The journey former refugee Okiya Celestine took to settlement in Australia inspired him to make an impact in the lives of vulnerable youths in Latrobe Valley.
Mr Celestine fled war-torn Sudan when he was 16 years old and was separated from his parents.
The following 10 years, spent in different refugee camps and institutions, taught him about sacrifice, compassion and instilled him with a need to help others.
“I want to give back to Australian people that gave me freedom and let me and others settle in Australia,” Mr Celestine said.
He has achieved this as a support worker for the residential services program at Berry Street, where he cares for young people who have been removed from their family home.
The Morwell man has also helped others as secretary of the Gippsland Sudanese Association, where he works with other service providers to integrate former refugees into the community.
Mr Celestine has come a long way since sponsorship was the only way he could complete his high school certificate and, for that reason, could not continue his studies in university.
“The fees cost the same as what would pay for 100 children in camp to go to school and I did not want to be selfish,” he said
Overcoming this, Mr Celestine, through various Christian organisations, helped people gain access to hospital care, assisted refugees achieve loans and run businesses and saved a friend in legal trouble, before making it to Australia.
“Upon arriving in Tasmania in 2002… I was able to participate in joint school and employment options to support my family and friends back home,” he said.
Mr Celestine next settled in Dandenong, where he became a leader in a soccer program that helped young refugees with traumatic backgrounds.
Finally, Mr Celestine was able undertake tertiary education and completed a Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling at Monash University Gippsland last year.
Mr Celestine said while his life had improved dramatically in 15 years, he still struggled with loneliness and bullying at times.
He said discrimination did not only come from the wider community, but also from fellow former Sudanese refugees, because he was a member of a different tribe to many of the Sudanese settlers in Gippsland.
“Because I am a refugee, people question my origins – they call me Ugandan or a liar,” Mr Celestine said.
“I want to help educate people about the damaging effects of bullying, that it can make you feel lonely and isolated.”
Mr Celestine said despite this he hoped, by increasing awareness, the whole community could be more inclusive.
“I want to recognise the possibility of a new future, by bridging relationships with all people.”
