Coming Up
Community Meeting
When: 29th of June 2008
Time: 3:00PM
Where: Level 2, 289-293 Barkly Street Footscray Vic 3011
Call for Demonstration by Oromo Community
When: 10th of June 2008
Time: 11AM
Where: The Victorian Parliament House
OROMO COMMUNITY PEACE RALLY, 10 June 2008
Second Round Oromo Youth Forum
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
You are cordially invited to attend the second Oromo youth forum to be
held on May 18, 2008. The forum is an avenue for young Oromo people to
come together and voice their ideas, passions and interests, in a safe
and supportive environment. The ultimate goal of the forum is to bring
Oromo youth and the broader community together, promote a sense of
pride in being young Oromo Australian as well as solidarity among
Oromo youth by supporting each other and contributing to the
development of a healthy Oromo community in Australia.
Theme: Empowering and Inspiring Our Youth
Date Sunday 18 May 2008
Time 3:00 PM-6:00Pm, Please be on time
Place: Level 2, 289-293 Barkly Street
Footscray Vic 3011
OROMO COMMUNITY PEACE RALLY, May 06 2008
PRESS RELEASE
OROMO COMMUNITY PEACE RALLY
5th May 2008
The members of the Australian Oromo Community Association in Victoria protest against the divisive policies of current Ethiopian ‘Tigrean’ lead regime based on the following facts:
We came to this country as political refugees seeking humanitarian assistance and descent life. It is a fact that we fled a repression employed by the current minority ‘Tigrean’ led government of Ethiopia leaving members of our family back home.
Here in Australia we are very much settled along with many other groups from that country (Ethiopia) accommodating our differences as we embrace Australian way of life.
Read More
The Delegates from Hell - Ethiopia
The Australian Oromo
Community Association in
Victoria would like to inform the
Australian authorities and public
that the current delegates from
Ethiopia are not true
representatives of the nations
and nationalities in the Ethiopian
Empire. Read More
The first Oromo Youth Forum held on April 27, 2008 in Melbourne
successfully completed
The first Oromo Youth Forum held on April 27, 2008 in Melbourne
successfully completed. The forum was attended by a good number of
Oromo youth representatives, invited guests from Department of
Immigration and Citizenship, Community Liaison officer, Multicultural
Affairs.
The forum is an avenue for young Oromo people to come together and
voice their ideas, passions and interests, in a safe and supportive
environment. The ultimate goal of the forum is to bring Oromo youth
and the broader community together, promote a sense of pride in being
young Oromo Australian as well as solidarity among Oromo youth by
supporting each other and contributing to the development of a healthy
Oromo community in Australia.
The forum was marked by keynote speeches delivered by Prof. Jemal
Abawajy and Mr. Tarekegn Chimdi. Prof. Abawajy informed the youth
that they should be prepare to be future leaders. He stated that
educational qualifications, in an increasingly professional society,
to be an important part of defining them. He urged the youth to stay
in school and through graphs and charts, Prof. Jemal showed how
education and training increases their chances of getting better jobs
in the future. Mr. Chimdi discussed the gross human rights violations
and incalculable material destruction inflicted by the Ethiopian
government against the Oromo people. He told the youth that, as we
speak, many Oromo youth and elderly are being killed, forced to quite
schools simply for being Oromo.
The youth were asked to identify the problems that they face, and the
ensuing discussion yielded many issues and challenges confronting the
Oromo youth in Australia. Some youth were unhappy with school and may
have problems learning, low self-esteem, or issues at home that make
it hard for them to feel connected to school. Young Oromos who left
school have trouble making the transition towards secure employment.
Some were not in study and were either working part-time, unemployed,
or not in the labour force at all. They continue to be disadvantaged
in many ways, both financial and social. The problems that the newly
arriving young Oromo face including homelessness issues were also
discussed. Another area explored was how to involve and provide a
voice to government and community on issues of importance to them.
Practical approaches to alleviate these problems were also discussed.
To make Oromo youth aware of the opportunities that are available to
them and the need for a positive role models and support to youth to
realize their independence were discussed. The attendees agreed to
furnish positive role model to the youth and expand social activities
of the Oromo youth through education, sports etc... They also agreed
to work with the Australian Oromo Community to help new arrivals of
Oromo youth to Australia to build their skills and capacity through
programs designed to render language education, vocational training,
immigration support and social service. The youth agreed to involve in
developing their knowledge about local youth support services, the law
and police and criminal justice procedures.
Last but not least, to strengthen the communication and thereby share
different ideas regarding their identity, culture and history of Oromo
people, they agreed to maintain regular contact with each other via
phone and/or e-mail.
Oromo Youth Forum
The aim of Oromo youth forum is to identify the needs and issues facing Oromo youth in Australia
Date Sunday 27 April 2008
Time 3:00 PM
Address Level 2, 289-293 Barkly Street
Footscray Vic 3011
Invited Guest
Belinda Duggan, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Community Liaison Officer, Multicultural Affairs
Goya Bennett, Journalist, Moonee Valley Community News
Professor Jemal Hussien Abbawajy, Deakin University
Tarekegn Chimdi, Monash University
Program Outline
3:00pm Registration
3:15pm Skill Shortage in Australia: Training and Education in the Oromo Community
Professor Jemal Hussien Abbawajy,
School of Engineering and Information Technology, Deakin University
3:45pm Human Rights campaigning & advocacy for Oromia
Tarekegn Chimdi, human rights defender ,
Protection of Human Rights , Geneva, Switzerland
4:15pm Needs and issues facing Oromo youth in Australia
6:15pm Closing remarks, Aliye Geleto
Australia 2020 African Community Summit
Oromo Community with other African Community took part in the Australia 2020 African Community Summit which has taken place on 17 April 2008 at Collingwood Senior Citizens Centre
Hosted by Lindsay Tanner MP, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
African Community 2020 Summit Communiqué
Introduction
On Thursday 17th April 2008, Lindsay Tanner and members of the Melbourne African community held a summit.
The African Community 2020 Summit addressed a range of economic and social issues of importance to the African community.
This communiqué captures the ideas and sentiments expressed by African community leaders. It is aimed to act as a channel for discussion for delegates to the Australia 2020 Summit.
Session 1: Social Inclusion
Families
There is a strong need for an increase in family reunion spots for the immigration intake.
The restrictions on immigration, due to the reduction in African immigration under the Howard government, have made life very difficult for many African migrants. Preventing families from being together creates much hardship – it is emotionally distressing for many families to be separated for long periods of time. The Citizenship test is also a barrier to entry into Australia because it acts as a deterrent for people in Africa to migrate to Australia, and it is also perceived as discriminatory against African migrants.
Click here to read more.
Cultural week 20 March 2008, Flemington Community Centre
2008 Cultural Diversity week Gala Dinner ,,,,a spectacular evening of entertainment with community, government & business leaders to celebrate Victoria’s cultural, linguistic & religious diversity.
Oromo Graduation and cultural performance 16 Dec 2007
A Report on the most Wonderful Oromo Graduation Ceremony, December 16, 2007, Melbourne, Australia >>>By Pro Mohammed Hassen and Toltu Tufa >>>> OSA Newsletter March 2008
Oromia Soccer Team , Africa Cup, Nov 2007
Multicaltural Eid Festival
Jesuit Social Services & Oromo Community with other African Communities organized remarkable Multicaltural Eid Festival on 20 October 2007
Kayyo Oromo
Community get together (B.B.Q) 3 March 2007 at the Footscray Park
Oromo Community have organized a Peace Rally on 13 February 2007 in Melbourne Australia to create public awareness to the massive human rights abuses that have inflicted upon the Oromo refugees in Somalia at the hands of the Ethiopian Government
