Wollongong Town Hall will come alive with African, Burmese, Kurdish, Vietnamese, Afghani, Iranian and Arabic dance and music at the 2019 Refugee Week Celebration on 19 June.
The event will also feature short films and poetry of local community members, and is organised by TEAM4R, a new local volunteer-based community group comprising former refugees from diverse backgrounds.
Wollongong City Council has joined nine local organisations in supporting TEAM4R’s event and Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said he is proud to be part of Refugee Week.
“Wollongong is a city with a rich tapestry of cultures and Refugee Week is a celebration of the strength, resilience and talent of our refugee communities.”
“Wollongong has welcomed European communities who resettled here following World War II, Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s, and communities from the Balkans in the 90s. Most recently, Wollongong has seen the arrival of people from Burma (Myanmar), Iran, Congo, Iraq and Syria.
“Everyone is welcome to this free family-friendly event on Wednesday evening.”
Council has supported TEAM4R since its formation in 2018, with the aim of advocating for and assisting newly arrived refugees.
Refugee Week is celebrated globally from 16 – 22 June, with world Refugee Day on June 20 and #Withrefugees the continuing three-year theme for Refugee Week 2019 in Australia.
Media spokespeople:
Burhan Zangana –
