Sasi

Sasi has a great sense of humour. He is cheeky though. We are constantly saying 'Nama vileh' which is Tamil for 'I don't believe you'. He comes up with the wildest stories too. Sasi said he would give me a story when he gets out of detention. He used to be a school teacher and is very smart. He can sew too. I laughed one day when he came into the visitor centre wearing quite a comfortable pair of pants that were similar to fishermans pants. I only laughed because he told me he made the pants from his old bed sheets and I joked that he must have rolled out of bed with the sheets twisted around as pants to give him the idea. Don't get me wrong, the pants were quite good.

Great Australian Music!

Though the 'refugee debate' in Australia is often filled with fear and even racism, there are so many great initiatives out there from people who are passionate about seeing justice and finding hope partnering with refugees and asylum seekers. One I have just come across is an Australian music initiative called Key of the Sea, combining the talents of great aussie artists with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The music combines heaps of different styles and beats, with amazing musicians who have 'brought their cultural heritage from across the sea, escaping war, hardship or persecution'. There are two albums- both available on itunes. Profits go to supporting refugee and asylum seeker projects in Australia. Get on board!

My favourite track so far is 'Silence of the Gun' by Jinja Safari and Kinfe Geshu on Volume 2.

Eagle by Raj

Raj must have a photographic memory because I have no idea how he can know what an eagle looks like. 

Raj's eye

"That's my eye" Raj said to me pointing at this picture. Drawing can be therepeutic I guess but this drawing made me understand how fragile and sensitive men in detention can be. It is not often that you will see any man cry in public. They bottle up their tears in private. But I must say, on the day that the high court released its decision to rule indefinite detention inhumane there were tears in public. I could see just how much a fragment of hope could break the fascade of composure and reveal all the fears and anxiety that years in detention had created.

Spider in a web by Raj

Sunflower by Raj

This sunflower was of course drawn from the imagination. As Raj laughed when I asked if it was drawn from life, he said " there aren't any sunflowers here".

Drawings from Raj

This is one of Raj's drawings from his sketch pad. It was his birthday last Monday and after a long and tedious organisational process, a couple of his friends in Australia were able to take him out of detention for the day and visit Melbourne zoo. This drawing was created after his visit. I found it interesting to hear that a man in detention could be released for a day to see animals in detention. 

Short Film - Journey of a Refugee

This is a short film made by six primary students in grade 5/6. It shows that the issues surrounding refugees and asylum seekers should be brought to young peoples' attention
. If each new generation can be exposed to knowledge and experiences that create empathy and understanding, then bit by bit, the world may change. Hope you enjoy and...please share!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo86c0h_rDE