More than 200 elderly Brimbank migrants are being helped to get their confidence back through a series of self- empowerment workshops starting next month.
The St Albans Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) will run 20 female-only, weekly workshops for elderly Bosnian and Turkish migrants.
The sessions are intended to help build self-confidence and communication among women who are no longer able to take part in seniors’ group activities with the Turkish senior citizens’ group at Sunshine and the Australian Bosnian seniors’ group at St Albans.
MRC grant writer Laura Reinwald said social isolation was often compounded by cultural and linguistic challenges, lack of family and social networks, poor health and fear of authority and strangers.
“Ultimately, in a confidence-building environment, the group will empower the women to speak up for themselves,” she said.
MRC community project officer Arzu Kayhan said there had been strong demand for such services.
“We’ve had lots of requests from people with personal issues such as mental health, family violence and elderly abuse.”
The centre is one of six Brimbank groups funded to help migrant communities, including people from Liberia, Serbia, Ethiopia and China.
