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A new grassroots organisation hopes to tackle racism and support vulnerable members of Canberra’s migrant communities. The Multicultural Association of Canberra was established by Nishi Puri in response to the need to communicate better between cultural groups and advocate for their needs during the COVID-19 crisis. “This multicultural association is more holistic in nature and will embrace all the cultural community organisations that exist in Canberra,” Ms Puri said. The committee has representatives from Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Africa, Sri Lanka and India. It aims to be apolitical and non-religious while establishing lines of communication with ACT law-makers. In partnership with the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra, the association has started a social group for seniors which meets at the Forde Community Centre for a subsidised meal and entertainment, such as ballroom dancing or learning computer skills. “One of our objectives is to look after the vulnerable in the community… so that the social isolation that the seniors are facing can be handled,” Ms Puri said. The group will also aim to support international students and recent migrants who may feel isolated. Ms Puri said migrant children were still subjected to racism at school and needed to build resilience when coming to a new country. “We want to lobby and advocate with the schools that they should have some policies and procedures in place that the migrant children feel welcome when they come, that when they come to the new country they’re not intimidated and scared of going to school.” She said Canberra was much more diverse now compared to when she first migrated from India in the 1990s. READ MORE: The Multicultural Association of Canberra was officially launched at an event at the Legislative Assembly on Monday, attended by members of the three major parties and the High Commissioner of India, Gitesh Sarma. Multicultural affairs minister Tara Cheyne said it made perfect sense that this organisation had formed off the back of the tumultuous year that was 2020. “I really look forward to seeing what they can contribute, but especially for me as a Multicultural Affairs Minister, you know, having those those touch points into the community is so invaluable,” Ms Cheyne said. Opposition leader Elizabeth Lee said she looked forward to working with Ms Puri and her team. “The multicultural community of Canberra never ceases to amaze me with their passion and their dedication to contributing back to the city that is giving them so much,” Ms Lee said. “So I congratulate Nishi and her team for this great initiative and I really look forward to being able to work with them but also see what they achieve.”
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A new grassroots organisation hopes to tackle racism and support vulnerable members of Canberra’s migrant communities.
The Multicultural Association of Canberra was established by Nishi Puri in response to the need to communicate better between cultural groups and advocate for their needs during the COVID-19 crisis.
“This multicultural association is more holistic in nature and will embrace all the cultural community organisations that exist in Canberra,” Ms Puri said.
The committee has representatives from Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Africa, Sri Lanka and India. It aims to be apolitical and non-religious while establishing lines of communication with ACT law-makers.
In partnership with the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra, the association has started a social group for seniors which meets at the Forde Community Centre for a subsidised meal and entertainment, such as ballroom dancing or learning computer skills.
“One of our objectives is to look after the vulnerable in the community… so that the social isolation that the seniors are facing can be handled,” Ms Puri said.
The group will also aim to support international students and recent migrants who may feel isolated.
Ms Puri said migrant children were still subjected to racism at school and needed to build resilience when coming to a new country.
“We want to lobby and advocate with the schools that they should have some policies and procedures in place that the migrant children feel welcome when they come, that when they come to the new country they’re not intimidated and scared of going to school.”
She said Canberra was much more diverse now compared to when she first migrated from India in the 1990s.
The Multicultural Association of Canberra was officially launched at an event at the Legislative Assembly on Monday, attended by members of the three major parties and the High Commissioner of India, Gitesh Sarma.
Multicultural affairs minister Tara Cheyne said it made perfect sense that this organisation had formed off the back of the tumultuous year that was 2020.
“I really look forward to seeing what they can contribute, but especially for me as a Multicultural Affairs Minister, you know, having those those touch points into the community is so invaluable,” Ms Cheyne said.
Opposition leader Elizabeth Lee said she looked forward to working with Ms Puri and her team.
“The multicultural community of Canberra never ceases to amaze me with their passion and their dedication to contributing back to the city that is giving them so much,” Ms Lee said.
“So I congratulate Nishi and her team for this great initiative and I really look forward to being able to work with them but also see what they achieve.”
