Staying Safe in a New Culture: launch of a resource for newly-arrived young refugees and migrants
For the past 18 months, a group of young refugees and migrants have been building their understanding of various aspects of safety: from legal rights to racism and discrimination. Yesterday, they proudly shared their learnings to help other young people to navigate life in a new country.
Staying Safe in a New Culture: a Guide for Young Refugees and Migrants is the culmination of Spectrum’s Pathways to Resilience (P2R) project. It covers topics that the participants discussed throughout the program and provides information about consent, mental health, and cyber safety, and includes useful contacts for services and supports.
The resource was launched at a special event held yesterday at the Phoenix Youth Centre in Footscray, attended by over 50 people, including the young participants and their friends and family, as well as representatives from our funding and service delivery partners. A striking display of artworks created by the young people (with the help of Kattattak Studio) adorned the walls; the illustrations were also used throughout the booklet.
P2R is a Youth Community Safety project funded by the Victorian Government which aims to address the challenges that young refugees and migrants face when navigating life in a new country, with a focus on building social and community connections. Over 60 young participants were introduced to local support services and provided with opportunities to meet legal and social service professionals to gain insights into their offerings.
P2R provided opportunities for participants to gather for fun activities, fostering friendships and social connections, and enhancing mental health and wellbeing. It provided leadership opportunities through participation in a Youth Advisory Committee, and for some of the young people, participation in P2R has also resulted in employment outcomes.
“The Pathways to Resilience project is about more than the development of this resource,” said Amona Hassab, Team Leader, Social and Economic Inclusion. “It was also about building a sense of community among the young people so they could learn from each other and develop a support network that would sustain them beyond the life of the project.”
“We are also exploring options for the continuation of the Youth Advisory Committee to inform Spectrum’s Youth Settlement programs.”
The Pathways to Resilience project is an example of the power of co-design. The participants in the Youth Advisory Committee were involved at every step of the program, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment to create solutions better suited to their diverse needs.
As Zainab, a P2R participant – and budding poet – so eloquently expressed last night:
“I hope that by providing the right tools and guidance we unlock the potential for a brighter and better future. Let’s ensure no young person is left behind because the path to success is made too complicated.”