refugeelanguageprogram

$1,050 raised

TARGET $1,000

Please support this cause

$
AUD

About

Why the Refugee Language Program?

As those of you who know me well know, I am passionate about education for all. I spent 5 years teaching English in the UK to a variety of learners – the majority of which were asylum seekers or refugees. During this time, I met a huge variety of people from different areas of the world. These people had different backgrounds, cultures and religious beliefs and were all at differing stages of their application processes.

One thing, however, united them - and that was their determination to learn how to communicate in English and to learn about British culture and tradition.

In the face of financial hardship, personal trauma and displacement, 97% of my asylum seeker and refugee students attended class every day, every lesson, rain or shine, no matter what. For them, the college and the structure and support it offered them was sometimes the only constant certainty in their lives and I quickly realised how important it became to them.

For them, learning was a privilege. In some cases, their accepted ideas or beliefs would be challenged morally and mentally, a natural part of arriving from a country with a strict culture to a country as liberal as Britain. Some arrived with little or no schooling and they had to learn how to learn in a formal educational environment.

They questioned, they studied, they presented their ideas in a new language. They worked to pass exams – some, for the first time in any language. They helped one another, worked together in class with learners from ten, twenty different cultures, and listened patiently to other students’ comments. They respected one another.

I, in turn, learnt a great deal from them – not only about geography, language, politics and culture, but also about human strength, kindness and humility.

For so many people who arrive either here in Australia, or in the UK, the structure and the education college provides is a lifeline, a chance to change, to learn and to communicate, to meet new friends and to feel like a part of the wider community.

Without funding, the RLP is unable to offer the services it provides – educational trips to local places of interest, funding to help students get to the University for class, a communal lunch on a Saturday.

If you can help, in even a small way. You will not just be supporting me in my run (and let’s face it, I need all the help I can get), you will also be ensuring a happy future for the RLP and its fantastic students and staff.

To find out more about the Sydney University Refugee Language Program, visit my blog at http://experimentalcookies.blogspot.com/ or follow the links below;

http://sydney.edu.au/arts/peace_conflict/rlp/index.shtml
http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=594

Thank you.

Fundraising For

Refugee Language Program, Sydney

individual

Funds Banked To

VICTORIA CLAIRE HUGHES


VH

Campaign Creator

Victoria Hughes

Kirribilli, NSW



Fri, 13 May 2011

Miriam

$ 20

Good luck, my international girl :O)

Wed, 11 May 2011

Albert Windfery

$ 20

HIT IT SAVAGE!

Wed, 11 May 2011

Jo and Family

$ 10

Run like you're wearing the last pair of thigh high boots in the Cross!!

Wed, 11 May 2011

MAUREEN FACKRELL

$ 40

Woth lots of love from Maureen xx

Tue, 10 May 2011

Marion Birch

$ 10

Well done Victoria

Tue, 10 May 2011

Michelle Scandrett

$ 24

Only $50 to go now. A great cause that you're clearly passionate about. All the best for the run!

Tue, 10 May 2011

Victoria Maudson

$ 10

A great cause - well done - I know you'll make it across the finish line - somehow!

Tue, 10 May 2011

Sharon Shaw

$ 20

Go you Good thing!

Tue, 10 May 2011

Gerard Williams

$ 10

Good luck with it Victoria, break a leg!

Tue, 10 May 2011

Leanne Ransome

$ 20

I know that you can achieve anything you put your mind to and this is no different. I can't run 100m so that fact you are taking this on is mind blowing to me. Good luck (not that you need it) Leanne

SINCE Apr 2011

33 

Donations

$1,050 raised

TARGET $1,000

Please support this cause

$
AUD

Fundraising For

Refugee Language Program, Sydney

individual

Funds Banked To

VICTORIA CLAIRE HUGHES

VH

Campaign Creator

Victoria Hughes

Kirribilli, NSW

SINCE Apr 2011

33 

Donations