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Sumaya Harare: Identity Crisis: Integrating as a Refugee

Session Info:

Many people think once a refugee has arrived and is settled, things are easy for them now. The fight is over. However, that could not be more wrong. A new fight begins. One of learning a new language, observing fear and distrust from the people around you and in turn having the same fears and distrust.

If you’re lucky enough to come at a very young age like Sumaya was, Language may be easier to pick up but on the other hand, kids can be crueler and more direct than most adults. Then there is also the trouble of growing up within two different cultures. Different expectations and rules occur from both sides and navigating through them can be extremely difficult.

Topics covered:

  • Integration as a young child
  • Identity issues
  • Overcoming adversity

Session Info

  • Audience: Primary and Secondary School Students, community
  • Duration: 50-60 minutes

Other sessions:

  • Online Session: Overcoming Bullying

    Coming to Australia at the age of 7 with her family as a refugee, Sumaya and her family were settled in the suburb of Brighton East, a predominantly Caucasian suburb. She started at a nearby primary school, the only English she knew having learnt from Sesame Street. She was bullied and ostracized for being different, […]

  • Overcoming Bullying

    Approximately one in four Year 4 to Year 9 Australian students (25%) reported being bullied every few weeks (or even more frequently) in a national study in 2009. The bullying and ostracism Sumaya endured as a 7 year-old led to social anxiety. Sumaya will talk about how she survived bullying, anxiety and exclusion and prospered […]

  • Body Image: Self Love

    Most girls growing up have body image issues, a lot of which are centred on either a facial feature or weight. For women of colour, that includes skin colour and hair.. Growing up in a predominantly white neighbourhood, Sumaya faced this issue with her hair. Hating that it wasn’t the same soft and straight texture […]

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