Bouncing back

By MELISSA MEEHAN
HUSSEIN Al Hamzah and his family was forced to leave his home country of Iraq because it was no longer safe.
For him and his family, like many others Australia is the land of opportunity, an escape from their homeland affected by dictators, war or natural disasters.
The land of plenty offers hope, safety and a new life.
So it is no surprise this year’s Refugee Week theme is Restoring Hope.
When Hussein arrived a little over a year ago he joined the C8 Bounce Refugee Youth Mentoring Program partnered with AMES resettlement division, based in Dandenong and North West, and as part of the program was asked to help launch Refugee Week in the city on Monday.
Launched on Monday at the Melbourne Multicultural Hub, many came together to celebrate the valued contributions refugees make to Australian society.
Both C8 Bounce mentors and mentees were asked to attend and take part in discussions that included asking questions to Melbourne Heart player Golgol Mebrahtu, who himself is of refugee background.
Golgol, who is considered to be a soccer star in waiting, was born in Eritrea but forced to flee his home country and then Sudan to seek freedom and security.
He arrived in Australia when he was just nine years old.
C8 Bounce director and co-founder Saarah Ozeer said it was a great opportunity for the organisation to be included in the launch of Refugee Week.
“Myself and some of the Bounce team were invited to be part of a question and answer discussion with refugee soccer player Golgol,” Ms Ozeer said.
“Our mentee Hussein, a refugee from Iraq was also invited to speak on the day.”
Ms Ozeer said Bounce aimed to empower refugee youth as well as learning from them to further advocate issues around them.
“It was great opportunity and rewarding experience for Hussein and the Bounce team to be part of celebrating the Launch of Refugee Week,” she said.
“Hussein a young aspiring individual told us that he was so glad he had the opportunity to be part of the launch and give the story of his journey to Australia. At the launch he shared his story about his dreams and education (he was studying in dental school at Baghdad University) he had to leave behind because it was unsafe due to the war in Iraq.”
He also spoke about the challenges he faced in Australia as a newly arrived young person of refugee background. Hussein joined the Bounce program partnered with Ames resettlement division over a year ago, and together with his mentor he is now planning to restart a new journey and continue his dream to become a dentist, and joined a TAFE course in science to achieve this.
“Being himself a keen soccer player and 21 (same age as Golgol), He also told us that he was excited to meet Golgol from Melbourne Heart and could relate to his journey to Australia,” she said.
“It was wonderful to see the passion and determination in both their eyes.”
The successful implementation of the Bounce program may serve as a platform to inspire young people to implement similar programs, both nationally and internationally.