Monica Haris, left, is set to follow a business administration course and Agnum Maluach, right, is looking at a management role, after learning basics from River Nile Learning Centre that teaches refugees literacy and numeracy.
By Charlene Gatt
LIFE has not been easy for Monica Haris and Agum Maluach.
Ms Haris, 20, and Ms Maluach, 17, both came to Australia within the past six years with little English under their belts.
Both went to high school but had to drop out before completing their VCE when they fell pregnant.
Ms Haris is now mum to seven-month-old Loula; Ms Maluach to 17-month-old Adhel. Both fathers remain involved with the children, but neither couple live together. The pair are getting their lives on track through Footscray’s River Nile Learning Centre, which teaches young African refugee women literacy and numeracy to get them into further education or employment.
Two teachers look after 20 students and their eight babies, with five more students recently giving birth.
“I was looking at going back to school, and the River Nile Learning Centre was suitable for me and my baby,” Ms Maluach said.
“It’s fun, I have friends here and the teachers are very good.”
Ms Maluach hopes to get into a management role in the future, while Ms Haris wants to do a business administration course.
The River Nile Learning Centre, which is funded by the Department of Education and various philanthropic trusts and donations, has outgrown their existing office suite on Whitehall St but is facing funding problems paying the rent on their current site and associated costs with running the centre.
To donate, call 9687 6244.
