ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE RELEASE
By Loretta Walshe
CATHOLICCARE has recently held their sixth African Dads and Kids Camp from 23 – 25 November in collaboration with Victoria Police to help refugee families strengthen their family bonds as they adjust to their new lives in Australia. The camp at Phillip Island involved 16 African men and 16 of their children aged between six and 15 years. Most participants were from Sudan and Eritrea and had escaped situations of terrible conflict.
CatholicCare’s African Dads and Kids Camp Coordinator and camp founder Kate McKernin says, “This camp used research based techniques to explore relationships and the variations and similarities between being a father in Australia and being a father in Africa. It was an opportunity for fathers to discuss how to renegotiate their own roles and keep their families close while they adapt to the pressures of a different culture.”
Kate says, “We need to acknowledge the critical leadership role that fathers play in refugee families. In Africa, the mothers have traditionally been the primary care givers. In Australia, it can help the children enormously if their fathers are hands on - even on an emotional level. This camp was an opportunity for fathers to become more attuned to the many challenges the children face in adapting to this new culture.” Camp activities with opportunities to strengthen the father-child bond included beach games, soccer and learning how to surf. This was a true adventure, considering this was the first time some of these fathers and children have ever seen the ocean.
Victoria Police’s Multicultural Liaison Officer Leading Senior Constable Richard Dove says, "Getting in at the grass-roots level, as this fantastic program does, to assist in keeping families of new arrivals strong and functional is of the utmost importance to Victoria Police because this will lead to a more positive settlement, reduce family breakdown and violence."
This is the third African Dads and Kids Camp that Melton father Godjok Dau has attended and this time, his seven year old son Baak Godjok Dau was thrilled to join him. As Godjok says, “When we have talks on camp, we get the chance to share our ideas and make new friends. I have seven children - three girls and four boys from 17 to five months of age. I would need much more money to take all my children on holidays because there is always food to buy and school fees to pay. But these camps are a chance for me to take my children away on holiday.”
Baak adds, “I loved playing in the water. This was my first time ever at the beach and my Dad helped me learn to surf. The waves kept coming up but I just kept saying to Dad, ‘Let’s do it again!’”
As a child, Godjok was forced to leave his home in South Sudan with his family in 1983 when the war started and the violence spread everywhere. Life in North Sudan was hard and when Godjok had almost finished school, he left in fear of being forced into the North Sudanese Army. As Godjok said, “They forced so many young boys to fight when they finished school. So many never got their school certificate because they died before they got the chance. If you made it back alive, you might be able to get your certificate and go to university. I would have been forced to fight against my own people – and maybe supposed to attack my own family and friends in South Sudan. I couldn’t do it.” When Godjok had a wife and three young children, it became very dangerous for them and they fled into Egypt. Thankfully, they were accepted into Australia as refugees a year later and in January 2005, they arrived to make a new home here.
To donate to the next African Dads and Kids Camp, contact CatholicCare on 9287 5516 orwww.ccam.org.au
Loretta Walshe attended the camp as a volunteer
Photos by Paul Grech and Leanne McKenner
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
By Loretta Walshe
CATHOLICCARE has recently held their sixth African Dads and Kids Camp from 23 – 25 November in collaboration with Victoria Police to help refugee families strengthen their family bonds as they adjust to their new lives in Australia. The camp at Phillip Island involved 16 African men and 16 of their children aged between six and 15 years. Most participants were from Sudan and Eritrea and had escaped situations of terrible conflict.CatholicCare’s African Dads and Kids Camp Coordinator and camp founder Kate McKernin says, “This camp used research based techniques to explore relationships and the variations and similarities between being a father in Australia and being a father in Africa. It was an opportunity for fathers to discuss how to renegotiate their own roles and keep their families close while they adapt to the pressures of a different culture.”
Kate says, “We need to acknowledge the critical leadership role that fathers play in refugee families. In Africa, the mothers have traditionally been the primary care givers. In Australia, it can help the children enormously if their fathers are hands on - even on an emotional level. This camp was an opportunity for fathers to become more attuned to the many challenges the children face in adapting to this new culture.” Camp activities with opportunities to strengthen the father-child bond included beach games, soccer and learning how to surf. This was a true adventure, considering this was the first time some of these fathers and children have ever seen the ocean.
Victoria Police’s Multicultural Liaison Officer Leading Senior Constable Richard Dove says, "Getting in at the grass-roots level, as this fantastic program does, to assist in keeping families of new arrivals strong and functional is of the utmost importance to Victoria Police because this will lead to a more positive settlement, reduce family breakdown and violence."
This is the third African Dads and Kids Camp that Melton father Godjok Dau has attended and this time, his seven year old son Baak Godjok Dau was thrilled to join him. As Godjok says, “When we have talks on camp, we get the chance to share our ideas and make new friends. I have seven children - three girls and four boys from 17 to five months of age. I would need much more money to take all my children on holidays because there is always food to buy and school fees to pay. But these camps are a chance for me to take my children away on holiday.”
Baak adds, “I loved playing in the water. This was my first time ever at the beach and my Dad helped me learn to surf. The waves kept coming up but I just kept saying to Dad, ‘Let’s do it again!’”
As a child, Godjok was forced to leave his home in South Sudan with his family in 1983 when the war started and the violence spread everywhere. Life in North Sudan was hard and when Godjok had almost finished school, he left in fear of being forced into the North Sudanese Army. As Godjok said, “They forced so many young boys to fight when they finished school. So many never got their school certificate because they died before they got the chance. If you made it back alive, you might be able to get your certificate and go to university. I would have been forced to fight against my own people – and maybe supposed to attack my own family and friends in South Sudan. I couldn’t do it.” When Godjok had a wife and three young children, it became very dangerous for them and they fled into Egypt. Thankfully, they were accepted into Australia as refugees a year later and in January 2005, they arrived to make a new home here.
To donate to the next African Dads and Kids Camp, contact CatholicCare on 9287 5516 orwww.ccam.org.au
Loretta Walshe attended the camp as a volunteer
Photos by Paul Grech and Leanne McKenner
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
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