Parra News June 21 2022
June 21 2022 edition of Parra News.
June 21 2022 edition of Parra News.
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“It shatters them”:<br />
Stories in spotlight<br />
LOCAL NEWS<br />
ELLIE BUSBY<br />
This Refugee Week, Simon Shahin<br />
wants Australians to understand that<br />
becoming a refugee is “not a choice.”<br />
Held annually, Refugee Week aims to create<br />
better understanding between different<br />
communities and encourage successful integration,<br />
enabling refugees to live in safety and<br />
to continue making a valuable contribution to<br />
Australia.<br />
Speaking at Merrylands Library on<br />
Wednesday, <strong>June</strong> 22, Mr Shahin will share the<br />
amazing story of how he and his family fled<br />
from war torn Syria before finally settling and<br />
starting a new life in Australia.<br />
“I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria,<br />
one of the most ancient cities in the world.<br />
I was studying environmental science at<br />
Damascus University and I had a great<br />
upbringing – I enjoyed my life,” he said.<br />
“But unfortunately around 2011, circumstances<br />
changed. War ensued and swept<br />
over the whole country. My family and I were<br />
forced to flee and seek asylum.”<br />
Mr Shahin and his family were granted<br />
temporary asylum in Lebanon and from<br />
there they sought refugee visas for Australia.<br />
In 2015, they were finally granted these visas<br />
and at 22-years-old, Mr Shahin made his new<br />
home in Australia.<br />
Although he was excited for the fresh start<br />
in western Sydney, the now 29-year-old Mr<br />
Shahin soon realised that adjusting to life in a<br />
new country wouldn’t be easy.<br />
“I had a lot of challenges initially with the<br />
language barrier, finding what to do professionally<br />
and also belonging, finding friends. I<br />
was just starting from scratch,” he said.<br />
“But with some perseverance, and good<br />
luck, I managed to complete my studies<br />
in renewable energy engineering and I’m<br />
currently working at Transgrid.”<br />
Now he has made it his mission to help other<br />
refugees and educate Australians on the<br />
struggles they face.<br />
“There are a lot of refugees who have been<br />
going through such traumas after fleeing<br />
their countries, it’s not as easy as it sounds.<br />
Many people have no choice,” Mr Shahin said.<br />
“To leave their home, a country they’ve been<br />
raised in all their life, is a very hard thing [to<br />
do]. It shatters them.”<br />
This Refugee Week, Mr Shahin hopes people<br />
will learn more about the issues refugees face.<br />
“I would appeal to all locals just to learn<br />
more about the issues [affecting refugees],” he<br />
said.<br />
“They need to educate and empathise with<br />
them, we are all living on the same planet and<br />
if we don’t find a way to live in peace with one<br />
another then we become disconnected.”<br />
Refugee Week runs until Saturday, <strong>June</strong> 25.<br />
To hear Mr Shahin speak, contact Merrylands<br />
Library on 8757 9065.<br />
Simon Shahin will speak at Merrylands Library for Refugee Week.<br />
<br />
.<br />
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FRIDAY 17TH JUNE TO<br />
SUNDAY 24TH JULY<br />
JUNE<br />
Wed 22nd 7pm<br />
Fri 24th 7pm<br />
Sat 25th 2pm & 6pm<br />
Sun 26th 11am & 2pm<br />
Wed 29th 7pm<br />
SHOWTIMES:<br />
JULY<br />
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Tuesday, <strong>June</strong> <strong>21</strong>, <strong>2022</strong><br />
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