Refugee graduate counts herself lucky

Graduations

At 22 years of age, Lucky Giirre is not taking anything for granted, especially her name.

The Somali refugee, who graduated last month with a Health Sciences degree, and is within two years of completing a Law degree and Language Diploma at the University of Adelaide, owes her success to pure hard work.

Her goal is to work for the World Health Organisation (WHO), hence the double degree and language qualifications, both of which will give her a competitive edge in realising her dream.

This July, Lucky will take another step towards achieving that goal when she fronts the 20th World Health Promotion Conference in Geneva, the headquarters of WHO.

Lucky has been chosen over 3000 other applicants to present a paper on a project she helped implement in 2008, giving young Muslim women and refugees the opportunity to access educational and recreational opportunities in their community.

Frustrated by the lack of services and activities for Muslim women in Adelaide, Lucky and her younger sister Ramla formed the Muslim Girls Kollective, a grassroots community development project targeted at her age group.

With the help of a $7000 grant from the Department for Families and Community SA and Multicultural Youth SA, Lucky and Ramla have co-ordinated a series of workshops and social activities for young Muslim women.

Sessions include talks by various people about accessing higher education pathways, learning basic life skills, as well as advice on relationship, social isolation and identity issues, among other topics.

"On alternate weeks we go to the movies or go bowling - recreational activities that most people take for granted but which many Muslim girls do not have the chance to pursue," Lucky said.

Thanks to Facebook, flyers and word-of-mouth, the group now has 60 members on its books, many of whom have reaped unexpected benefits.

"A lot of the girls who have joined the group were very shy and nervous at first, but their self-confidence has really increased and they're willing to grasp opportunities that come their way."

Lucky has secured a $4000 Ruth Gibson Memorial Award to help finance her Geneva trip and a fundraiser is also planned at the SA Folk Centre on Saturday 8 May, featuring Zulu dancers, comedians, R&B singers, contemporary dancers and the South African Choir.

Along with her university studies, she is a member of the Henley Beach Surf Life Saving Club, encouraging new migrants to join the organisation, and also performed at the recent Fringe Festival in an African show called Go-Go, which received rave reviews.

Lucky credits her parents with instilling all eight children in her family with both focus and motivation, and the value of a good education.

"They never thought a war would happen or that we would be forced to leave our country, but they have also made us realise how lucky we are to live in a country like Australia.

"My parents have worked very hard trying to give us the best opportunities in life and education is at the top of that list. That's why I don't want to waste it.

"I chose Health Sciences because I want to make a difference to people's lives and I hope my law degree will give me the skills to implement some really important policies in that area down the track."

This year Lucky enrolled in a Diploma in Languages, studying French, and coupled with her high school Indonesian, is hopeful of one day working either in South East Asia or one of the French speaking countries in Africa.

"I know what I want and I'm really determined to make it happen," she said.

The fundraiser on Saturday 8 May runs from 7pm-10.30pm at the SA Folk Centre at Thebarton. The cost is $20 adults, $15 concession and $5 for children under 12.

Story by Candy Gibson