Republic of Burundi refugee Douce is embracing new opportunities thanks to a unique Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) program.
BCE’s Work and Welcome program creates life-changing opportunities for refugees and migrants, offering meaningful employment across its 146 schools and six offices in southeast Queensland.
Douce is BCE’s newest Work and Welcome participant, who is part of the Clairvaux MacKillop College hospitality support staff at Upper Mount Gravatt.
She said she values the work she does at the College, where she gets to learn new skills.
After fleeing the Republic of Burundi, she found herself in Nairobi, Kenya, where she successfully ran her own cafe until she and her family were granted asylum in Australia.
One year on, she aspires to establish her own cafe in Australia, thanks to the experience she has gained at the College.
BCE Work and Welcome coordinator Enrique Ramirez Chavez said the program enabled refugees to recover not only skills and confidence, but also their dignity.
“The candidates have fulfilled a variety of roles, including administration, project management, information technology, procurement, and resource development,” Mr Chavez said.
“After 12 weeks, we can see the impact of the program on each participant, with many proceeding to gain employment with BCE and other organisations.”
More than 16 refugees have been beneficiaries of work experience with BCE since the program started in 2013.
BCE’s Work and Welcome program is fully funded by contributions from BCE staff.
For more information about Clairvaux MacKillop College, Upper Mount Gravatt, or to enrol click here.
