By BRIDGET COOK
THE surf was up at Point Leo beach on Saturday as a group of refugee students from Cranbourne Secondary College hit the waves for a fun and educational experience.
Point Leo Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) hosted 18 Cranbourne students, predominately from Afghan, Sudanese and Pakistani backgrounds, on Saturday to take part in an activity aimed at equipping them with basic water safety skills to pass onto their family and friends.
The event also aimed to promote surf live saving to the wider community and show that anyone can get involved.
Young members of the SLSC were matched with the Cranbourne students of the same age.
The day involved a presentation on water safety, with words of advice from Afghan-born volunteer lifesaver Kazim Mosawi, a pick-up rescue demonstration, a board rescue involving the students and boogie boarding.
The City of Casey Multicultural Youth Programs Officer provided the three Muslim girls in the group with the water hijabs.
Cranbourne Secondary College principal Ken Robinson is a member of the SLSC and, along with club committee member Andrew Welsh, organised the day for a number of reasons.
“It was a great opportunity for cultural exchange,” he said.
“Some of our kids from refugee communities haven’t had access to these types of programs,” he said.
“It was also a great experience for the lifesaving youths, as it exposed them to the lives of some of these refugee teens.
“They learnt how some of them work 35 to 40 hours a week just so they can go to secondary school and sometimes live independently as their parents have been killed or still in their homeland.
“They got exposure to culturally diverse groups that they wouldn’t have otherwise.
“The Cranbourne students loved it and a few have expressed interest in how they can get involved in surf lifesaving.”
