*Image of Dr Fidel Touma welcoming his extended family to Australia.
Understanding Refugees
A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their home country due to fear of harm or persecution, war, or violence. Often they have to leave behind everything familiar to them, seeking the hope of safety and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
The 1951 Refugee Convention classifies as refugee to be the following:
“Someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
The Benefits of Welcoming Refugees
Refugees often hold incredible resilience and determination as a result of their life experiences.
Welcoming refugees who have been forced to flee their home countries benefits a society in many more ways than one. Their skills and desire to work lead to a strong contribution to various sectors including healthcare, education, and technology. Research has displayed that refugees commonly start their own businesses, creating further job opportunities and providing economic growth within their new communities.
They enrich the culture of their communities as they bring with them new traditions, languages, clothing, food, and perspectives. This cultural infusion allows new communities to diversify and celebrate multiculturalism.
Dr Fidel Touma
When talking with one of my colleagues in the office recently, he shared with me the story of a refugee he once journeyed with, Dr Fidel Touma.
Dr Touma was born in Syria, however was forced to flee his hometown in 2014, leaving his surgical career in the dust. Settling in Australia came with several challenges, especially with the recognition of his qualifications. Luckily, he was given a position in a career guidance course and secured an observership at Northern Hospital where his skills were recognised. By 2015, after going through more than anyone should have to go through, Dr Touma was able to start his career anew safely in Australia.
This story got me thinking, specifically about the extremely arduous experiences faced by refugees and the difficulty they often experience when integrating into new communities.
Despite the legal protections and the global call for humanitarian need to assist refugees, there remains extensive stigma attached to this minority group. The stigma surrounding refugees is often pronounced from negative misconceptions and misinformation, leading to increased prejudice and fear that hinders the integration of refugees into new communities.
We invite you to break down these harmful stereotypes with us, and to reflect on their experiences with respect and empathy.
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 19:34 (NIV)
*Image showing the arrival of Dr Fidel Touma’s extended family and their first meeting with my colleagues.
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:1-2 (NIV)
WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
$75 can provide a refugee family with emergency food rations, covering their basic needs.
$50 can fund a month’s worth of school fees or supply a school pack for a refugee child.
$150 can assist a refugee family with rent or cover medical expenses.
$9,000 can support a refugee family’s resettlement application or cover flights to a safer location in their home country.
Reach out to us for more information or any questions you may have. To give, click here.
Link to the original article on Fidel Touma mentioned above: ‘Coming home to Northern: The Journey of Dr Fidel Touma’