During a recent July weekend, passers-by may have spied a group of women and their children cycling through the beautiful Dwellingup forest.
08 September 2009
Harmony Camp helping happy families
At first glance the six families, three recently arrived in Australia from Southern Sudan, may have seemed worlds apart - one group facing the challenges of arriving in a new country after experiencing years of conflict and drought, the other facing their own struggles in leading a healthy family life.
The Nuhra Life Enrichment Centre’s Family Harmony Camp was a weekend of sharing life experiences, offering support for challenges faced, and revealing the universal similarity of making the most of what may seem like an overwhelming situation.
“It was an opportunity for an exchange, where we’d be able to do (recreational) things together, chat together and find common ground to develop relationships and understanding between two cultures.”
Partly funded through the Department of Sport and Recreation’s Community Participation funding scheme which targets low participation groups, specifically culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) and Indigenous groups, the six families enjoyed flat water rafting, cycling, walking and even bush danced with the best of them.
“Nearly everyone stated as their first priority (for the camp as) the opportunity to share time together in fun activities,” Ms Allan said.
"Parents learned about the possibilities of the Bibbulmun Track from walking a small section and several expressed a desire to take their children on an overnight walk.
“The (newly arrived families) loved the cycling and were interested to follow up with some trips around the Swan River."
Increasing physical activity and skill development goes hand in hand with increasing harmony and relaxation between families to build stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities.
If the beaming faces at the end of the weekend were anything to go by, the challenge of unfamiliar physical activities and sharing insights of two cultures has made a lasting impact in supporting happy and harmonious families.
Nuhra Life Enrichment Centre will be holding a Bibbulmun Track family bushwalking day in September. The Centre also intends to run three family cycling days in September, October and November, and possibly a second Family Harmony Camp over the summer.
For more information about future events contact Letitia Allan on 9328 6272 or nuhra@life- enrichment.com.au.
Click on the Multicultural page link for other exciting initiatives helping to create inclusive communities.
