African Dads and Kinds camp - October 2011

African Dads and Kids Camp: Exploring new roles in the family

CatholicCare held an African Dads and Kids Camp from 14 – 16 October in collaboration with Victoria Police to help refugee families strengthen their family bonds as they adjust to their new lives in Australia. The camp at Queenscliff involved 26 African men and 26 of their children aged between six and 14 years. Most participants were from Sudan and Eritrea and had escaped situations of terrible conflict.

CatholicCare's African Dads and Kids Camp Coordinator, Kate McKernin said, "This camp explored the variations and similarities between being a father in Australia and being a father in Africa. It was an opportunity for fathers to discuss how to renegotiate their own roles and keep their families close while they adapt to the pressures of a different culture."

Victoria Police's Multicultural Liaison Officer, Leading Senior Constable Richard Dove said, "Getting in at the grass-roots level, as this fantastic program does, to assist in keeping families of new arrivals strong and functional is of the utmost importance to Victoria Police because this will ultimately lead to a more positive settlement, reduce family breakdown and violence, and ultimately reduce crime and violence in the community generally."

When the dads and their children were asked to reflect on their families of origin, it was an opportunity for everyone to explore the differences between village life and life in Melbourne. Kate McKernin discussed how our families teach us to show love, have fun, work, resolve conflict and celebrate. Yet for many of the dads on the camp, their families were torn apart when their villages were destroyed and they lost their traditional way of life.

Camp participant, James Shan spoke fondly of life in his village with his parents, two brothers and their herd of cows. Yet the pain was evident in his voice as he said, "It's all gone now. The soldiers attacked, killing everyone they could, including my parents. They even killed our cows. My brothers and I escaped and my uncle looked after us in the city." For many like James who were caught up in the violence, they suddenly had no home and nowhere they belonged. For those who grew up in refugee camps or raised their children in camps, the experience of family was very different. After coming to Australia, they have had to adjust their roles again within the family.

Wik Deng shared his story. In 1998, Wik was imprisoned for six months by the Sudanese government security forces because he was suspected of supporting the South Sudanese rebels who were fighting for independence. Wik and his wife were caring for their own child, along with three of Wik's cousin's children and Wik's sister-in-law and her two children. Several of Wik's relatives had been killed so Wik had assumed responsibility for their children. Wik was desperate to survive and get out of prison so he could care for his extended family again.

He was released for two months but the security forces suspected Wik of supporting the rebels again so they recaptured him. Wik's family didn't know whether he was alive or dead so he pleaded to be able to see them. That wish was granted but he was immediately detained once again.

After his release, Wik and his family escaped Sudan, fleeing to Egypt along with his cousin's children, the sister-in-law and her children too.  After a couple of years, they were accepted by the Australian Embassy as refugees. Wik explained the sense of relief he felt: "I was so happy to be able to come to Australia because of the opportunity for all of us to be safe and to get a good education."

They arrived in Australia in 2001 and lived in Sydney until 2008. Wik said, "My wife, children and I lived together with our extended family until I had to move to Melbourne for work.  I then set up another home for my sister-in-law and her children and I continue to support them. They are doing really well. The first boy has just graduated as a nurse and plans to study medicine. I also support my Mum and other family members back in Sudan.

"It would have been so hard to save enough money for a holiday like this but it has been great to share this with my nine year old son, Deng." Wik's six children range from fourteen to three so it's difficult for him to have one on one time with them. During one game, Deng led Wik through the bush blindfolded in an activity designed to build trust. Wik said afterwards, "I felt confident with my life in the hands of my child. I felt relief that nothing would go wrong because we are a good team."

The African Dads and Kids Camps are funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. We are grateful to Bunnings, City West Water and Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club for their kind donations.  If you would like to donate to run more of these special weekend programs for African refugee families, please phone 03 9287 5555.

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For more information contact:

Kate McKernin, Project Worker
Ph (03) 9287 5654
Mobile 0418 446 692
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you would like to donate to enable us to run more of these special weekend programs for African refugee families, please click here or phone 9287 5555.