Refugee program seeks new friends

By Lia Bichel
A NEW program improving the health and wellbeing of refugees requires community support to continue.
Many refugees living in Greater Dandenong have taken part in the YMCA Refugee Program, implemented by the YMCA Dandenong Oasis in conjunction with the Department of Humans Services and Youthworks Victoria.
The two-month-old program may not continue without community support, YMCA Dandenong Oasis manager Simon Bequir said.
He said the program was important in helping refugees connect with their community through exercise and socialising.
“Our program gets refugees connected to the community and to the YMCA,” he said. “We want them to know there is a safe and friendly environment for them to come to.”
Mr Bequir said the refugees were invited to an induction session and given a three-month membership funded by the Open Doors program. There is also ‘free time’ offered at the facility so refugees can meet new people.
He said the program provided a wealth of opportunity and had seen many friendships formed in the past two months.
Youth Works Victoria helps refer refugees to the program and offers them transport from Dandenong to the Dandenong Oasis for their first assessment and then transports them back to their homes.
“We wanted to get involved because it’s great to see big bodies like YMCA interested in helping the community,” Claude Olivares from Youthworks Victoria said.
“I think the social networking the refugees get out of the program is great. I would like to see other local businesses jump on board to help.”
New Balance sponsors the program and provides them with shorts and runners.
Mr Bequir said he would like to provide the participants with partially funded memberships once their three month term is up. For more information contact Mr Bequir on 9767 3100.