Helping Syriac settlement

Socio-Cultural Syriac Inc. Association president Mukhles Habash. (Damjan Janevski) 375146_02

A new program has been set up to aid Syriac refugees and migrants with their settlement in Melton and Brimbank.

The Socio-Cultural Syriac Association’s community helpers program will assist people with free form-filling assistance from the Fraser Rise Community Centre on Saturday mornings.

Association president Mukhles Habash said Syriac community is one of the most active emerging communities in Victoria and the community is mainly settling in Hume, Melton and Brimbank councils.

“In the past, we were helping our association members only,” he said.

“But after we have evaluated our capacity and found a huge need in the community, we made the decision to expand the support to the broader community and to put the support in a more professional form.

“Form-filling is an issue among refugees and migrants who are new to the country, but it is more obvious among the people have language barrier and low literacy levels.”

The association supports Syriac community in Victoria through supporting settlement of new arrivals and strengthen social connections among Syriac families through social programs.

The group aims to preserve Syriac culture through organising and celebrating cultural events and also encourages English learning and supports civil participation to work towards a maintained integration by delivering programs that link the community with service providers and government agencies.

The group operates on Saturday mornings from 9.30-11am in the Fraser Rise Children and Community Centre.

Bookings can be made via WhatsApp.

Details: 0457686312