Ansumana Koroma
Human Rights Award 2007:
“For his work in giving hope and direction to new African
Tasmanians with their settlement and future.”
Awarded December 2007
“Thank you for honouring me tonight as we seek to strengthen
those bonds that bring us together in this common struggle for all.”
 The Journey
Ansumana has overcome many challenges: the ravages of civil war,
life in a refugee camp and starting again in a country with a
completely different political, social and cultural system. He is
sustained by the strong community and religious values of his
family, both Christian and Muslim, who cared for him after his
mother died when he was 5.
Sierra Leone (his West African country of origin) has an
eventful history, but was relatively prosperous while he grew up.
After gaining a degree and teaching qualification, Ansumana taught
for some years, and then became a manager with a private transport
company. All this was to be destroyed when war spread throughout
Sierra Leone and neighbouring
Liberia, fanned by rival factions from the north and south-east,
mismanagement and corruption. Ansumana and his family escaped to
Guinea-Conakry and a refugee camp with those who had lost homes,
friends, relatives and everything that made up their lives. He says
that life in refugee camps depends on the strength and values of the
communities within them. If the community is stable, then it’s
possible to move forward, and rebuild.
Ansumana did just that. His qualifications were recognised and he
worked in programs, first with the
International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and then the
International
Rescue Committee, helping people survive, recover and rediscover
ways to healthy living and strong communities. Relying on his core
values, strength and teaching background he gave support to the most
vulnerable: youth, the aged and disabled, and single women. He also
worked with kids who’d disappeared into the streets of
French-speaking Guinea. Some had been child soldiers, all were
traumatised in one way or another. Once found, they were helped to
recover and stabilise during a year in special Centres, then
re-integrated to one of the camp communities, as similar to their
community of origin as possible. He also helped sensitise people in
the camps to the plight of these youths, and their need for
acceptance.
This time spent building bridges amongst the different communities,
and with overseas aid workers strengthened his commitment to the
need for different cultures and groups to learn to understand,
respect and care for each other.
In 2002 Ansumana sought resettlement, looking for a long term future
for his family. He chose Australia, but Tasmania was a surprise for
them, and he is deeply appreciative of the welcome and support they
have received here. He points out that “the challenges facing our
community (African) here are numerous and not easy. There are
cultural issues, social issues, family issues, problems for our
children who adjust far quicker than some of us do as adults but who
still have their own problems, and of course problems finding jobs
and housing among many.”
Ansumana now works with the Department of Health and Human Services
as a Youth Justice Community Development Officer, and spends much of
his own time assisting the new African communities to take up life
successfully in Tasmania. As founder member of the Sierra Leonean
and Liberian Association, his work and example have been of enormous
benefit to new African and existing Tasmanian alike. He has five
children, including a daughter now living in Sydney, and his son has
recently been selected to represent Australian on an international
tour playing
Futsal (indoor football).
Above all, Ansumana Koroma is an articulate spokesman who promotes
communication, mutual understanding and tolerance between
communities.
What drives him?
Ansumana is passionate about helping the African community settle in
Tasmania, and equally passionate in his desire that the Tasmanian
community should develop a greater understanding of, and sensitivity
to the African community in their midst. He has held fast to his own
core values, sustained by his religious faith, and love for his
family and community, through times so hard that most of us cannot
imagine them. He believes that as long as you’re accepted into the
community, anything is possible.
He also believes strongly in the benefits of knowledge and education
– that out of knowledge comes opportunity, and understanding of the
wider world, and different cultures. In that respect he has
continued to study and broaden his qualifications since coming to
Tasmania.
Actions are important to him, working to overcome problems and move
forward. And bridges matter – bridges between communities, between
people, between faiths “...we have to build bridges of
understanding...”, he says. For him this is based on mutual respect,
dignity and concern for the rights and welfare of his fellow human
beings.
His advice
“We see ourselves as citizens of the world,
irrespective of colour or race, and take Tasmania as our home.
“We should be prepared, ready and willing to make our
own positive and meaningful contribution to this land of peace,
security and freedom endowed with lots of opportunities”
(Discussion/Interview, Radioafrica 99.3, 10/12/2006, 6pm)
- Parental and moral support is important – spend time with your
family and love them.
- Be yourself, and look at the good side of things
- Make your own contribution, just go for it
- Let’s adjust to the culture, while still maintaining the good
aspects of our own
- Respect and obey local law, and fulfil our obligations and duties
-
Never stop learning
Concerns
- Tasmania has been welcoming and supportive,
but the job situation here is hard, and there is a need to
sensitise the Tasmanian community to learn about the refugees,
and accept them fully
- The challenges for the African community
cover a broad spectrum. The people come from varied backgrounds
and cultural groups. There is the trauma and loss that led to
them being here in the first place; the need to adapt to a new
culture, attitudes and way of life; employment and housing
issues; adjustment to practical things such as different kinds
of houses, managing finances, sometimes improve language skills
and literacy. There is the need to find acceptance within their
host community, and find the right balance between the new
culture and the old.
Humanitarian Activities
Ansumana’s time in the Guinea-Conakry Refugee Camp, West Africa was
spent working with the
International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies , then with
the International
Rescue Committee to identify and support the most vulnerable
such as the elderly, disabled, unaccompanied minors, single mothers,
and those subject to domestic violence, through counselling and
assisting victims of trauma, and sensitising camp residents to the
need for good, healthy community living. He helped to trace, support
and reintegrate young people, traumatised by their experiences, away
from street life into refugee camp communities.
In Tasmania his paid work reflects his commitment to youth and
community, working with the Department of Health and Human Services
in the areas of Disability Support, Child Protection and Referral
and now as a Youth Justice Community Development Officer, where he
co-ordinates Community Service Orders for young offenders, and
develops projects, programmes and activities to assist them.
His voluntary work and community involvement is extensive, and
always aimed at assisting the promotion and understanding between
African community and the wider Tasmanian community.
The Committee is supported by the
Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. For more
information about nominations for the Award, or Human Rights Week
activities please contact Santi Mariso, Conciliation and Community
Education, Tel 03 6216 4427, or Email
santi.mariso@justice.tas.gov.au
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