Banansio seems like a normal 26-year-old living in the western suburbs – he plays soccer, goes to the gym and loves meeting new people.
But the Hoppers Crossing resident’s back story is quite a contrast.
Born in Sudan, he was kidnapped at the age of 15 and lost all contact with his family. He spent some time at a Kenyan refugee camp, before arriving in Australia three years ago and being reunited with some family members.
Since arriving, Banansio has struggled to find ongoing employment.
“Last year, I applied for a course in civil construction and I was told my English wasn’t good enough,” he said.
But his future is looking brighter thanks to a program called Ucan2 Active.
The settlement and work readiness program supports the social inclusion of young people from refugee backgrounds and assists with recovery from trauma and settlement in Australia, making young people “job ready”.
“I’ve learned a lot of things, like how to do better at job interviews and understanding the expectations of Australian employers,” Banansio said.
His participation in the course has paid off – Banansio has been accepted into the civil construction course for which he was rejected last year and is looking forward to his future in Australia.
Ucan2 Active, run by Foundation House at AMES in Footscray, will also be delivered at the Hoppers Crossing Youth Resource Centre in partnership with the Werribee Huddle from October next year.
