Asa Namajana and Prosper Mahingha fled to Australia with their six children seeking safety and security.
Almost a decade later, the Congolese pastors have dedicated their lives to “bridging the gap” for Logan-based refugees and migrants.
“When we first landed in 2015, it was very hard in the beginning because everything was new to us,” Ms Namajana said.
“New language and new environment, no licences and a big family to take care of.”
She soon formed the Jesus Gate of Peace International Ministries Church, where alongside her husband, Prosper, she formed a group teaching women English and sewing skills.
The church has since partnered with Tafe, the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland and Thrive Logan to deliver programs.
“We essentially help them through connections and guidance through multiple organisations depending on what their needs are,” Ms Namajana said.
“This is done through conferences, trainings and connecting them with job seekers organisations, advocacy, transportation, training them how to drive and much more.”
She said refugees and migrants faced major challenges that made navigating the local community difficult.
“Firstly, there is a huge language barrier which makes it extremely challenging for them to get jobs and on top of that they don’t have any licenses or any knowledge of the new environment that they are now a part of,” Ms Namajana said.
The couple’s latest step to “bridge the gap” comes in the form of the Multicultural Paths to Intergenerational Peacemaking Conference on later this month.
The conference will feature keynote addresses by community leaders, interactive peacemaking circles, panel discussions, and workshops on topics like conflict resolution, respectful communication, and empathy.
“The Multicultural Peacemaking Conference is important because it provides a platform for individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and collaborate on strategies for resolving issues and promoting understanding,” Ms Namajana said.
“As with many migrant communities, elders in this community often find it difficult to pass down their cultural values and traditions to the younger generation, who are growing up in a vastly different social and cultural environment.
“This disconnect can lead to misunderstandings and a sense of cultural erosion.”
The conference is on Saturday 28 September at Griffith University Logan Campus.
It is a free event, with sign-in starting at 8.30am and the conference running from 9.30am-4.30pm.
