After fleeing Iran and surviving a perilous boat journey to Australia, Hanieh Khamisi has found a new freedom: expressing herself in art.
The 14-year-old asylum seeker is helping to promote a fund-raising movie night in Yarraville organised by the Hobsons Bay Refugee Network (HBRN) and fellow refugee support group West Welcome Wagon.
Hanieh describes the final part of her journey to Australia as scary.
“We had stress and worry,” she said. “I went from Iran to Dubai and then from Dubai to Jakarta and then from Jakarta to Christmas Island.
“We lived in Jakarta about one and a half months, and after that we were on the water about four days then on Christmas Island about one month and a half.’’
The year 9 student at Hoppers Crossing Secondary College said Iran was “a beautiful country” but unsafe.
While at school, Hanieh discovered her artistic abilities after drawing a picture of a cat for one of her teachers.
She has been honing her skills in the Williamstown home studio of pastel artist Dorothy Page, co-founder of the HBRN.
The two have been drawing birds of prey in the lead-up to a film fund-raiser for asylum seekers, featuring the premiere of Australian movie Healing at Sun Theatre.
Set at Healesville Sanctuary, the film tells the story of a broken man from Won Wron prison who is taught to rehabilitate injured raptors as part of a healing process.
Ms Page says money raised from the $20 film tickets will be used to buy reconditioned fridges and washing machines for asylum seekers on “no advantage” visas, who are living on as little as $3 a day.
“They’re not allowed to work,” Ms Page said. “The adults are not allowed to do any formal study. The children are allowed to go to school, fortunately.”
The film screens on Thursday, May 8, from 7pm.
