A CULTURAL leader has been awarded for her contribution to the African community in the west.
Victoria University Ethiopian migrant and community engagement adviser Elleni Bereded-Samuel was last month named one of Australia’s 100 most-influential Africans by the Celebration of African Australians.
The awards showcased the contribution of African Australians to the country’s growth and prosperity.
Ms Bereded-Samuel says she was honoured to be recognised alongside doctors, musicians, educators and other leaders. “It is very humbling to be recognised for work that I love doing,” she says.
Sunshine lawyer Kot Monoah was also honoured at the awards. The 30-year-old, who was born in southern Sudan and now lives in Wyndham Vale, received the outstanding young leader award.
Ms Bereded-Samuel, who moved to Australia 16 years ago, has established a program that encourages VU education students to complete work placements with African communities in Brimbank, Kensington, Flemington, Melton and Wyndham. “The aim is to help teach these future teachers about the complexities of African students so they have a better understanding of how to interact with them when they begin working in the western suburbs.”
In July, she launched a landmark research project that will document the experiences of western suburbs residents from Ethiopia. Ms Bereded-Samuel said there were about 4000 Ethiopians living in Brimbank, Maribyrnong and Wyndham and hundreds more in Flemington.
She told the Weekly it was refreshing to focus on the “beautiful side of Africa”.
“Too often people are hearing about the bad side of Africa through the media . . . the starvation politics and bad management of the nation. But there are high achieving and intelligent ambassadors for the Africa living in Australia doing things to slowly change people’s perceptions.”
Ms Bereded-Samuel was one of 40 leaders selected as a ‘People of Australia’ ambassador by Prime Minister Julia Gillard earlier this year.
