By ALESHA CAPONE
TEENAGE refugee Ro Sang Lian desperately wants to learn how to play the piano – but he had no money to pay for lessons.
Ro Sang Lian, his 10-year-old sister and their parents have been living in St Albans for less than two months.
They recently flew to Australia from Malaysia under the Federal Government’s Humanitarian Program, which offers resettlement for refugees.
Douglas Burgos from the Footscray Refugee Resource Centre – New Hope Foundation, who has been aiding Ro Sang Lian’s family, contacted Star last week.
Mr Burgos said his young client “passionately wants to learn piano” and he is searching for a tutor, who is willing to volunteer their time to teach Ro Sang Lian for around three months.
Ro Sang Lian’s younger sister, Ro Da, also hopes to study singing and is a big fan of pop songs.
Last week, Ro Sang Lian spoke to Star through an interpreter.
“I’m interested in piano, when I hear people play it is very nice for me,” he said.
“But I don’t have the money to pay for lessons.
“I want to be a musician but I don’t play very well.
“Sometimes I pray to God that I can have some piano lessons.”
Ro Sang Lian said he was presently studying at the Western English Language School in Braybrook.
His family originally came to Malaysia from Burma, where he said they were treated as second-class citizens.
“When I was in Malaysia there was very bad discrimination against foreigners – for example, if you were buying something or entry to somewhere, citizens might pay $1 and we have to pay $50,” he said.
Contact Mr Burgos on 9687 4500 or ftscystudent3@newhope.asn.au to help out with piano or singing lessons.
