Photo: SBS News Australia
Welcome to We Are the World Blogfest #WATWB for October. Please visit other posts too, especially our generous co-hosts Shilpa Garg, Sylvia McGrath, Mary Giese,Guilie Castillo and Belinda Witzenhausen.
I was reluctant to post this story at first, as it contains religious and political themes. We do not, in any way, wish to see Christians and Muslims as opposing each other. Nor to politicise the plight of refugees. Even more deeply this is a humanitarian issue on schooling for refugees. It is also about ancient cultures and their languages continuing to enhance other cultures. That opportunity is worth celebrating. Assyrians have been fleeing to new lands to start again. One of those places is to a school in Sydney Australia. Click here to read the SBS news coverage.
We traveled with our language and our culture,
To settle in a new land,
To add our voice among the many,
As we lend our hand.
As part of a body of a people
To make the peopled spectre grand.
We find a voice and a lesson
Within the school surrounds,
To celebrate our culture,
In a language that just resounds.
Simon C.J. Falk 27 October 2017
Would you like to join this #WATWB Blogfest?
Once again, here are the guidelines for #WATWB:
1. Keep your post to Below 500 words, as much as possible.
2. Link to a human news story on your blog, one that shows love, humanity, and brotherhood. Paste in an excerpt and tell us why it touched you. The Link is important, because it actually makes us look through news to find the positive ones to post.
3. No story is too big or small, as long as it Goes Beyond religion and politics, into the core of humanity.
4. Place the WE ARE THE WORLD badge or banner on your Post and your Sidebar. Some of you have already done so, this is just a gentle reminder for the others.
Tweets, Facebook shares, Pins, Instagram, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. We’ll try and follow and share all those who post on the #WATWB hashtag, and we encourage you to do the same.Have your followers click Here to enter their link and join us! Bigger the #WATWB group each month, more the joy!
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Simon's still stanza 
Hi Simon – what an inspirational set up … and I’ve noticed how motivated many of the refugee children are to learn – and it’s excellent they’re keeping their own culture and language alive, yet realising that they need to learn English to talk to others in their new country. They will be amazing ambassadors through life … I’m so pleased you brought this story to our attention – thank you … cheers Hilary
My post will go up on Tuesday …
Hilary, the children’s interest in both their own culture, and their new culture was something I too had taken an interest in. I hope this school goes from strength to strength.
These children have gone through a traumatic experience, a school like this offers them a new beginning. What’s wonderful is that this school helps them to preserve their culture in a foreign land. Thanks for sharing this amazing story, Simon!
Shilpa, I’m glad that you too enjoyed this story. It seems these children are the better for this opportunity.
I cannot imagine how a child could be better served than to have the opportunity to learn new things while at the same time retaining some of their family’s culture. Life is a balance and this school sounds like it understands that.
It appears that this school does seek that balance, Ally. It is heartening to know such a school is in my country for these children.
What a great school to land at when the kids have been through so much in their home country and refugee camps. I am proud from afar of Australia and the school administrators for providing such an environment. How nice that the school embraces and teaches about their past while looking forward to their future. Thanks for this heartwarming story Simon.
I too, am proud, Emily. Australia fairs poorly with some other refugees. It is so good that this school is part of the change for better.
This is beautiful Simon. It’s heartening to know that many countries welcome these people into their country and help them assimilate. I sure wish the world would know this. 🙂
It is beautiful, Debby. In fact, watching the video I almost wanted to visit to soak up their enthusiasm.
🙂
I love the little boy’s perspective: “My favourite part of St Hurmizd School is learning the Assyrian and English language. Assyrian because it’s my own language – I feel proud when I speak it,” . . . “And English because it’s my new language, I must learn it to talk with others and to complete my education to become a doctor.”
He gets it, that he needs to learn something new, but thankfully, the school also gets it—that these kids need to hold onto something special so as not to lose their culture.
That boy gets it. Isn’t he just the best! He is prove that the school must be working well for some of those students.
This post was an interesting one, and I am so happy to read and also see the video on how the school is helping the refugee children a fresh new start, hats off to this initiative and for the service rendered to these children.Thank you for sharing:)
You’re most welcome. Thanks for commenting. I hope we get more schools like this one.
Thanks Simon that was a lovely read, providing means of holding on to a rich tradition, proud of it and learning anew. Bravo to all – the school and to refugees for taking the opportunity provided to them… glad that there is awareness for more integration as there seems to be a lack of diversity.
It would be interesting to see what happens to some of these students when they grow up. I hope the media do a follow up later on.
Simon, this is a great initiative, and I’ve always believed that protecting one’s cultural values is quite different from protecting and propagating one’s religion. I see no political or religious overtones in this post. I see positive rebuilding of a culture that is at the brink of extinction, like many others in the world. There’s nothing wrong in preserving our history and the diversity of human beings. Thank you for sharing this with us 🙂
I saw no such overtones either as I think sharing each other’s culture is a deeply human and wonderful exchange of gifts. Am happy to share, Pradita. 🙂 I love WATWB blogs.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Lovely post, Simon. Thank you for sharing this story. Education is close to my heart. If I’d seen this one earlier, perhaps I would have shared it too. 🙂 I didn’t get organised in time to join in this month. Hopefully, next month.
Oh yes, you would see details in such schools others of us would miss, Norah. Glad you enjoyed it.
I can’t help myself when it comes to children, education and schools. It’s my focus. 🙂
Beautiful story, Simon, and a great contribution to the #WATWB! Thank you so much for posting it, in spite of your health issues… I look forward to hearing you’re fully recovered soon. Happy Sunday!
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter (October co-host)
I managed to get the post up the day before my ‘event’, Guilie. Just as well, for I’d hate to miss a post. Not out of duty. It’s a labour of love and a great support to team like yourself. 🙂
Thanks everyone for your courtesy and comments. I have read them and hope to reply in time. I’m recuperating in hospital after receiving a stent to clear a blocked artery from the heart. But I do appreciate your visits and hope to do some visiting of my own later. Thank you once again.
Hi Simon,
I hope this finds you doing much better. This story kind of reminds me of the diaspora. People were displaced away from their home culture, not always being able to integrate the new with the old. This school seems to have been able to do just that. I think that is wonderful and hope they continue to learn and grow. Thanks for sharing this story, your poem, and for being a part of #WATWB
It would be so awful to be displaced from our meaning systems of culture, Lynn. Great that these people can help children both retain theirs and learn another as well. I love being part of WATWB. It’s one of the reasons to be alive. 🙂
That is so hopeful to see communities helping the children and giving them an education. It also shows the good that churches do to aid their communities. Thanks for your thoughtful words.
It’s great, Mary. I hope they incorporate a little theatre too, among their curriculum. 🙂
These kids are such a blessing for us all – having faced such difficulties already they are still poised to begin anew, incorporating their own cultural foundations as stabilizing factors in what they will now create. May each one of them flourish and find joy! Love your poem as well Simon.
I too hope they flourish. Thanks Deborah.