THE Amnesty International Joondalup Group held a screening of feature documentary Cast from the Storm on September 24.
Event organiser Bhaval Chandaria said that she was delighted to see such a diverse group of people at the event, including so many younger people.
“It was wonderful to meet so many members of the community, and see such interest in refugee rights,” Ms Chandaria said.
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Ibrahim Kebe, from Sierra Leone, spoke at the event, giving insight into his experiences entering Australia as a refugee in 2006.
He encouraged Australians to welcome refugees and open their hearts and communities to those seeking asylum.
“Nobody wants to be a refugee,” Mr Kebe said.
“It’s a big issue, not only an Australian issue but globally.”
Mr Kebe described his own journey, from a happy local student in Sierra Leone to asylum seeker fleeing for his life.
“You can little understand the trauma people go through seeing bullets everywhere,” he said.
Group convener Femke Elferink has said the group was excited to start campaigning and bringing attention to refugee rights in the local community.
“We’re working towards our goal of making Joondalup a Refugee Welcome Zone so the community can help refugees begin their new life here,” she said.
Refugee Welcome Zones are an initiative by the Refugee Council of Australia, encouraging local government areas to commit to welcoming refugees into the community, upholding their human rights and enhancing diversity.
The Amnesty International Joondalup Group holds meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 6pm at Joondalup Public Library, with the next meeting on October 11 at 6pm.
For more email amnesty.joondalup@gmail.com.