By NATALIE GALLENTI
GODJOK Dau was forced to leave his homeland of South Sudan when war ravaged the country in 1983. As a young boy he grew up in North Sudan where violence lurked at every street corner and young boys were turned into soldiers and taught how to kill.
Almost three decades on and Godjok’s young children lead a safe and happy life in Brookfield.
Godjok is just one of thousands of refugees to share the same tragic story and that is why CatholicCare, in conjunction with Victoria Police, established an African Dads and Kids Camp.
Co-ordinator and camp-founder Kate McKernin said the camp used research based techniques to explore the relationships and 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,” Ms McKernin said.
Victoria Police’s Multicultural Liaison Officer Leading Senior Constable Richard Dove said the program encouraged a more positive settlement experience in the hope of ultimately reducing crime.
Godjok and his seven-year-old son Baak went on one of the camps last month and the pair revelled in the experience.
“We had a good time. My son went back to school and couldn’t stop telling his teacher about it,” the father-of-seven said.
“When we have talks on camp, we get the chance to share our ideas and make new friends. I have seven children. I would need much more money to take all my children on holidays because there is always food to buy and school fees to pay. But these camps are a chance for me to take my children away on holiday and enjoy time with them.”
And it seems young Baak couldn’t get enough of the water.
“I loved playing in the water. This was my first time ever at the beach and my Dad helped me learn to surf,” he said.
