By Alesha Capone
Truganina mother Rahima Ahmed wants to help children have a brighter future.
Ms Ahmed is facilitator of Oromo Women’s Networking Group and Wyndham Bright Young Leaders program.
She said that within the networking group, which is for women from the Oromia region of Ethiopia, there were 21 mothers with more than 75 children who need support with their homework.
She also has friends from other cultures who need homework help for their children.
Ms Ahmed, a Wyndham Interfaith Network participant, met Pam Frank – from the Church of Scientology – through the group in 2019.
Last year, Ms Frank organised projects and a tutoring service for children during the pandemic lockdowns.
Volunteers helped the youngsters with their homework during the lockdowns via online conferencing tools, such as Zoom.
However, many of the volunteers have since returned to work and cannot help out anymore.
Ms Ahmed is now seeking volunteers to help the children – who are mostly in primary school – as part of an in-person homework program, after school and on weekends.
Ms Ahmed said that many migrants could not help children with their homework, due to speaking little English, limited access to technology and needing to work to support their families.
However, Ms Ahmed said that studying was important to help children succeed in the future.
She said that “our children are our future, they’re also our leaders.”
“Helping our children with their homework would be great, it will reduce pressure from family and help the success of our children for their future and the future of Wyndham,” she said.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer as a homework tutor must have a valid Working with Children check.
Contact: rahima1987@yahoo.com.au to find out more about volunteering.
