A group of 11 migrant women living in Melbourne’s west have celebrated the completion of a creative community storytelling project that will be made into a book.
The initiative by Duke Street Community House (DSCH) and Angliss Neighbourhood House, funded by Borderlands Cooperative, highlights the experiences, perspectives and memories of the women.
DSCH community development officer Rajdeep Kang said the women were initially nervous about starting the project.
“A lot of the stories are quite difficult to share. The struggles they had when they came to Australia, what sort of barriers they had. Very painful stories as well,” she said.
However, the participants quickly took to the project once DSCH and facilitators established a safe space for the women.
“We’ve made everyone comfortable to start talking about their stories,” she said.
The women participated in four workshops.
Two writing workshops were led by accredited editor Sharlaine Cairns and two expressive art workshops were facilitated by art therapy student Augustine Ang.
Ms Kang said the artworks, self-portrait collages of the women, were a reflection of their written stories.
“Because they had their faces on the art it made everything really personal…They really owned the art,” she said.
“One comment from one person has really stuck out to me …She said. ‘I kept this story in my heart for 40 years and now I can finally share it with everyone’.“
Ms Kang said that, once published, the books will be given to participants and their families.
