CMRC

Hope on so many levels

 PRISCELLA MABOR

OUR interview was scheduled to take place at a local Indian Tamil restaurant in Parramatta. A last-minute switcheroo saw us rendevouz at a charming Indonesian eatery over chilli beef stir fries and extremely bitter iced coffees.

I am with Parwin Taqawi and Conscila Emilianus, two women from very diff erent countries and cultures. They also span a generation divide; Parwin from Gen Z and Conscila from the Baby Boomers Generation. I am here to fi nd out more about generational diff erences–are they something that can divide and frustrate, or unite and foster shared learnings.

We all know that when you were born, is as crucial as to where you were born and into what circumstances.

Our attitudes, values and behaviours are very much shaped by what decade we grew up in. So migrant women from diff erent generations could possibly bring a range of insights into a number of topics that guide our professional and personal choices.

Parwin’s favourite foods are sushi, Pad Thai and Afghan kebabs. While Conscila enjoys fi re red fi sh curries, faluda but also fries. Will these two women who have barely met before, see eye to eye on anything.

Parwin Taqawi secured a role with the Community Migrant Resource Centre’s Youth Transition Support Program during the recent lockdown and one week after the crisis in Afghanistan.

Parwin is part of the great Hazara diaspora living in Australia. There are more than 50,000 refugees who have resettled in Australia over the last 15 years, with over 15, 000 being from the Hazara ethnic group.

After coming to Australia as 12 year old, her family settled in St Clair.

“My parents and siblings have now moved to Melbourne as my father bought a business there. But I am here with my Uncle and his family.

“Parwin graduated high school in St Marys. “It was at school that I started to involve myself in voluntary work and wanted to help refugee women.”

Seeing women in her family and community who were able to ignite business op-

Conscila Emilianus and Parwin Taqawi. portunities locally, Parwin’s ambitions and imagination started percolating early on. Conscila listens intently stirring her ice cubes in circles. Conscila plays a key leadership role with CMRC, and has moved from frontline work in the refugee resettlement space to advocacy work with the Sri Lankan

Tamil community who have been living in limbo on bridging visas for over ten years. She is currently completing a two-year research project with WSU, on the impacts of policy decisions for these women. Conscila also arrived to this country when she was young, in her 20s, as confl ict raged in her homeland. She too knows the fortitude of women overseas and here. Parwin notices a brochure of Conscila’s project related to Tamil women and sewing. “ I grew up with relatives very talented in sewing. Everyone knew how to sew. Conscila gasps: “This is the fi rst time

I hear this. When I think of sewing, I always associate this with our community, and other South Asian or Asian people.

I fi nished a Diploma in Sewing at home when I was young and my teacher lives in

Sydney now. “

Exchanging ideas about business

Conscila has many sewing machines stored in her garage from a social enterprise project she led last year for Tamil women earning money selling masks.

“I lost those sewing skills. In Sri Lanka you would just go shopping four times a year. For a birthday, wedding, Christmas and special occasion. So we sewed everything. Here, everything is ready made. So I only make saris for myself here. I have three daughters but I never made them clothes growing up. I wish so much I had. “

Parwin enrolled in a double degree at University in Business and International Studies.

“I then decided with my best friend to combine sewing, fashion and an online retail business. We have started a new business called the Modest Fashion Outlet.”

Parwin fl icks open her phone to the Instagram Page. Now Conscila explains to Parwin that has three FB Accounts to manage each day. ““One for my family, one for overseas networks and one for my community work.” Parwin is impressed.

Soon the two are exchanging ideas about the cost/benefi t analysis of manufacturing clothing here or overseas.

Conscila knows social media and retail but e-commerce and the world of infl uencers is new for her. Parwin explains: “We are going to pay social media infl uencers to do our marketing and product placement.

We will only get those who have good engagement, not just those with the most traffi c.” Conscila is surprised and likes what she is hearing, and double checks how old Parwin is. When Conscila calls her a baby , Parwin gently reminds her she is turning 20 in February. 2021 has been a big year for both women. While Parwin has been at uni and supporting her community in the wake of the crisis in Afghanistan in

August, Conscila returned to tertiary studies. “After my mother passed away last year, there was a gap for me. So, I enrolled in my community management diploma with TAFE. The oldest student was 72 and the youngest 21.

It has been amazing to complete that certifi cate. “ Now as we meet on the last day of Parliament sitting in Canberra, we decide to refl ect on what the PM could be focusing on at the close of the year. Parwin wants more attention back on invisible barriers stopping women entering the workforce, such as overseas qualifi cations not being recognized here and diffi culty for migrant women to secure local work experience.

Conscila elects to focus on the plight of women from her community, marooned for years on temporary visas and being denied access to citizenship and the right to work.

“We need opportunities. Language is not a barrier. There are so many capable women here, but why does it matter if their English is not perfect. We want acknowledgement for their talents and skills. Allow these women to live in this country and treat them as your family. “

As we exit the eatery to return to real life duties, I glance ahead and see the two women still talking feverishly.

I am feel reassured that there is hope yet for generations to engage more on so many levels. There is no doubt that they will talk again and possibly look each other up on FB and LinkIn.

Priscella Mabor is Inclusion Strategy & Innovations Manager at the Community Migrant Resource Centre. Visit www.cmrc.com.au

Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC)

is a not-for-profi t, charitable organisation established in 1996. CMRC is a leader in the provision of specialised support services to newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants. CMRC works within a community capacity building framework to encourage individuals and multicultural communities to identify and address their own issues. It works in collaborative partnerships with a great number of agencies to provide services which have both an immediate and long term benefi t for the community. CMRC employs over 60 full time, part-time and casual multi-lingual staff .