We stand #WithRefugees this Refugee Week

Published on 15 June 2018

From 17-23 June, people across Australia will celebrate Refugee Week, which aims to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees.

The City of Maribyrnong is one of the most culturally diverse communities in Victoria, with more than 40% of the city’s population born overseas. Residents come from more than 135 different countries and speak more than 80 languages.

We are proud of our cultural diversity and have a longstanding history of welcoming people of all backgrounds and faith into our City.

In 2005, the City of Maribyrnong officially became a Refugee Welcome Zone when Council made a commitment to welcome refugees into the community, uphold their human rights, demonstrate compassion, and enhance cultural and religious diversity in the community.

To mark this commitment and to raise awareness of Refugee Week, community members will see ‘Refugee Welcome Zone’ signs on the ground outside Council buildings across the municipality.

The theme of this year’s Refugee Week is #WithRefugees, which provides an opportunity for the wider community to show their support for people who have been forced to flee their homes, it is a chance to celebrate their courage and resilience.

City of Maribyrnong Mayor, Cr Cuc Lam, said she is looking forward to supporting and standing #WithRefugees this year.

“Refugee Week allows us to take a moment to acknowledge the culturally rich contributions that refugees make to our community. It is a celebration that fosters a greater sense of acceptance and understanding of diversity in our community,” Cr Lam said.

Cr Lam said she is proud to be the Mayor of Maribyrnong.

“I arrived in Australia, like many, as a refugee. The west is a place that people from all around the world call home, and many feel a strong sense of belonging here because of how welcoming it is. This is why I have lived in the west since my arrival in this beautiful country,” Cr Lam continued.

Refugee Week will be celebrated with a range of events and activities taking place in Maribyrnong, including a clothing drive to support asylum seekers, a screening of Human Flow at the Sun Theatre, and a women’s swim night at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre.

More info

Maribyrnong News

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