Circle of Friends

Saturday, January 23

Where are the hard questions on refugees?

Over the past 12 months the story that has had the biggest impact on me personally, and hopefully our readers, is that of three ‘forgotten families’ on bridging visas struggling to cope during the COVID-19 restrictions.

High price of ‘freedom’ for refugees

Refugees transferred to Australia from Papua New Guinea and Nauru for medical reasons, including 30 people living in community detention in Adelaide, have been given three weeks’ notice to find a job and a place to live.

Ibrahim, Dil, Omayah, Sajidah and Ominah.

When hope turns to despair

Asylum seeker families in Adelaide have opened up about the stress of living for years with constant uncertainty, little or no income and a reliance on charity for basic necessities – issues which have been magnified during the coronavirus pandemic.

The forgotten families

Eleven-year-old Mustafa is a beautifully-spoken, polite boy with an infectious smile. His older brother Mohammad is articulate and engaging but when you look closely at his big brown eyes there is a seriousness and sense of responsibility that no 15-year-old kid should be burdened with.

Feast of cultures for a cause

Volunteers from Young Mercy Links South Australia (YMLSA) and members of the refugee community in Adelaide cooked up a storm last month in order to help people in need in Cambodia.

Building links with Cambodia

The lead-up to Christmas has been vastly different this year for a group of young South Australians who have spent the past few weeks helping to build houses in Cambodia.

Emergency fund established

An emergency fund has been established to support about 20 asylum seekers in Adelaide who have had most of their government assistance taken away under new visa conditions.