SINCE arriving in Darwin as a refugee from the Republic of Burundi in East-Central Africa four-years-ago, Savera Harerimana has managed to turn her live around and gain her first ever qualification and full time employment.
After losing her husband during the civil war that ranged from 1993 to 1995, Savera fled to Tanzania, where she lived for 11 years in a refugee camp. Unable to return to her country and fearing for her life, Savera sought help with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and arrived in Darwin with her three children in 2007.
Determined to create a safe and rewarding life for her family, Savera decided to take her love for caring for others a step further and enrolled in a course in the STEPS Northern Territory Aged care Project. Studying was a hard decision for Savera, who left primary school after grade two in Burundi when her father fell terminally ill and her family lost their source of income to pay for her education.
she said. I got a lot of support and mentoring through WISE Employment and STEPS assisted me greatly with my language and literacy issues. ”
After six months of hard work and studying, Savera recently graduated with a Certificate III in Aged Care. She now works at Carpentaria Disability Services as a disability support worker. t have aged care facilities or disability support centres in my home country. I am glad that I can help people who need assistance with their day to day functioning and find the job very rewarding.
Savera said she felt honoured to be given the opportunity to share her story with other people and hoped that other women were encouraged by it. ”
Northern Territory STEPS team leader, David, said the local team have had great success in working with refugees to provide training and skills for potential employment. David said. They are so willing to work and get out there and up skill themselves so they can support themselves, just like Savera.ve had great results in assisting our students in finding work afterwards. ”
PHOTO: Savera recently joined several prominent Territory women at The Northern Institute inaugural International Women’s Day celebration themed “Equal Access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women” at CDU on 8th March 2010.
