TILAHUN Gashaw is trying to put the past behind him and is looking forward to a new life with his family in Ulladulla.
Job, as he is known in Australia, his wife Mami and their seven-year-old daughter Elizabeth, are Ethiopian refugees who have moved to Ulladulla from the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.
The family last week moved into their new home in Green Street and have been overwhelmed by the generosity and friendliness of local residents who helped them escape the oppression of war and famine-ravaged Africa.
A former financier with the Ethiopian Government, Job fled his home country in 1999 and sought protection for his family in nearby Kenya.
He soon became one of more than 50,000 African refugees living in the jail-like Kakuma camp.
Able to avoid living full-time in the over-crowded and disease ridden camp, Mami stayed often with a friend in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, where Elizabeth was born and attended school.
A rebellious Job flaunted camp regulations and visited his wife and daughter as often as he could.
He was walking down the street in Nairobi one day when he bumped into a man he had met at Kakuma.
That was the day his life changed.
“My friend, also a refugee, told me he was about to leave for Canada,” Job said.
“He gave me an email address for a woman called Suzanne in Australia.
“I emailed her immediately saying: ‘I don’t know you, but I need your assistance’.”
Suzanne, from the Sanctuary Refugee Foundation, replied and gave Job forms to be filled in and sent to the Australia Government.
“She told us to pack our bags and be ready to leave.
“Three months later I was interviewed at the Australian Embassy and here we are.
“God is great and today I am in Australia,” Job said.
Job and his family were brought to Ulladulla by the newly formed local branch of the Sanctuary Refugee Foundation run by Rosemary Thompson.
They are the second Ethopian family to escape Kakuma and begin a new life in Ulladulla.
Both Job and Mami will begin TAFE courses in the coming weeks and will seek employment in the local area.
Elizabeth will start year one at Ulladulla Public School next week.
Job hopes to work in accounting or computers, while Mami is keen to put her cooking skills to good use.
All three speak English and are enjoying life in Ulladulla.
They have explored the area with Sanctuary volunteers and have watched a series of recent ArtFEST and music festival events.
They are looking forward to joining the local Catholic Church and becoming involved in community organisations.
With the help of local charities, their home has been fully furnished and they have clothing, books and toys.
They will receive government assistance for 13 weeks after which they must work or study.
Job said their future in Australia looks bright.
“I want my daughter to have freedom and choice.
“I want her to study and learn and eventually become an Australia citizen.
“We are free, we are breathing fresh air and, for the first time, we are happy.”
Job said he wants to forget his past and focus on the future.
“I don’t want to think about what’s happening in Ethiopia.
“It’s so hard, I have family and a 14-year-old son over there, but I cannot make contact with them.
“I don’t want to watch the news - I just want to forget,” he said.
Job said living and working in a country riddled with corruption, disease and civil unrest was difficult.
He said there are two classes - the very rich and the very, very poor.
“People are dying in the streets.
“If you don’t have a job or any money, you can’t do anything. You can’t escape.
“You have to bribe your way through life,” he explained.
Getting out of the refugee camp would have been impossible had he not bumped into his friend.
“There’s no contact with the outside world and no help from the government.
“People from abroad send aid thinking they are helping refugees, but we don’t see it at the other end.
“Most of it doesn’t reach those who need it.
“In the camp the water was dirty, medicines out of date and it was weeks before you could get medical help if you were sick.
“There are people living in the camp from Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, Rawanda - all over Africa - but they can’t escape, they have nothing and nowhere to go.”
All that is in the past now and Job, Mami and Elizabeth can’t thank the Sanctuary Foundation and Milton-Ulladulla residents enough.
“The team at Ulladulla is very organised.
“Thank you, thank you.
“Please let us stay and become part of your wonderful community,” he said.
Anyone wanting to assist Job and his family, and other African refugees, can contact Rosemary Thompson on 4455 7835.
The Sanctuary Refugee Foundation paid for the family’s flight to Australia and, once it is repaid, they will bring another refugee family to Australia.
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