The Brisbane Catholic Education Office (BCEO) marked World Refugee Day in its own special way on Friday, as current Work & Welcome program participant and former refugee - Qiam Samir – enlightened his new BCEO work colleagues about refugee experiences through sharing his own life journey. The event also brought together BCEO staff in group prayer in recognition of the ongoing suffering of people who live as refugees around the world. Now seven weeks into their first Work & Welcome program experience, the BCEO team are already looking forward to future placements, with staff reaping the benefits of Samir’s contributions to their work community and activities right across the office. “He’s actually shared quite a few of his stories with us,” says Religious Education Services Officer, Semone Shea. “It’s made us realise as a team, and myself personally, how lucky we are to have what we’ve got. And we’re also learning from how he’s dealt with what his been through, and yet has still become a really strong and resilient young man,” Semone said. Samir has proven himself quick to adapt to new work challenges and “hit the road running from the very beginning”, says BCEO’s Principal Education Officer (Religious Education), Leah Stower. “We had a big event, ‘Powerhouse of Leaders’ involving five hundred Year 12 students across our archdiocese, and Samir, who had basically just arrived, had to coordinate it, run it, run a stall on the day, work with teachers and work behind the scenes. That’s where Samir started and he’s just continued to get better and better. He’s been wonderful - a great extra pair of hands,” Leah said. To date, Samir has undertaken work in IT, receipt & despatch, communications & marketing, printing, and other places across the office. Leah says that Samir has further enriched the BCEO community through sharing his stories and experiences. “Today’s presentation is just another example of that, where it opens our hearts and minds to what life can be like for others who are coming to our country as people who’ve been through difficult experiences… Today in particular, he’s sharing something of his own journey, as we all join in prayer for Refugee Day,” she said. Qiam Samir (pictured) is too revelling in the many opportunities that his placement is bringing. “It’s brilliant. It’s not what I expected. I thought I’d just be given basic work like traffic control or maybe working in a school canteen. But when I arrived in the office, my first expression was, ‘Wow!’ Because it’s a big organization, obviously it opens many doors to me - I’m working everywhere,” Samir said. “The principal and others have also warmly welcomed me. It’s been great,” he said. During Refugee Week, the BCEO also played host to a small exhibition showcasing the striking work of Brisbane-based refugee artist, Towfiq (see pictures). Congratulations to Samir, Towfiq and to the BCEO! #Work&Welcome #WorldRefugeeDay
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 05:41:07 +0000
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