Western Sydney MRC was delighted to hold a 2 day Interactive workshops series with students.
We were contacted by American Institute of Foreign Study (AIFS), to request participation in the program, and on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd May, we were delighted to welcome 13 students from the Texas A&M International University.
These interactive workshops were designed by Western Sydney MRC staff to engage and expose students to issues surrounding migration and resettlement in Australia. Students learned about the settlement cycle, humanitarian resettlement, and the vibrant cultural diversity that makes up Western Sydney MRC’s communities.
The students undertook important research and contributed to the community mapping project of groups within the Western Sydney MRC network. This was a great opportunity to exchange information and experiences of resettlement in Australia and the USA, as the students were themselves first and second-generation Americans of Mexican origin. The visit concluded with lunch at a local Lebanese restaurant that was enjoyed by all.
“I want to say thank you for having us and thank you for educating us. I love that you took interest in our culture and in exchange we learned about yours and that of the communities you work with.”
Participant feedback
“The session opened my perspective of different situations, especially that of migrants and refugees.”
Participant feedback
This was a great example of Western Sydney MRC’s role as a thought-leader in the settlement space. We hope to expand this partnership with AIFS and work with similar groups in the future.
