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Other
Sudanese Refugees -
SAIL
Anna Grace Hopkins, 21
and Matthew Albert, 22 are supporting Melbourne’s Sudanese refugees to
learn English, build confidence and make friends and community links in an
innovative new program. The two started the program (SAIL) in 2001. Every
Saturday, dozens of Sudanese children, teenagers and adults gather at
Footscray’s All Saints Church to get help with school homework and to
practice speaking, reading and writing English with tutors. Matt and Anna
Grace said that as well as improving their English; the students were able
to form friendships with each other and their tutors.
Since the program started
it has grown from having one tutor to having 75 tutors and from teaching
five children to more than 100 people each week (2001). It also offers art,
craft, drama and pre school programs, excursions, a pick up drop off
service, has books and games library and a computer home loan program. Anna
Grace said of SAIL ‘I feel like a lot of refugee community assistance
programs can be pretty meaningless and we tried to fill the gaps in the
welfare net. The good thing about doing something like SAIL is it’s an
extra net.’
All Saints church
Reverend Don Edgar has also been heavily involved in the continuos building
up and development of SAIL programs. The AWT is proud to have supported
SAIL with a $2000 grant to buy pens, pencils, stationary and lots of other
useful things. Check them out: SAIL
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