Leading our youth by example

For staff, volunteers and clients of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, few things are more rewarding than seeing our team members recognised for their commitment and hard work to support people seeking asylum. And when it comes to recognising leaders, the ASRC team were delighted to hear that our very own Youth Empowerment Coordinator Djibril has been awarded the Refugee Employee Award by the Refugee & Asylum Seekers Recognition Award.

As a refugee with a long history within the ASRC, Djibril’s personal story and struggle for survival has given him an unparalleled ability to connect, empathise and mentor his young program members. It is precisely this ability to guide and empower that prompted Carla Nayton to nominate Djibril for the prestigious award.

‘Djibril is a warm and enthusiastic person. He is a well-loved and valued member of the whole ASRC community. He has often called the ASRC his home – and I think he really feels that level of connection and attachment to the organisation. I’ve been really struck by how he has managed to engage even the most disengaged in his program.’

For Djibril, his commitment to the ASRC comes from a deep desire to help youth create a better future, and to share his experience of applying for permanent protection to help youth feel they have hope.

‘It’s very, very challenging for anybody who comes into this country, to be honest, the process and the unknown is the big issue. When you come, you apply, you don’t know when you’re going to get a call. I came here and I applied and I wait for 15 months, before I get a call. Then I got rejected so they give me one month to reappeal, so I reappealed and I needed to wait. I needed a proper lawyer, who helped me put things together – that was the key to winning the case’.

Djibril Diallo was born in Guinea, West Africa. Despite Guinea being rich in natural resources, its people are some of the poorest in West Africa. For decades Guinea has seen long-reigning presidents and severe political unrest. Djibril fled from a dangerous and unpredictable environment and arrived in Australia in 2012. He came here in pursuit of democracy and a safer, happier life.

‘It wasn’t easy, it was a difficult situation – when you have a language barrier, you don’t know anybody, it’s a new country, a big country and a different culture from what you know.’

For Djibril, the ASRC has been crucial to adjusting to life in Melbourne. Since joining the ASRC in 2013 he has coached the centre’s soccer team (with great success), completed a Diploma of Youth Work at Victoria University, and volunteered in the Social & Community Development Program.

When Djibril started as the Program Manager for the Youth Empowerment Program he noticed, ‘there was a lot of young people who were not engaged, but it was difficult to know why.’

The Youth Program includes a range of classes and activities, centred on employment, education, and fun. These experiences provide them with a sense of agency and make them feel a part of the community.

‘A lot of them come on their own, and a lot of them come by boat. The majority spend at least 12 months or two years in detention before they come out.’

Djibril is confident that his program offers the tools to empower young people seeking asylum, ‘the next step is to take that forward, and if they have any issues they can always come back and ask for help.’

Some of the graduates of Djibril’s program now have jobs within their chosen fields; others are now leaders in their community or have become successful inspirational speakers.

While visibly passionate about changing the lives of these young people, Djibril’s goals extend even further as he strives to change the broader societal perception of people seeking asylum. He believes interaction is crucial to seeing people as they are, ‘talk about it, because you want it to be better.’

Being presented with his award on International World Refugee Day at the RASR ceremony on 20 June at Springvale Town Hall, Djibril is excited to share his achievements and journey with the community.

 ‘I’m very happy, getting rewarded about something you’re passionate doing, it means a lot to me. I can’t wait – I’m just waiting for the day to come.’

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