Ang Kalatas Volume IV July 2014 Issue | Page 5

THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 4 Number 10 | July 2014 COMMUNITY APCO supports ‘Refugee Camp in my Neighbourhood’ At the launch of the ‘Refugee Camp in my Neighbourhood, a Somalian former refugee is flanked by Dr Cen Amores, APCO Founding President and Cr Le Lam of Auburn City Council, herself a former refugee. IT took six months in the making, 30 agencies and organisations to collaborate with and 40 refugees to train as tour guides. This is how the ‘Refugee Camp in my Neighbourhood’ project came about. A SIMULATED refugee camp situated in the grounds of Auburn Centre for Community along Macquarie Road in Auburn was launched last month led by Auburn Councillor Le Lam, herself a former refugee. The project is a joint community education initiative of the Auburn community to highlight the personal stories of local Auburn residents and their jour- neys to Australia. The exhibition aims to dispel common myths about refugees and asylum seekers in Australia and celebrates the positive contributions of refugees to the community. Tour participants had the opportunity to meet and engage with people from local refugee communities and organisations that work with them. Joining the launch were Dr Cen Amores and Ruben Amores, founding president and current president of APCO respectively. The week-long exhibition featured several activities that presented the cultures of the countries where most refugees came from. Activities included cooking classes, film showing, forum and book reading presented by Edison yongai, author of ‘No Name for Refugees’. Prep for HSC test THE University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Australia – New South Wales Chapter is inviting expressions of interest for its plan to hold a Chemistry review course in Western Sydney during this month’s school holidays in preparation for the Higher School Certificate examinations. The tutorial will be conducted by UP Chemistry graduate, Christine Paul (PhD). With more than 10 years teaching experience both here and overseas, she has been helping students prepare for exams in HSC Chemistry as well as in the first year university level. Knowing which topics a