonean athletes who fled from the Melbourne Commonwealth Games have applied for visas to stay in Australia. They were granted extended bridging visas a few weeks ago.

Others are also expected to lodge their visa applications, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Chronic Skills Shortage

2006-04-06T22:48:00.000+09:30

A report just released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has identified areas of chronic skills shortage in the country.

In Western Australia, for example, the booming resources sector and a strong property market have fuelled the demand for skilled personnel; placing considerable pressure on labour supply.

In fact, there is a significant increase in demand for skilled workers in the electrical and metal trades, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In New South Wales, the government has launched a scheme to double the state’s intake of skilled migrants by sponsoring employees in the finance, pharmaceutical, information technology, and biotechnology sectors.

The program will target migrants with professional and trade qualifications to fill vacancies in regional areas.

Missing Cameroonian Athletes Found in Perth

2006-03-29T20:26:00.000+10:30

Two Cameroonian athletes, who were reported missing from the Commonwealth Games team, have been found in Perth, Western Australia.

Sources close to the Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD) said the two athletes are lawfully in Australia and should be offered protection.

It is understood that CARAD has put them in touch with a lawyer. They are now seeking legal advice.

More Africans Apply for Political Asylum

2006-03-28T20:42:00.000+10:30

More Africans come in from the cold! Six more athletes from Sierra Leone have decided to surrender to the Australian authorities, after absconding from the Commonwealth Games village in Melbourne.

Just like their team mates, they have been granted Temporary Protection Visas which will allow them to apply for refugee status in Australia.

This brings to 12 the number of Sierra Leonean athletes seeking refuge in the land Down Under this week.

These athletes genuinely believe that they will be persecuted if they return home to Sierra Leone. And there is public sympathy for their plight.

Missing Athletes Seek Political Asylum

2006-03-27T23:39:00.000+10:30

Six of the 15 Sierra Leonean athletes who disappeared from the Commonwealth Games village in Melbourne have reported voluntarily to the Australian police; seeking political asylum – a world away from home.

They have now been issued with Temporary Protection Visas. But one thing is certain though; there is a big risk ahead. Honestly, the road to the Promised Land is not for the faint hearted!

In fact, come to think of it, there is no smooth or reliable path through the asylum-seeking maze.

But for the missing athletes, the struggle for freedom continues!

The Disappearing Athletes

2006-03-26T15:44:00.000+10:30

Four more athletes from Sierra Leone have disappeared from the Commonwealth Games village in Melbourne, Australia.

According to the Sunday Mail report, 15 out of 22 athletes, from the war-ravaged West African nation, who came to the Melbourne Games, have now disappeared.

Nigeria's Gold Rush

2006-03-25T18:33:00.000+10:30

The Nigerian athlete, Ruel Ishaku, has won a gold medal in weighting event at the Commonwealth Games.

Ishaku’s victory, in the Elite Athletes with Disabilities (EAD) category, takes Nigeria’s total medal count to 12.

Nigeria was not allowed to compete in the able-bodied weighting categories because of the ban imposed on the country when three of its lifters violated the anti-doping rules at international competitions.

www.theaustralian.com.au

The Case of the Missing Athletes

2006-03-24T18:11:00.000+10:30

African athletes have gone missing in Australia. Overall, the Australian police officials are now searching for 11 athletes; including a Tanzanian boxer Omari Idd Kimweri. But that’s not all.

Sierra Leone has now lost half of its Commonwealth Games squad with another two of its athletes missing from the athletes’ village in Melbourne.

Uganda's First Gold

2006-03-22T23:00:00.000+10:30

Dorcus Inzikuru has won Uganda’s first athletics gold medal in the 3000 meters steeplechase competition at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Condi's Heart of Gold

2006-03-17T18:56:00.000+10:30

In a blaze of publicity on her first visit to Australia, the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, remains extremely calm and focused despite the busy schedule - a class act under the antipodean sun.

In a few hours time, Condi, the American goddess of diplomacy, will be at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne; presenting a gold medal to the winner of tonight’s swimming finals.

Then, on Saturday, she will attend the tri-lateral security talks in Sydney along with the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, and the Japanese Foreign Minister, Taro Aso.

The growing influence of China will be on top of the agenda. Condi says China needs to be more open with its military spending, pay attention to its economy, and respect intellectual property rights.

Welcome Condoleezza!

2006-03-15T20:22:00.000+10:30

The African community in Australia would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, on her first visit to the land Down Under.

African Stars Shine in Australia

2006-03-10T21:03:00.000+10:30

In the true spirit of world music, prominent African musicians are making their presence felt in Australia.

This year’s WOMADELAIDE music festival has attracted top name African performers such as Miriam Makeba, Orchestra Baobab, Ba Cissoko, Kanda Bongo Man, Coco Mbassi, Lura, and The Golden Pride Children’s Choir.

Thus, as far as the world music festival is concerned, the Africans have come to play! And the Jamaican reggae founding father, Jimmy Cliff, will be one of the main items on the program.

In the world of song and dance, this is a weekend like no other as 430 celebrated artists from 27 countries converge on Adelaide’s Botanic Park in South Australia to celebrate cultural diversity.

www.womadelaide.com.au

A New Compact with Migrants

2006-02-24T17:29:00.000+10:30

The Australian federal treasurer, Peter Costello, demands a new compact with migrants; arguing that people coming into the country must accept the Australian values.

He has bluntly warned the radical Muslims and other migrants to respect the laws and liberties of the Australian nation or lose their right to citizenship.

The treasurer believes that people who want to live under the Islamic sharia law should move to countries where they would feel “more at ease”.

Costello is obviously concerned with the emergence of what he describes as “mushy misguided multiculturalism”.

Nevertheless, while his vision of a more muscular nationalism may be good news to some elements of the far right, the affected migrants are not laughing!

They Left Paradise Behind

2006-02-20T23:11:00.000+10:30

They left the tropical paradise behind
In the race to open the windows of the mind;
Courting the bourgeois world, on which their futures depend;
And doing the daily battle for survival; toiling for hours on end.

Now, they’re planting vineyards in the temperate zone
Where once nothing of substance had grown
Yet, the ancestral home still beckons
Even as their grasp of the new reality strengthens.

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

On Imported Workers

2006-02-18T10:25:00.000+10:30

The phenomenon of “imported workers” is becoming increasingly popular in the 21st century Australia. But there are genuine concerns about the treatment of such workers.

Addressing the newly arrived African refugees in South Australia recently, the Federal Minister of Immigration, Senator Amanda Vanstone, called on fair minded Australians to “dob in” shonky sponsors of imported workers if there was enough evidence to suggest that they’ve been underpaid or mistreated in any way.

The Senator did a good job of raising the issue in a public forum; thereby creating an awareness of the plight of imported workers in Australia today.

www.theadvertiser.com.au

The Adventures of African-Australian Sprinter

2006-02-11T14:11:00.000+10:30

The former Nigerian sprinter, Ambrose Ezenwa, has found his way into the Australian Commonwealth team. He now calls Australia home.

Ezenwa, aged 28, will represent Australia in the 100m and 200m sprint during next month’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

He has been given official clearance by Nigeria and the international athletics bodies to compete for his adopted country, according to The Australian newspaper report.

This is a big win for Australia.

The Rise of the Bogus Woman

2006-02-05T14:20:00.000+10:30

Kay Adshead’s devastating play, The Bogus Woman, has taken centre stage in the land Down Under. It has already been picked as one of the five top theatre shows to see in the upcoming Adelaide Fringe Festival in South Australia, according to The Advertiser newspaper report.

Indeed, The Bogus Woman is a powerful political play on aspects of immigration procedures – a highly successful one woman show. It is a play which speaks to us through a poetic language that is both brutal and beautiful.

Full credits to Sarah Niles who plays over 48 different characters as the story is told of a young African woman who has to flee her country, after the mass murder of her family, and seeks asylum in London.

A great political theatre!

The Flight of the Albatross (Haiku)

2006-01-30T18:44:00.000+10:30

The majestic flight
Of the wandering albatross
Touching the blue sky

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Celebrating the Australia Day

2006-01-26T14:08:00.000+10:30

The Australians of all persuasions are, happily, celebrating the Australia Day - a national birthday. Although black and white Australians have become used to considering January 26 as the Invasion Day, there is more that unites the nation than divides it.

Nevertheless, in a very special way, the Australia Day is a celebration of cultural diversity – and, more importantly, a celebration of a nation in all its manifestations.

In his address to the nation, the Prime Minister, John Howard, said that migrants (old and new) were expected to “make an overriding commitment to Australia, its laws, and democratic values”. But he argued, passionately, that while multiculturalism is important, it will never alter Australia’s commitment to freedom and equality.

Happy Australia Day!

Attracting Skilled Migrants

2006-01-18T13:48:00.000+10:30

One of the greatest challenges facing Australia in the 21st century is how to attract the skilled migrants it needs for economic expansion.

A new research by the country’s highly respected Productivity Commission shows, quietly clearly, that the effect of a 50 per cent annual increase in the number of skilled migrants over the next 20 years would be quite benign. For one, unemployment would not rise despite the influx of new migrants.

Furthermore, the average hours worked would increase ever so slightly. And the per capita income would be marginally higher at the end of the period covered by the study.

Nevertheless, as the Australian population ages, increased skill migration will be needed for the expansion of the domestic economy.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au

Queen of Song

2006-01-13T11:40:00.000+10:30

Miriam Makeba, Africa’s legendary queen of song known as “Mama Africa”, will soon make her presence felt in South Australia; and the African community is delighted. She will star in the Womadelaide program in March as part of her international farewell tour.

www.womadelaide.com.

The January Sun (Haiku)

2006-01-05T15:34:00.000+10:30

Under the January sun
The giant lizard takes a nap
In the sun-burnt country!

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Illegal Immigrants

2005-12-27T11:21:00.000+10:30

About 50,000 people are working in Australia illegally, according to the immigration authorities. But the business community, apparently, welcomes their work ethics.

The illegal workers, and those who overstay their visas, are being discovered in hostels, hotels, cafes and restaurants, agriculture, construction, and personal services.

Some are working in the health care facilities where labour is in short supply.

Multiculturalism in Australia

2005-12-24T21:27:00.000+10:30

The Australians appear to have given an overwhelming support for multiculturalism despite the recent beachside race riots in Sydney.

Most Aussies still enjoy the fruits of multiculturalism and are, therefore, tolerant of racial and ethnic differences, according the Australian newspaper report.

The Newspoll survey, just released, shows quite clearly that 70 percent of the population still support the idea of multiculturalism – down from a high of 78 percent recorded in 1997.

Thus, if there is prejudice in the great Land of Oz, there is also tolerance.

www.theaustralian.com.au

The Gift of the Peace

2005-12-21T09:58:00.000+10:30

Race riots on the beach:
Santa brings a special gift to Cronulla
Peace fills their hearts forever!

The Threat of Race War

2005-12-18T10:58:00.000+10:30

Today, the men and women of the Australian Police Force are in real fear of a new wave of racial violence on the beaches of Sydney as the rival ethnic gangs prepare for battle. An extra 500 officers have been called in to keep the peace.

Meanwhile, the climate of fear and uncertainty hovers over all dark skinned Australians; including the so-called “People of Middle Eastern appearance”.

Indeed, there is fear and loathing in the land of the long hot summer.

The Good Woman of Calabar

2005-12-11T17:34:00.000+10:30

There once was a good woman from Calabar
Who was ceremoniously called to the Bar
Inspired by the spirit of the Law
She set upon writing the city’s first bylaw
This led to the closure of the notorious Paradise Street bar.

© 2005 Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

On the Jobless Migrants

2005-12-01T19:01:00.000+10:30

Unemployment is a significant problem for new migrants to Australia. The recent issue of the Australian Financial Review reports that migrants from North Africa and the Middle East have experienced unemployment rate of 12 per cent at a time when the national average rate is a little over 5 per cent.

Thus, the phenomenon of unemployment is not only a major disadvantage for migrants, it is the first basic step towards alienation and resentment, according to the report.

Yet, there are other implications. The new migrants are feeling the pinch of Unemployment which is psychologically damaging because it prolongs the process of adaptation and adjustment.

www.afr.com

Improving Migrant Health and Wellbeing

2005-11-13T13:31:00.000+10:30

It can only happen in Australia. The Migrant Health Service (TMHS) in South Australia provides free culturally sensitive medical and health care for the new arrivals; facilitating their wellbeing and easing the pain and trauma of transition.

Let the truth be known that TMHS is a migrant friendly institution. The doctors, nurses, and counsellors offer free and confidential service to individuals and families; including:
• Health checks for women, men and children
• Women’s health clinics run only by female health professionals
• Immunisation assessment and information
• Orientation to the Australian health care system
• Links to social and health services in the local area
• Counselling to individuals and families to help resolve personal and emotional problems from past experiences and current resettlement issues.

Furthermore, along with promoting health and wellbeing, The Migrant Health Service provides the new migrants and refugees with a golden opportunity to meet others, to make friends, and to share ideas.

The beauty of this scheme lies in its holistic approach to health. Important health information is often punctuated with critical thinking strategies and problem solving skills.

There are also support groups for women, men and older people based on their common needs.

Qualified interpreters are used to ensure clear understanding of the available health care services in Australia.

The Working Habits of Migrants

2005-11-05T15:36:00.000+10:30

The results of a recent study into the working habits of migrants show a significant increase in the number of skilled migrants working within six months of arriving in Australia.

According to The Advertiser newspaper report, migrants are now finding work quicker than ever before; but often it is not in their field of expertise.

The study also revealed that people with poor language skills are either unable to find work or are working in areas unrelated to their skills.

www.theadvertiser.com.au

Soyinka's Visit to Australia

2005-10-15T15:26:00.000+09:30

The Nigerian writer and Nobel Prize Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has cancelled a visit to Australia because of what he sees as stringent visa requirements, according to the Australian newspaper report.

True to form, Soyinka, 71, objected to a certain item in the visa application form which warns that visitors older than 70 may be required to undertake a medical examination.

Soyinka regards this requirement as ageist.

www.theaustralian.com.au

New Australian Funds for Sierra Leone

2005-10-02T10:52:00.000+09:30

The good news is that Australia has pledged a further $100,000 to help the West African nation of Sierra Leone try those responsible for violations of humanitarian law, according to the Sunday Mail report.

This takes the total Australian contribution to the UN mission in Sierra Leone to $6 million during 2005-06 financial years.

Nevertheless, it must be noted that International Humanitarian Law provides a framework for protection of civilians and combatants alike during armed conflict. Its principal legal documents are the Geneva Conventions of 1949 – four treaties signed by almost every nation in the world.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone needs all the help it can get. It is still a nation in distress, having emerged from a 10-year civil war in which thousands suffered horrendous brutality.

www.sundaymail.com.au

Education and Training for Cultural Diversity

2005-09-24T16:05:00.000+09:30

Regardless of occupation, all Australians and all Australian workers need diversity training, according to the new resource guide developed by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

There is an increasing awareness that learning about diversity and developing the skills to deal with it is important for all Australians.

In fact, Australia is a nation of migrants. 43 per cent of the country's population was born overseas or had at least one parent born overseas. More than 200 languages are spoken; including African languages such as Dinka, Swahili, and Somali.

The positive effects of diversity are not difficult to find. Australia’s cultural diversity provides businesses with:

• Language skills to provide enhanced services to customers

• Knowledge of consumer tastes and markets. 80 per cent of the top Australian export markets are in non-English speaking countries.

• Access to networks to promote new business both nationally and internationally.

Cultural diversity is everywhere in Australia: in schools, workplaces, and the community.

The Recent Achievements of AFRICOM

2005-09-20T19:06:00.000+09:30

The African Chamber of Commerce (AFRICOM) is a non-profit organization based in Adelaide city, South Australia.

Its mission is to promote trade, investment, and business networks between South Australia and African countries.

As an emerging chamber of commerce, AFRICOM has an impressive record of achievement; including the following:

• Hosted Ambassadors and representatives of several countries; including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Botswana and Mauritius.

• Conducted trade missions to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Nairobi (Kenya).

• Participated in the Adelaide Epicurean.

• Supported the organization of the International Conference on Building and Construction “ICBC-DAR 04” to promote business between South Australia, Tanzania and other African countries.

• Won the Council for International Trade and Commerce’s Award for emerging chamber of the year (2003).

The AFRICOM is on a mission to improve trade relations with African countries and promote Australian goods, services, and expertise in Africa.

African Chamber of Commerce

2005-09-15T09:00:00.000+09:30

The African Chamber of Commerce (AFRICOM) is a non-profit organisation based in Adelaide city in South Australia.

Its principal objective is to improve bilateral trade relationship between Africa and Australia and to increase business and investment.

The Chamber was formed in 1993 to capitalize on the opportunities arising from the significant increase in African migration and settlement in the land Down Under.

Indeed, the phenomenon of African migration to Australia has already yielded some positive results. For example, it has led to an explosion of a diverse range of links with African countries, businesses, and non-governmental organisations.

AFRICOM will enhance these linkages, over time. The organisation is presently trying to build long-lasting relationships with African Chambers of Commerce and African investment and exports agencies, in order to bring sellers and buyers together.

Come to think of it, the AFRICOM’s mission is to create a positive climate for investment; building effective business networks between South Australia and the African communities.

In fact, AFRICOM is deliberately established to facilitate all forms of exchange and to maximize the positive effects of cultural diversity.

African Forums Project

2005-09-11T13:49:00.000+09:30

In recent years, South Australia has become home to a significant number of African migrants and refugees.

It is estimated that there are, currently, over 6000 people from African countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Senegal, Eritrea, Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe living in the State of South Australia.

The growing number of new arrivals reflects the global refugee situation and the Australian Government’s focus on humanitarian migration. Since nearly 50% of African refugees settling in South Australia are children, education and care are seen as the key factors in the resettlement process.

Consequently, the African Forums Project has been launched by the Multicultural Education Committee (MEC), an advisory body to the Minister for Education and Children’s Services in South Australia.

The principal aim of the project is to generate knowledge base for rational assessment of the education and training needs in the new and emerging African communities.

In fact, the MEC has already undertaken extensive consultation with a number of African community leaders. And this has, in turn, led to a series of informative and interactive forums that engaged educators, students, parents, and representatives of government and non-governmental organizations.

Meanwhile, there are clear indications that the MEC will continue the work of supporting African students and their families across all educational sectors in South Australia.

Katrina's Wake!

2005-09-03T12:01:00.000+09:30

With lightening speed from the heavens
She sacked the city of New Orleans
A city of love, laughter and music
Killing thousands;
Leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Oh Katrina
Why did you do it?
And why are you so cruel
And so merciless?

Zimbabwean Asylum Seeker Assaulted

2005-08-27T13:29:00.000+09:30

Peter Jackson Mode, the Zimbabwean asylum seeker, who is now in detention for entering Australia illegally has been assaulted by prison guards. He is in plaster with a broken leg after an incident at the notorious Baxter Detention Centre this week.

The South Australian police will view a video footage of the incident, as renewed calls are being made for a royal commission into immigration detention.

www.theadvertiser.com.au

The Hunt for 20,000 Workers

2005-08-16T15:15:00.000+09:30

The drive for skilled migrants knows no bounds. The Australian government is trying to attract 20,000 workers from across Europe, Asia, and Africa to replenish the dwindling labour supply and rescue key industries from the impending labour shortages.

Children Freed from Detention

2005-07-29T10:08:00.000+09:30

Today, 18 children will be released from Australia’s Baxter detention centre in what appears to be a softening of the Federal Government’s tough immigration detention policy. This means there is freedom beyond the razor wire.

Housing Opportunities for New Migrants

2005-07-13T09:56:00.000+09:30

The Adelaide city council in South Australia has developed an Affordable Rental Housing Initiative for the low income earners – the first of its kind in Australia.

This new and innovative program ensures that young people are not priced out of the city housing market.

Furthermore, the program also provides a viable and affordable rental option for the new migrants and refugees who want to sample the unique lifestyle Adelaide city has to offer, at reasonable cost.

Migrants to the Rescue

2005-07-11T13:07:00.000+09:30

Today, the good news in the migration front is that Australia’s population could reach 25 million by early 2020, according to the new estimates.

This has implications for the country’s economic and cultural developments.

But, despite some arguments to the contrary, there is no doubt that higher immigration levels would be needed to counter the dreaded labor shortages and stop economic stagnation.

The G8 Summit

2005-07-09T17:16:00.000+09:30

As the G8 summit ends in Scotland, the world’s most powerful leaders have reached an historic agreement to help the poor; promising debt cancellation and universal access to the HIV/AIDS medication.

More stories on http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

Bomb Attacks in London

2005-07-08T10:18:00.000+09:30

Blood in the streets of London as the deadly hand of terror rips apart the city’s heart; crippling the transport system. On last count, 38 people have been killed and 700 wounded; including 7 Australians.

My thoughts and prayers are with the peace-loving people of London; and the victims of international terrorism.

The Other Side of the Brain Drain

2005-06-27T10:55:00.000+09:30

The decision by the Australian government to grant permanent resident status to successful overseas students has brought enormous benefits to the country; increasing the nation’s human resource base.

This is one of the best decisions this government has ever made!

In fact, the policy is so successful that the number of applicants for permanent residency in Australia has doubled since the program came into being in 2001.

Angelic Voices

2005-06-23T20:17:00.000+09:30

The Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda is now touring Australia to raise awareness of the AIDS crisis in Africa. All members of the group have lost both their parents to HIV/AIDS pandemic.

While in Australia, the children will perform free concerts in numerous venues. And their angelic voices will be heard at the Grange Baptist church in South Australia on June 24.

The choir will entertain the Australian audience with traditional African tribal rhythms and dance, before moving on to New Zealand and Singapore.

Australian Citizenship Ceremony

2005-06-20T15:31:00.000+09:30

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) is conducting a special Australian citizenship ceremony to mark the World Refugee Day. And I am extremely delighted to report that refugees from a diverse group of countries will be conferred with the Australian citizenship.

The event will be held at the Migrant Resource Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. And light refreshments will be provided, to celebrate this unique occasion.

A Victory for the Reformers

2005-06-18T12:53:00.000+09:30

A significant shift in electoral sentiments in Australia has led to some changes in the country’s policy of mandatory detention of asylum-seekers and refugees.

Indeed, this is a big win for the freedom lovers and the advocates of policy change from within the ruling Liberal Party in Australia.

And, if the editorial writers in this country are to be believed, the Labor opposition has had a big win too; forcing the Prime Minister, John Howard, into a spectacular surrender on important aspects of mandatory detention policy.

Thus, under the new policy measures just announced, families with children will be allowed to live in the Australian community while their claims are considered by the bureaucrats.

For more on this story, read: http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

Freedom for the Stateless

2005-06-10T10:16:00.000+09:30

Australia’s longest serving detainee, Peter Qasim has experienced the sweet taste of freedom, of sorts, after almost seven years behind the razor wire.

Peter, a stateless asylum seeker, has been transferred from the Baxter detention centre to the Glenside psychiatric hospital in South Australia.

His Australian supporters tend to believe that this is a clear indication that Peter’s mental state had deteriorated sharply after being locked up for almost a quarter of his life.

Detainees Revisited

2005-06-01T08:53:00.000+09:30

Refugees and asylum-seekers are still languishing in Australian prisons. But change is in the offing.

There are signs that the Prime Minister, John Howard, might yield a little bit to the opposition forces from within his own party and initiate a change of policy direction.

He might even consider a plan by the rebel MPs to release long-term detainees; including women and children from Australia’s immigration detention centres.

www.theaustralian.com.au

Refugee Policy Reform

2005-05-28T15:16:00.000+09:30

This week has witnessed some significant new developments in relation to the controversial issue of mandatory (and indefinite) detention of refugees and asylum-seekers in Australia.

In fact, Liberal politicians are taking important steps towards a just and more humane refugee policy.

Two Private Member’s Bills have been proposed by Petro Georgiou (Liberal-Victoria). The first Bill is a “Bill for an act of compassion”, which seeks to give permanent resident status for holders of temporary protection visas - a welcome news to the refugee advocates.

The second Bill is a “Bill for an Act to reform the mandatory detention system”. Its principal objective is to place a 90-day limit on the detention of refugees and asylum-seekers.

Both Bills will be discussed behind closed doors, in the Liberal Party room, although there is no guarantee of an open debate in the Australian Parliament.

Watch this spot!

Rethinking Mandatory Detention Policy

2005-05-26T10:42:00.000+09:30

The Refugee advocates in Australia have called for a major rethink of the government's mandatory detention policy as more cases of wrongful arrests and detention of genuine Australian citizens come to light.

Evidence points to the fact that, in recent years, immigration officials might have mistaken more than 200 Australians for illegal migrants. A clear case of mistaken identity!

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party backbencher, Judi Moylan, insists the mandatory detention policy has failed the test of humanity; arguing that the treatment of illegal migrants and asylum seekers must be reformed.

For more stories visit: http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

Revolt on Mandatory Detention

2005-05-25T12:02:00.000+09:30

Moderate backbench MPs in the ruling Liberal Party in Australia are apparently worried about the mental health of detainees under the government’s policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees who enter the country illegally.

As a first principle, the dissenting federal liberal MPs, have called on the government to release all women and children in detention on compassionate grounds in order to preserve life and human dignity.

Drought-hit Farmers Need Help

2005-05-23T08:56:00.000+09:30

Australia faces a serious shortage of farmers as a result of the prolonged drought that has affected about 100,000 farm businesses, so says the Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson. Meanwhile, the government is considering a rescue package for the distressed farmers; including cash grants and easier access to welfare.

STATE-SPONSORED MIGRATION

2005-04-15T09:16:00.000+09:30

Migrate to Australia, if you are crafty! Everyone is a winner under the state-sponsored migration program, just announced. But trying to lure skilled migrants to the land Down Under is not an easy task.

Nevertheless, employers stand to benefit as the Australian commonwealth government tries to boost the migration intake to rescue skills shortage. Under the new scheme, the non-humanitarian program will rise to 140,000 visas in the coming financial year, so says the Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone.

And employers sponsoring skilled labor, including bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, and engineers will receive priority treatment under the new dispensation.

Students, too, will benefit from the program. According to the Australian newspaper report, overseas students would also be offered the opportunity to undergo apprenticeship; with an option of becoming permanent residents of Australia.

www.theaustralian.com.au

AFRICAN WORKERS WITH ATTITUDE

2005-04-04T16:37:00.000+09:30

African migrants and refugees have found a rich tapestry of life in Australia. When they are not working as service personnel in the growing security industry or driving taxis when they’re not studying, they have made their presence felt in a number of areas. Now, their skills are in high demand in the caring professions throughout the land , mainly as teachers, nurses, and doctors.

At the other end of the spectrum are the brand new arrivals, the semi-skilled (menial) workers of all sorts who take the jobs other Australians would not touch with a 10-meter pole.

Essentially though, these relatively young, fun-loving, tolerant, and easy-going Africans have the right attitude for survival in an alien environment.

But despite their position in the food chain, the new generation of Africans have proved to be magnificent workers - efficient, versatile and ever-willing to learn.

They have something very special to offer the modern industries: a positive mental attitude and work ethics that are the envy of other Australians. No wonder the Australian employers increasingly see the new arrivals as an attractive source of cheap labour.

Recently, a meat processing company in Western Australia, has sponsored five “slaughtermen” from Ghana to work in its abattoir in Bunbury, 180km south of Perth; providing them with temporary business visas that may last up to four years.

The thing is that the Australian meat industry is far-sighted in its recruitment, induction, and training policy. In fact, it is ready to import African optimism and work ethics to revive the ailing industry and keep its expansion plans alive.

HARMONY DAY 2005

2005-03-21T08:30:00.000+10:30

It is a day like no other. Harmony Day is Australia’s biggest annual multicultural event. It is held on the 21st of March each year to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Today, Harmony Day provides an opportunity for the emerging African communities in Australia to join in the celebration of the nation’s successes as a culturally diverse society.

Contact: http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

Visit: www.harmony.gov.au

MIGRANT LIFE IN FOCUS

2005-03-17T10:01:00.000+10:30

There is nothing more beautiful than a snapshot of a new life. The Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council in South Australia, in association with the Migrant Resource Centre, are holding a photo exhibition this weekend as part of the celebration of the National Harmony Day. The exhibition will feature the photographs of the new arrivals; providing an insight into the lives of young migrants in Australia.

LABOUR SHORTAGE AND MIGRATION

2005-03-04T12:45:00.000+10:30

Australia’s ageing workforce demands new blood. It is common knowledge that the Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone, is advocating a radical relaxation of visa restrictions on skilled migrants in order to improve the prospects of attracting new workers to kick-start the Australian economy.

Indeed, evidence increasingly points to the fact the minister is pushing for a massive one-year rise of 20,000 in skilled places - a figure that is likely to take the overall migration program to about 140,000 in 2005-06.

Thus, it stands to reason that migrants of African descent might benefit from the new creative way of overcoming labour shortage and boosting the Australian economy.

A WIN FOR SKILLED MIGRANTS

2005-03-02T17:09:00.000+10:30

The Australian government wants more skilled migrants, despite its policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees who enter the country illegally. “I think we should fashion our immigration program to skilled immigration”, the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said Wednesday. “We have got places for people. I would like to encourage that”. Indeed, this is a big win for skilled migrants whichever way you look at it.

THE ZIMBABWEAN CONNECTION

2005-01-09T17:20:00.000+10:30

Over the past two decades, an estimated 80,000 Zimbabweans have migrated to Australia to start a new life, according to The Advertiser newspaper report. They are mostly ex-Zimbabwe farmers and farm-support workers. And almost all of them settle in rural Australia when they arrive here.

“The are doing a great deal to revitalize rural areas here”, says Jill Lambert, who establish "The Zimbabwe Connection" to help new migrants from the African nation.

DAN'S NEW WORLD

2005-01-07T16:39:00.000+10:30

He likes to think that “Australia is a rapidly growing economy and a melting pot of cultures”. But, as a foreign-trained medical doctor, who migrated from Nigeria to Australia, Dan Uche has had his fair share of disappointments in the job front.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that I have experienced difficulties in a number of areas since my arrival in Australia” Dan admits. “But the most important thing for me at the moment is to embrace the new culture, adapt, improve my knowledge, and look for an opportunity to use my skills”.

A chance meeting with the good doctor was a golden opportunity for me to take stock of the challenges facing some of the new African migrants to Australia, as they struggle for survival; trying to come to terms with the reality of living in the brave new world of the 21st Century.

“I completed my studies at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Nigeria a few years ago before coming to Australia in search of greener pastures”, Dan explains. “But the non-recognition of my professional credentials poses the greatest danger, as far as I am concerned”.

“Meanwhile, my goal is to work as a General Practitioner (GP) in the rapidly growing health sector in Australia”, he says. “But, as a foreign-trained doctor, I have to go through an arduous registration process in order to be allowed to practice”.

Yet, he is not bitter about the experience. “I know finding one’s way in a new culture is not always easy; but I’m excited about the prospects of living in Australia and the different opportunities available to me here”.

“I didn’t know what to expect at first but I have already made some progress: in fact, I have successfully completed the Australian Medical Council Multiple Choice Questions, (a preliminary examination)”, Dan said, with a sigh of relief.

“Nevertheless, I think there is still a long way to go yet, before I find my rightful place in the Australian culture and society”.

In fact, Dan does not in any way underestimate the enormity of the problem confronting him, as a new migrant.

“Trying to penetrate the system is no mean task”, he said; taking a deep breath. “There are enormous challenges for the new arrivals, mainly because of the socio-cultural differences; and lack of local experience and right contacts”.

“At the moment, however, I am searching for an opportunity to undergo some form of clinical training…While at the same time seriously preparing myself for a series of compulsory clinical examinations in the months to ahead”.

Thus, “if all goes well”, Dan still believes he might just manage to “pull it off”, and work in his chosen profession in the near future. Then again, this is Australia where medicine is not just a profession, it is a birthright.

AFRICAN FAMILY IN DIASPORA

2004-12-13T10:01:00.000+10:30

African families live in a cycle of crisis with a range of complex issues that are becoming increasingly difficult to resolve during the early years of migration.

Now, a new model of service provision targeting the new arrivals in the Enfield area of South Australia is about to address the nagging problem of African disadvantage; giving more opportunities for young families in their hours of need.

And the choice of this area is timely. It is an area of great need, economically depressed - almost Dickensian!

In fact, the poor area of Enfield, where most of the newly arrived African migrants and refugees live, has been identified as one of the most disadvantaged areas in South Australia, with a large number of single parents, high rate of unemployment, coupled with the prevalence of low income families.

Meanwhile, Café Enfield, a family friendly centre, has come to the rescue. It is spearheading the move to set up African playgroups, along with health and family programs to meet the needs of families in the emerging communities.

For more on this, go to: http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

MIGRANT EMPLOYMENT

2004-11-09T10:58:00.000+10:30

The African-Australians are doing it tough in the job front, despite the ever-increasing evidence of a healthy economy and a boom in the mainstream labour market in Australia.

Consequently, the new arrivals have devised some creative and effective solutions to cope with the phenomenon of unemployment (and underemployment). They have, in fact, turned to menial jobs and self-employment just to keep the body and soul together.

But now, the Migrant Employment Consultancy Service (MECS) has come to the rescue. MECS is a flexible, individualized job search support and mentoring program run by the English Language Service (ELS) at Adelaide Institute of TAFE in South Australia.

MECS particularly targets the recently arrived skilled migrants who cannot access social security benefits and need to find work urgently.

And African migrants and refugees are delighted; and are making full use of the program

THE NEW MIGRATION PROGRAM

2004-10-17T13:46:00.000+09:30

An innovative campaign to boost South Australia’s dwindling population through migration is already yielding some positive results. And the number of new migrants to the State has increased significantly in recent months.

They come mostly from such countries as the United Kingdom, China, India, Singapore, and Pakistan.

And not to be forgotten are the increasing number of Africans who, having found their way to the land Down Under, have decided to settle in South Australia because of lifestyle considerations.

The official intention of the new migration program is quite clear. In fact, according to the Sunday Mail newspaper report, it is widely expected that the new wave of migrants will help boost the state’s population growth to about two million by the year 2050 - it is 1.6 million now.

We are, of course, talking about a particular category of migrants; notably, the well qualified urban professional types.

High on the list of the desired migrants are the following: information technology professionals, accountants, doctors, nurses, cooks, managements consultants, market research analysts, and allied health workers such as speech therapists.

DETENTION OF CHILDREN

2004-10-09T16:13:00.000+09:30

The High Court of Australia, the highest court in the land, has found in a landmark case that the detention of children was legal because it complied with the expressed will of the parliament, according to the recent issue of The Australian Financial Review.

Under the existing legislation, the asylum seekers and their children who enter the country illegally could be detained for long periods of time.

But some children, aged between 7 and 15, were released on temporary protection visas early this year, after three years in detention.

Nevertheless, there are 72 children in the immigration detention centres in Australia (and Christmas Island) - 29 of them in alternative detention, such as housing projects. Another 16 are being held in Nauru.

Justice Michael Kirby is on record as saying that the detention of children was legal despite the arguable breach of international obligations and the unfortunate consequences associated with such detention.

Thus, according to this view, the scheme of universal mandatory detention (of children) is a deliberately chosen, and repeatedly reaffirmed, decision of the Australian parliament, acting within its constitutional powers.

However, editorial writers and human rights advocates have expressed some concern about the High Court ruling; calling for policy change and an immediate end to the detention of children.

They are genuinely concerned about the physical and mental well being of children held in detention.

KEY TO SUCCESS

2004-10-03T13:26:00.000+09:30

It is common knowledge that the African migrants and refugees have done it the hard way. And most have been through the proverbial “school of hard knocks”, so to speak. But don’t give up the struggle!

A positive mental attitude is the key to success in today’s highly competitive environment. Be friendly, smile at others (even when things don’t go your way). And maintain eye contact!

SHEELA'S MAGICAL ADVENTURES

2004-09-26T13:02:00.000+09:30

One of the success stories of the African migration and settlement in Australia is the emergence of Sheela Langeberg as a popular playwright, dancer, and entertainer in her own right.

After successful performances in Canada, Sweden, South Africa and Tanzania, Sheela has now brought her wonderful stage shows to Adelaide, South Australia, with brand new adventure stories: “Ndito” and the “Water Magic”.

“Ndito, the Masai Girl” is a story of magical adventures of an African girl in Serengeti, Tanzania, her courage, and her journey to fulfill her dreams of meeting her favorite birds; including the peacock, and the obstacles in her way.

Sheela brings the heartbeat of Africa to the Australian people and puts a big smile on every face, with graceful songs and dances. A consummate international performer.

POLICING THE MIGRANTS

2004-09-07T21:06:00.000+09:30

The phenomenon of African migration and settlement in Australia, in recent years, has led to a significant change not only in the types of services provided to the new residents but also in the planning and sequencing of service delivery all over Australia.

In terms of the maintenance of law and order, for example, a new type of multicultural policing that is more sensitive to the needs of the new migrants and refugees has emerged in urban Australia. But there are a number of obstacles to effective policing , due to cultural and language barriers.

Now. Enter the Tasmanian police force. A recent issue of the Tasmanian “Mercury” newspaper reports that the Tasmanian police service officers will soon be carrying a multilingual phrase book "as they walk the beat", in an attempt to facilitate effective communication with the new arrivals.

The objective is to develop a more civilized relationship between the police service officers and migrants; thereby bridging the cultural and language gap - a good news to those who are trying to make sense of their new environment. Other states in the Federation might adopt the Tasmanian model.

According to the Mercury, the little phrase book will include seven key questions in 31 languages. Those questions may take the following forms: “Do you need help? You are not under arrest. I just want to find out more about what happened” and more importantly; “Please accompany me to the police station and I will contact an interpreter”.

How is that for a New Age policing strategy?

It is widely acknowledged that migrants who experience torture and all types of brutality either in the hands of the police or the military officers in their homeland are often apprehensive of the men and women in uniform (even in the new environment) long after they left their country of origin.

Thus, given the new sensibility in migrants-police relations, African migrants and refugees have absolutely nothing to fear; they don’t have to worry about police brutality anymore because the Australian police officers are more culturally sensitive and likable than police officers elsewhere in the world.

THE NEW MIGRANTS

2004-08-16T12:58:00.000+09:30

As Australia picks up an ever-increasing number of new migrants from the African continent, attention is now focused on what these relatively young and productive people actually do once they arrive in this great country.

In fact, recent migrants are endowed with a variety of skills that would help to modernize all sectors of the nation’s economy. And Australia is extremely lucky to attract this caliber of migrants. They come as well-trained nurses, teachers, social workers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, and specialist in information technology.

Nevertheless, some with well-sought-after professional skills said they are generally underemployed; and sometimes even unemployed - a challenging proposition for the career-conscious migrants.

Others, mostly female migrants, have found themselves working at the bottom end of the service and manufacturing industry as casual labour.

There is a small but growing army of Africans (mostly male) working in fruit-picking jobs in South Australia and Victoria. And abattoir jobs in New South Wales.

The different experiences of African migrants in the Australian job market reflects a polarization of the society between the rich and the poor; between male and female.

More stories at http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

STATUS ANXIETY

2004-08-12T14:15:00.000+09:30

Increased migration of Africans to the Western world is generally seen as a good thing; a win-win situation for the migrants and their countries of origin. The grass may appear ”greener” elsewhere; but things are not what they seem.

The problem is that transnational migration may not always unlock the nirvana for everyone at the same time, because migration affects people differently. And there are winners and losers.

Thus, in the migration stakes, African women are the real winners. They have tasted the fruits of freedom from “patriarchal control” and are not about to give up. Nor should they give up their hard won freedom.

Consequently, too many men of African descent are suffering in silence due to what they perceive to be an inevitable loss of status as soon as they arrive in the new country. Most Africans I know think they have lost control of their family because they are no longer “respected” and seen as the “Bread winner”. And this sense of loss has overwhelmed them; affecting their self-image and relationship with family and friends. Hence, the emergence of status anxiety as a significant problem of adaptation for African migrants.

In fact, despite their impressive academic credentials, and most are very highly educated, African migrants are sometimes forced into a position in which they have to take the jobs that others reject; working either as farm hands. Or building laborers. Or street cleaners. Or rubbish collectors just to make ends meet. But sometimes, to their utmost surprise, the ends do not always meet!

“They asked me to wipe the floor and clean the toilets” Eyenowo said, with a great deal of sadness in his eyes as he remembered his first day at work as a migrant, “A whole me! I have never done such work before…And I don’t intend to start doing it now”.

Come to think of it, African migrants want to "work hard" and "live well". They want the best of all possible worlds. And they want "decent jobs" that pay well - naturally, jobs that are in line with their perceived status.

For the African men though, migration is a traumatic experience. But for the African women (married or single), it is probably the best thing since the invention of the wheel. They have ceased the initiative where it matters most and are moving towards real independence. Now that they have got the “economic power” and have been blessed with their own sources of income, most women generally feel they do not have to depend on any man for survival in the new environment.

“We were definitely growing apart” said Felix Okonta as he reflects on what could have been a long and happy marriage to his former school sweetheart. “The divorce was quick, it caught me by complete surprise”. But Felix is not alone. His experience of family breakdown, and a quick and easy divorce, is common to many migrants.

Thus, while African women are celebrating their new found “freedom from patriarchy” and domestic chores and are becoming more independent than ever before, African men have been devastated by the experience. They are no longer considered the “Head of the household”; no servants to cook and clean and mow the lawn, as was the case in Africa. They have to learn to do everything by themselves to survive the early years of migration.

Migration is an orphan!

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

2004-08-06T18:55:00.000+09:30

The current migration trends have been linked to the number of Australian school students studying Croatian, Arabic, Persian, and Serbian languages.

The Australian Department of Education figures show that the number of primary and secondary students studying Arabic has grown from two in 1998 to 34 in 2003.

The number of pupils studying Croatian rose from 16 to 40; Serbian from 103 to 150; and Persian from 16 to 53 during the same period.

It is a matter of time before Swahili and other African languages take their rightful place in the school curriculum here.

Throughout the land, increasing number of African students are studying indigenous languages; while at the same time improving their English language skills.