For the second year, senior students at Northern Bay College will present an exhibition focused on the experiences of refugees.
The college will hold community event Freedom Without Borders at its Goldsworthy campus for Refugee Week on Monday, June 23.
The exhibition will feature a series of art installations and a short film festival, with all works created by senior Northern Bay students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Students Mohammad Husseini and Rezai Rehman were involved in last year’s exhibition Stories Without Borders as artists and hosts.
Both of their families, originally from Afghanistan, were forced to flee first to Pakistan, then to Australia, due to war and violence.
Mohammad said he was keen to get involved again after his experience with last year’s exhibition.
“When we shared our speech at the event last year I think it really opened many eyes to what ‘refugee’ actually means,” Mohammad said.
“When talking about it to other people that are not familiar with refugees, they can really understand the concept of why we move from one country to another… leaving our home, leaving our families behind and everything.”
Education support worker Brandon Dallow, the staff member behind last year’s event, is again coordinating this month’s exhibition.
Given nearly one third of the college’s students come from a refugee background, Mr Dellow said the event was all about showcasing “the stories and the journeys of students at Northern Bay that might not necessarily be heard”.
Rezai thanked Mr Dellow for his support and encouragement.
“He really motivated us to pursue this, to share our stories with others and show the struggle of refugees, to showcase the challenges we face and the opportunities that Australia has brought for us.”
