2019 ARA Oration: I Belong!

This year saw a new approach to ARA’s annual Refugee Week Oration with a panel of four outstanding young women from African and/or Muslim backgrounds speaking  about what life is like behind the headlines, growing up in Australia as African and/or Muslim Australians, and ‘what we can learn about becoming a truly civil society’.

The oration is ARA’s major celebration of Refugee Week and the 2019 ARA Oration was held at UniSA’s Hawke Centre, 55 North Tce, Adelaide on Thursday 20 June at 6.30 pm.

ARA CEO, Deb Stringer believes now is the time for a new approach to the way refugees are valued in Australia, for governments and community leaders to play a stronger leadership role in shining a light on the social, cultural and economic value of refugee migrants in Australia. “The reality is that there are women, men and young people making new friends, learning at school and beyond, working hard and contributing as they re-settle in Australia,” Deb said. “Yes, it is difficult for many who have fled from conflict and persecution, but refugees are also people who are resilient, resourceful and want to contribute to our community. ARA and other community groups and volunteers help people to resettle and get back on their feet. The 2019 ARA Oration was a unique opportunity to listen to four remarkable women speak on the theme of I Belong!”

The Oration MC, Tasneem Chopra is Chair of the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights and ‘Anti Racism Champion’ for the Australian Human Rights Commission. The other key speakers were:

• Human rights and domestic violence activist, Khadija Gbla. Her family escaped from war-torn Sierra Leone when she was just three. She is a survivor advocate protecting Australian girls from female genital mutilation and an Ambassador for Our Watch, a group aimed at changing attitudes of violence toward women and children. 
• Storyteller and poet, Manal Younus, from Eritrea, who uses her writing and performance to explore different aspects of life from perseverance, identity, travel and truth. 
• Writer, poet and activist Flora Chol, from South Sudan, who harnesses writing to explore the complexities of race, intergenerational trauma and the dynamics of growing up as a young South Sudanese woman in Australia.

His Excellency the Hon Hieu Van Le AC, Governor of South Australia, ARA Patron and himself a former refugee, opened this year’s ARA Oration.

ARA thanks all who contributed to the success of this year’s oration, including guest speakers, staff at the Hawke Centre UniSA and ARA volunteers. 

The 2020 ARA Oration, The Future is Intercultural, will be a livestreamed event.