Blanca (on the left) and Keiko (on the right) having a good laugh at their Monday morning doll making class. Despite the language barrier they are still able to communicate with one another. Blanca who recently arrived here from Colombia only speaks Spanish and communicates to group members through an app on her phone, while Keiko has lived in Perth for a number of years and speaks fluent English.
Margaret (pictured right) helping Keiko (pictured left) with her doll. The doll making class is a double whamy, whilst it is an activity that people from other cultures can come together to participate in, the dolls made by these class members are sent to orphanages in Africa and give the orphans something to play with. Although Margaret speaks fluent English and knows how to make the dolls, she doesn’t like to consider herself as the teacher but rather “just another member of the group”.
The Fremantle Multicultural Centre helps many people that come from all different parts of the globe. Because this Centre there is a large number of people who either come to Fremantle or live in Fremantle and because of this become part of the Fremantle Community. It is because of this help and support that is provided to the members of the Fremantle community, that the staff and volunteers at the centre are Active citizens and display the values and attitudes of active citizenship
Blanca (on the left) and Keiko (on the right) having a good laugh at their Monday morning doll making class. Despite the language barrier they are still able to communicate with one another. Blanca who recently arrived here from Colombia only speaks Spanish and communicates to group members through an app on her phone, while Keiko has lived in Perth for a number of years and speaks fluent English.
The Fremantle
MulticulturalCentre
By Luke Pellegrini
Active citizenship is present in Fremantle, more specifically, it is present at the Fremantle Multicultural Centre.
The Fremantle Multicultural Centre is a registered charitable organization, that provides a number of services to Migrants and Refugees.
One service the Centre provides is activities and classes for the immigrants; such as Dollmaking, Weaving, Sewing and English classes. Participants usually pay a gold coin donation, unless they cannot afford it, in which case the class is free.
Manager Partnerships & Business Development Alec Uzunovsky talked about the purpose of the classes “…it provides an opportunity to come to a place where they can engage with other migrants, and at the same time learn how to weave, how to make dolls, how to do some art, learn English…” he said.
Class member Margaret Rankin shared her thoughts on the classes and the Centre “ Well I think it helps them to mix with each other,” she said “… it gives them something to do and they get a comradeship out of it.”
The Multicultural Centre also provides services for mental health, accommodation, the “Childrens Theraputic Support Serivce” and settlement services.
“…it’s about delivering services to Refugee and Migrants, who would I guess, would struggle if they sought assistance from mainstream providers…” said Mr Uzunovsky.
Established in Fremantle in 1982 after concerned citizens working in community service asked the Fremantle government for some funding, the Fremantle Multicultural Centre has been helping Migrants and Refugees for 36 years.