When Mark’s piano was destroyed by an airstrike on his Aleppo home, one of his joys was destroyed with it. Playing the piano for over a decade, the teenager turned to music for comfort and to escape the hardship of life in war-torn Syria. Last Saturday night, 130 people were moved by the tale of his journey from Syria to Australia, and his piano performances at annual open mic night, Sounds of the Southwest.
The Sounds of the Southwest team truly believes that stories have the capacity to change us. They encourage young people to perform a variety of acts (musical items, spoken word pieces, cultural dances and even circus routines) to raise awareness and funds for Anglicare’s Migrant and Refugee Services. Last Saturday’s event raised almost $1,000 for the organisation.
When Sarah Milne, who coordinates the event, first learned of the injustices faced by people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds it made her feel “sick and angry”. Sarah, a member of St John’s Park Anglican Church, works with Anglicare’s Migrant and Refugee Services team helping people who have fled conflict and persecution overcome the challenges of settling in Australia. “Unfortunately they tend to be amongst the most disadvantaged in society through no fault of their own.”
Through Sounds of the Southwest, Sarah hopes others will become more aware of the obstacles that many migrant and refugee families face, and that this will increase community compassion and support while recognising the vital role they play in Australian society. “This is important for people changing discourses,” she says. “They are people just like us, who just want peace and certainty. We should support them however we can as their neighbours and friends, and we also need to recognise their contribution.”
Saturday’s attendees certainly saw what a contribution they make. “It’s definitely worth doing again,” says Sarah. “Because we had refugee speakers, there’s the opportunity for everyone to walk away with greater understanding.”
Listen to Mark's story in his interview with SBS World News.
