Jennifer Pittorino
Africause joined the Footscray community to celebrate NAIDOC Week in partnership with Indigenous elders and future leaders.
Africause is a not-for-profit community based organisation responding to challenges facing African Australian youth and their families.
Chief executive Dr Berhan Ahmed said the African community share a lot in common with Indigenous Australians.
“We share a common journey in life in terms of racism, it has affected Indigenous people for 250 years and us for a long time,” he said.
“It resonates with us, the partnership between us is critical, we both need to overcome the darkness to become accepted.”
The event took place at Victoria University’s Metro West campus in Footscray on Monday, July 3, offering a few hours of food, smiles and flag raising ceremony.
It event started with a smoking ceremony with the esteemed and loved elder Aunty Joy Murphy and her son Craig.
Ms Murphy spoke about the stories of smoke celebration, history, culture and achievements of Indigenous people, which resonated with the communities thriving in Footscray.
There were over 50 guests including Victoria police assistant commissioner and Africause board member Luke Cornelius, local MP Sheena Watts and Sel Sanli on behalf of Footscray MP Katie Hall.
The day also marked the launch of Africause’s journey to co designing its first REFLECT Reconciliation Action Plan with the First Nations Community.
Africause primarily works with young people in the school system and in juvenile detention.
“Our organisation works in holistically supporting kids, we want to build a safer journey for kids and how to better understand school and the justice system,“ said Mr Ahmed.
