Refugee Fulgence Ntahomvukiye made it to Australia from Ethiopia in 2018 knowing only basic English.
But after undertaking six months of free language classes at TAFE, he now teaches those who have gone through similar struggles.
Mr Ntahomvukiye, who has just completed a Bachelor of Government and International Relations and volunteers at TAFE’s Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), says it took him and his family five years before he could call Australia home.
“I was working in Ethiopia as a diplomat and with our countries over there, the situation can be stable but there is no permanent peace,” he said.
“So when the situation changed negatively, I just decided I should take my small family, who I love, to a refuge because I didn’t want them to be persecuted.
“Now we are living, not surviving.”
Mr Ntahomvukiye says while his native tongue is Kirundi, he grew up speaking three other languages in Burundi, which helped him pick up English quickly.
“I came from a country where English is barely spoken,” he said.
“When you know French, it’s always easier to learn some English.
“But I was lucky to learn a bit of English there (in Burundi).”
Mr Ntahomvukiye says he was inspired by his teachers at TAFE to pay it forward after he completed the AMEP.
“They truly listen; especially my teacher, she was so good that I always talk about her,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been to school or not, they will help you.
“There are people who start from scratch and come out knowing how to write and even speak.”
TAFE’s Senior Educational Consultant Karen Grice says the program often plays an important role in helping people like Flugence make meaningful connections and settle in Australia.
“He really loves to give back to the program and support people who’ve been through a similar journey that he has,” Ms Grice said.
“We often find volunteers learn just as much from spending time with the person that they’re helping as well.”
Ms Grice says AMEP has fully qualified English language teachers as well as volunteers who teach topics “that meet the students’ immediate needs”.
“We build their skills, and we get them ready for future training and employment,” she said.
“The other model we run is a partnership between Community Hubs Australia, and we run English classes in what we call Community Hubs.”
In the Logan area there are currently five community hubs run throughout different primary schools; Marsden State School, St Francis College, St Paul’s Primary School Woodridge, Woodridge State School and Woodridge North State School.
“Anyone who has a reasonably good grasp on English can volunteer; we just put them through a training program and support them in their journey with volunteering.”
The AMEP is government funded and is available to those who are eligible at TAFE’s campuses in Loganlea and Browns Plains.
