By CASEY NEILL
BOUNCE is helping young refugees in Greater Dandenong to find their feet and their future.
Settlement service AMES and not-for-profit C8 Journey deliver the youth mentoring program for newly-arrived refugees aged 16 to 25.
All mentoring is conducted in groups, mentors and mentees are matched according to gender in a culturally-appropriate manner, and personal goals and friendship are key.
To mark Refugee Week from 15 to 21 June, Bounce last Friday took part in a soccer tournament at Dandenong Basketball and Volleyball Stadium.
“We had volunteers present on the day to provide more information on Bounce,” director Saarah Ozeer said.
The 28-year-old founded the youth mentoring program with Senthuren Mahendren in 2009.
Ms Ozeer and her family left Sri Lanka in 1995 during the civil war.
She said she has a passion for helping other young refugees.
“I want to inspire and empower young people to follow their dreams no matter what, have open dialogue within the community and advocate issues surrounding refugees, especially refugee youth, and to inspire people to make a lasting footprint within their community and the world one step at a time,” she said.
Her work with the program for newly-arrived refugees aged 16 to 25 recently earned her a nomination for the Saward Dawson Community Service and Volunteering Award at the 2014 Victorian Young Achiever Awards.
One mentee said he’d developed confidence through Bounce.
“Since joining the Bounce program I have been inspired to think about my future,” he said.
Mentor Trent Wrightson said he had been unsure how to support refugees.
“The Bounce program offered a way to form friendship with young people from refugee background and support them in their new life in Australia,” he said.
“My role as a mentor is not one of a teacher. Instead we formed an equal and supportive friendship.
“I also support the mentees in working towards their goals.
“It is great to form a friendship with someone and through this support them in building their new life in Australia.”
Another mentor, Linda, said Bounce had been a rewarding and wonderful learning experience.
“I have met people from diverse backgrounds, of different ages, who all seek to help and be a part of the experience, to make a difference to the lives of the youths who come to Melbourne as refugees,” she said.
“I think that the Bounce Refugee Youth Mentoring Program gives individuals in Melbourne the opportunity to be a change agent, to give and show their compassion to people through mentoring and through involvement in the program.”
Bounce is always searching for new volunteers and financial support.
Visit c8.org.au for more information.
