Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Alphonse Mulashe and his family left their home due to the war.
They lived in a refugee camp in Rwanda before resettling in Australia in 2010. Alphonse was 12 when he arrived in Geelong and has lived here ever since.
What
does healing mean to you?
To go through a process of healing means you’ve had to go through
hardship – it could be physical or psychological. For me, healing is about growth
and taking on responsibilities. My father passed away when I was 7 years old,
and as the eldest I took on additional responsibilities even at a young age.
How
can art or storytelling help with healing?
I’m interested in acting and I have been involved with the North Youth Theatre for a few
years now. Through acting, I share my story and express my feelings and
emotions. It’s powerful to be on stage, with the audience watching you and
listening to you with their full attention. I could be going through something,
but everything goes away when I’m on stage.
What
do you love most about living in Geelong?
I love everything. I love the people and the community’s
diversity. There are also good opportunities for work.
What can we do to
support people from refugee backgrounds?
Make them feel like they fit in. We are not different from you. In
a way, if you’re not Indigenous Australian we are all migrants and refugees on
this land. We all came here searching for a better life.