By Luke Voogt
After surviving six years exile in a Rwandan refugee camp, Norlane’s Alphonse Mulashe has won Victoria’s top youth volunteer award.
“It was a really big surprise for me,” the Congolese refugee told the Indy on Monday.
“I was proud of myself and my family was proud of me, because I never thought I could get this far.”
Alphonse took home the Victorian Young Achiever Awards’ volunteer prize Friday night, for his work in the Congolese community and with Geelong’s youth.
The 18-year-old volunteered as a supervisor at the Lions Licola Camp for disadvantaged youth and an adventure camp for refugee children.
“It was fun just being out with the kids and getting to know them,” he said.
Since arriving in Geelong in 2010 he has supported his community year-round by volunteering for events like Pako Festa and Congolese Independence Day.
But life in Geelong is a far cry from the Rwandan refugee camp that his family fled to when he was six.
Alphonse’s father died when he was nine and as eldest son he had to walk several kilometres each day to find food and wood for cooking.
“Life was hard because my Dad – who provided food, shelter and other stuff – was gone,” he said.
“In my culture my dad left his role for me, to look after the family.
“It’s very different living in Australia because everything is where you are. You don’t have to go look for it.”
He would buy batteries and connect wires throughout the house to provide meagre lighting for his family.
“There was no electricity so at night you had to make sure there is a little bit of light in your house,” he said.
“I was really good at it when I was in the camp.”
Alphonse put his skills to good use in Australia, earning a Certificate II in Electrical. But after finishing Year 12 he became a roof plumber’s apprentice instead.
“It’s easier and more fun,” he said. “And the people that I work with and my boss are really good too.”
He has continued his work volunteering for his church choir and Diversitat programs for refugee children.
“We help them get their heads around what the kids are like here,” he said.
“Many of them just come to Australia and sit at home or only hang out with other people of their culture.”
As a singer, drummer and keyboard player, Alphonse has performed in Melbourne and at Geelong After Dark, and he is working to form a youth theatre company.
He also played for the Bell Park Rangers soccer team for three years and was captain in 2014.
“I’m very happy living here with my family,” he said.
Alphonse still helps look after his three younger siblings and his older sister, who has a disability.
He hopes for an even better life in Australia – but not for himself.
“My dream is to buy my mum a house for all the work she has done for us. And look after her when she’s old.”
