The Association of Hazaras

in Victoria is committed to

serving refugees and mi-

grants with their settlement

in Australia. Our celebrated

driving project is the pas-

sionate exemplar of our

efforts for such dedication

with minimum resources

and limited support. Time

in Traffic is a new initiative

of our Association in part-

nership with Adult Multi-

cultural Education Services

(AMES). The aim of this

project is to help newly

arrived Afghan women

refugees, who never had a

chance to drive in their

country of origin, to obtain

their driving licenses and

become safe road users.

Volunteers are needed to

supervise our learner drivers

and practice driving with

them. This would be the

same as you might do for

your family members.

Learner drivers are already

provided with a series of

classroom based workshops

on road rules and driving.

In addition, the students

will receive a number of

initial driving classes from

professional instructors.

However, due to funding

limits and a large of num-

ber of learners we need

volunteers to spare their

time and help these women

gain enough practical ex-

perience before they go for

their (P) driver’s license.

To participate, volunteers

need a full drivers license,

a good driving record and a

willingness to help.

Training for volunteers

and cars are provided by

AMES. We do have high

priorities for the safety of

everybody and have the

necessary measures in

place in terms of insur-

ance and liability.

If you are interested in

making a difference to

the lives of these refugee

women and make them

feel welcome, why not

join us in helping them?

For further information

about this program

please contact our pro-

ject manager Tina on

0400 446 696,

or Abbas Amiry on

0434 306 038.

Volunteers needed!

Above: Students attend a series of theoretical classes on Road Rules & Safety

Our organizational aims are:

To assist Afghani refugees and migrants with their resettlement in Australia.

To bring the Afghan community together and promote their active participation in Aus-

tralia’s multicultural society.

To support human rights, democratic freedoms and the rights of ethnic minorities in

Afghanistan.

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Volume 2, Issue 8

February 2009

Number One in Serving the

Afghan community in

Australia

Editor: Mustafa Najib

“Our hearts and minds are with you.” To the victims of Victorian Bushfires

Volunteers needed!

Our Volleyball team

Inside this issue:

―The aim of this project is to help newly arrived

Afghan women refugees, who never had a chance

to drive in their country of origin, to obtain their

driver’s licenses and become safe road users.”

The Association of Hazaras in Victoria wishes to express support and deepest

sympathies to the individuals, families and communities who have been devastated by

the Victorian bushfires over the past weeks. We urge our community to give generously

to the Bushfire Appeals and help in anyway they can.

knows the importance of that.

However, we play sports together

because it is important for me and

my teammates to be healthy,

positive and keep in touch with

each other in a new country where

time is gold and people very busy.

Our volleyball team, Melbourne

United, is well-known in our

community as well as other

Afghan communities. We have

two active groups that train every

Sunday in Hallam Senior College.

In South Eastern suburbs, we also

participate in a competition around

the City of greater Dandenong

every season.

We also attend the Afghan Austra-

lia-wide volleyball tournaments

held twice a year in capital cites

around Australia. The Melbourne

United volleyball teams comprised

of grade A & grade B, have been

the dominant team in these tourna-

ments having won the champion-

ship four times in a row. That

makes us all proud and happy. We

are also proud to have the Associa-

tion of Hazaras in Victoria as the

main supporter of the two active

teams.

The next round of these

tournaments will be for two days

on the 11th and 12th of April this

year during the Easter holiday.

Anyone interested in watching

these games are most welcome.

For more information just contact

Arif Hamdam on 0422742673.

Thanks.

By: Arif Hamdam

It seems to me that time here in

Australia is going faster than it

was in Afghanistan. Some people

may not believe what I am saying

and it might sound funny, but in

reality, time is running faster in

Australia. The reason is simple;

you are always so busy with your

life and often you do not have

enough time for other things. Days

and nights are short and you are

always in a hurry to do things.

So life is so busy here and you do

not get to do other things. My

teammates and I are doing our best

to join each other and spent some

of our precious time by playing

volleyball. This is a hobby which

is fun and we feel that we are not

wasting any of our golden times

while we get a chance to be to-

gether and catch up.

I am not going to describe the

value of sport here as everybody

Page 2

Our volleyball team „Melbourne United‟ wins the Afghan Australia-wide tournament in Sydney

QUA RT ER LY NE WSLET TE R

―we play sports together because it is

important for me and my teammates

to be healthy, positive and keep in

touch with each other in a new

country where time is gold and

people very busy.”

Above: Our volleyball team ‘Melbourne United’ wins the Afghan Australia-wide tournaments in Sydney (December 2008).

The Association of Hazaras in Victoria is a not-for-profit organization

established in April 2002 to assist Afghan refugees in Australia . We

endeavor to provide essential settlement support to Afghans and to bring

the Afghan community together and promote their active participation in

Australia’s multicultural society . We also support human rights,

democratic freedoms and minority ethnic groups’ rights in Afghanistan.

The challenging and diverse work of the Association is carried out by a

management committee of 11 members, elected biannually.

22 Grace Park Avenue

Springvale VIC 3171

PO Box 7268

Dandenong VIC 3175

T HE ASSOCIATI ON OF H AZARAS

I N VI CT ORI A INC.

Phone: 0421 180 637

E-mail: najib332@gmail.com

www.bamyan.org.au

The Association of Hazaras in Victoria is planning to celebrate “Nawroz” the Afghan New Year on the 3rd week of March 2009 with food, music and fun. This also coincides with the Victorian Cultural Diversity Week.

Everyone is welcome to join us!

To find out more about the program & for contributions to this program please contact: Arif Fayazi on 0438 199 170 or email: arif_f2006@yahoo.com.au