‘Obweiy’ - Nauru’s school of hope
A team of Salvation Army personnel on Nauru (Catharina and Paul are second and third from right in the front row.) (Photo supplied by Major Peter McGuigan)
Amongst The Salvation Army’s team in the first three weeks of its Nauru mission have been Catharina Simmonds and Paul Perrett, both Bachelor of Education students. When they signed up for Nauru, little did they realise that working with asylum seekers would draw upon every ounce of their education skills. Now back in Australia, Catharina reflects on her experience…
Education provides people with the ability to empower themselves and create change in their lives. It is no different, in fact even more critical, for asylum seekers. Gaining access and power over the predominant language in which policies are written, interactions with staff occur, and meetings and interviews are held, gives them a sense of autonomy over their lives in a situation where they feel powerless. It gives them a voice.
I could see this the moment I arrived at the Nauru asylum seeker camp, called Topside. There was another passionate educator in our Salvation Army team, Paul Perrett, and within a couple of days we were running our first English language classes using paper and pens, music, expressive gesturing and laughter - frequently at the expense of ourselves. By the time I left Nauru, there were at least five sessions each day, with up to 20 people attending per session, sometimes more.
Language
Our classes ran for 45 minutes with a beginner and intermediate class for each new group of arrivals. Students always arrived early and stayed back afterwards. On one occasion, they stayed back for nearly an hour. Classes were all run outside under whatever shaded area we could find, and frequently moved from one spot to another depending on what was happening where during the day.
Paul and I drew upon each other’s experiences and abilities to co-teach the classes. Paul would frequently sit down one-on-one with men that needed extra support, as I continued teaching the class as a whole. Almost all of our lessons were taught without a translator, as we were able to interact and connect with the men more freely. Many of the men who had a greater level of English-speaking ability also volunteered their time and assisted those in the beginner classes. The love these men showed each other was an incredible witness to their character, and it was a real blessing to teach them. Other Salvation Army team members also assisted.
Sustainability
Along with teaching the men English, we saw an incredible opportunity to teach them about issues of sustainability. Issues frequently come up in the camp that many of the men have never considered or experienced before. For example, washing their hands in certain ways and using washing machines.
A series of questions would go something like this: “Who washes their hands?” “What do you wash your hands with?” “When do we wash our hands?” “How?” “Why?” The men laughed at my interpretation of a washing machine, and Paul and I sniffing each other to explain the concept of dirty clothing. We laughed just as hard when one of the students told us: “No, teacher only little bit dirty.”
Music and art
God provides. Every resource that the school received created such a sense of joy. We found a pair of maracas and from then on used them to sing songs and the ABCs. When we got coloured pencils, the men were all able to have a creative outlet for the first time.
Their drawings expressed their feelings in a range of ways. One man drew a picture of The Salvation Army shield. Many drew their voyage by boat with words such as, “Please save us”. Others drew their homes, and family.
Hope
The work that The Salvation Army does in Nauru, including the English language school, means so much to the men there. On my last day of teaching, each man shook my hand and thanked me for teaching them. One of the classes wrote and all signed a request that I stay on the island to teach them. Running the classes, and getting to know the men in them, was a great blessing and joy to me. It was an experience I will never forget.
We named the school Obweiy, which means “hope” in Naruan. There are more educators in the next Salvo team so it is our hope that the school continues with the love that it started and gives the men a greater hope for their future, especially for when they finally find freedom.
God has given us a place in Nauru to work with these men in faith, hope, and love.
Catharina Simmonds is a fourth year student at the University of Sydney completing a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education honours degree. She has taught English to students with diverse capabilities, taught refugee students in schools, run English-speaking language classes, and intends to teach English in Cambodia at the end of this year. She hopes to continue teaching refugees and asylum seekers post-university.
Comments
There for God and to bible bash, eh? I heard the salvos were only there to provide a service. I knew there would be more sinister motives and I don't feel comfortable with my tax dollars being used in this way.
@Jason: How anyone could see the work described above as "Bible bashing" baffles me. I was there on the site and witnessed first hand what was being done. These were two newly graduated teachers simply moved by the desperate plight and hopelessness of this group of men who responded by doing what they could....they took their skills and the limited resources they had and offered them, and by so doing they created a school of hope.
The asylum seekers they worked with loved it. They would plead for more classes. I watched them take what they had learnt and practice for hours amongst each other. They sang songs, they taught words, they acted out phrases, there was laughter and joy in these classes. I don't think I ever heard the word God mentioned once.
But you're right about one thing Jason, God was there!.....present in these two young people sacrificially giving their time in a harsh environment for others.
God was there as our staff ran cricket tournaments and taught English, and played board games , and manned the internet room, and made phone calls and sat in the heat and just patiently listened to heartbreaking stories of hardship and pain.
Jason, we don't bible bash anyone, but we make no apologies for bringing God into the darkest, most desolate places as we show kindness, and provide care and seek to dispense hope.
Paul Moulds
Director Salvation Army Off Shore Processing
You are breaking the law and conspiring in the breaking of human lives.
Shame on the salvos.
You are clearly great supporters of offshore processing and the human righs abuses of this government. Why is it the Salvos keep coming out and saying conditions on Nauru are fine?
I am sure that there are a significant number of Australians who, like me, are so glad that there are those who are ready, willing and able to put aside their own lives and comforts for a few weeks to go and make a difference in the lives of those who were not blessed to be born in a country as blessed as our own. Of course the situation they are in is recognized as being a long way from ideal (and that's a massive under-statement, if ever there was one) - no matter what your views are on the issue of asylum-seekers - but the Salvation Army is doing what they have always been there for - to serve suffering humanity, wherever they are, and regardless of whether or not they deserve to be there! Thank you from those who appreciate this work for its true motivation and purpose.
I am an Australian teacher who has also had the opportunity to teach in less than favorable conditions overseas and i celebrate the great humility of those teachers who sacrificed their time to teach in Nauru and the refugees as this is a noble cause. We should not mix religion, politics and the refugees issues with the work being done by the Salvos. I am not a Salvo myself but i am prepared to give at least one year of my time to go and help in Nauru if The Salvos ever need someone. I find the abuse and insulting comments as vain and un-educated biased incited by mass-media interpretations. I am however respectful of others views and comments, but don't share their values of Human Rights and human dignity. Human Rights are basic rights enshrined for "EVERYONE" under the flagship of the UNITED NATIONS. No one has the right to remove it from another and Education is a basic fundamental human right. There is no harm in educating someone, it can only make this world a better place. I give a standing ovation to the Salvos and those teachers who are helping.
I am currently teaching ESL to international students at an Australian tertiary institute. Many of the students I teach are from the Middle East and I have learned so much from them about the difficulties they face in there home countries. Consequently I now take a very strong interest in the on going asylum seekers debate/saga and feel that I can empathise with the people who have found themselves in stagnation/detention at a time in their lives when they want to be building a life for themselves and their families. This is a complex issue with no immediate solution. In the mean time it seems as though the Salvos are doing their best to extend basic kindness and humanity to people in desperate circumstances. I would like to have the opportunity to use my teaching skills in a situation where the need is so great. Can you let me know the procedures for applying to teach in Nauru?
Regards
Narelle Clarke
Paul Perrett was my primary school class teacher. Every morning when I went to school, he would tell the class devotions about how he got to know God and he also told us about all his missions to countries. I loved it! I'm going into year 7 now. I'll miss him so much. I'm thinking about joining the salvation army and going out into the world with my teacher. Thank you for everything Mr. Perrett!!