Opportunities and Challenges of Newly Migrant Societies - Nepalese Context

[Nirvana Events]

“Hami Sabai Nepal Aama ka Santan yo desh Australia ma aausar KO khoji
ma aayeka hau--Hain ra? Hamro Australian Dream! Yo garchu, Tayo
garchu…..hamro bidesh KO sapna.”

But our experiences tell us that the zigsaw becomes harder to solve
upon arrival. We see that the grass here is no greener than what we
left behind.

Alas! Our dreams vaporise into thin air. Now you become desperate and
need help.

Being the strong headed as you are, you repeat the words of Ann
Landers “opportunities are usually disguised as hard work so most
people don’t recognise them.”

The above statement is failing in NAYA Australia. You turn every stone
in your reach but you still fail.

Finally, you look for help but with hesitation. The only wise people
you can think of are the Purno Manche, you knock on their door and
tell your story.

They carefully listen, nod their head in perfect synchronization with
that wise gentle smile on their face, he/she remains silent for a
while, then finally, with serious look on their face, the words of
wisdom is whispered into your ears, “No worries mite, yaha yaastai ho,
hamile ta ajha kasto dukha gareko thiyau; bhada maaja, clean gara,
Nepal ko experience ra sapana lai goli mara, haha..Haha I
understand ....no worries mite.”

Big bang!! And that is the end of your dream……now the change occurs
……..this is a racist country followed by “if this -then that”
……..tantrums and more tantrums.

My friends the point that I am trying to make is that there are
challenges for migrants in a new country.

But I come from the school of thought same as Travis White who said,”
Dreams can often become challenging, but challenges are what we live
for.”

Let me restate the obvious, moving a house from one suburb to another
is an upheaval task .Migrating from one country to another obviously
is.

Nevertheless, Australia prides in being a multicultural society. It
has a long history of immigration.

According to department of immigration and multicultural affairs since
1945 more than 7 million people from more than 200 countries have
settled in Australia. More than 300 languages including (indigenous
languages) are spoken in this country.

The same source states that 45% of Australians were born overseas or
have at least one parent who was born outside the country.

Exodus of people has occurred for various reasons in the history but
the beauty is successful integration of these migrants from which the
Australia’s development stems. In context, Nepalese migrants are
fairly new arrivals into this melting pot. The main reason for this
movement is for search of better opportunities AND ample opportunities
we have in our new home.

But the opportunities are obscure due to challenges of social
inclusion. Social inclusion are the challenges of finding job
opportunities, accessing services or making a meaningful contribution
back to Australian society in social,economic,political and
environmental dimensions. However, these are challenges commonly faced
by migrants irrespective of country they move into or not unique to
migrants in Australia alone.

The good news is that we are new arrivals and the government has
tested structures in place to overcome such challenges. But In the end
it comes down to the individuals to take charge of their lives and
take actions to overcome such challenges.

For example to secure a job one should equip themselves with adequate
skills that are in demand in the local job market. If you have
language barrier you should invest time and money to learn the local
language.

If you have problem mixing with the wider community you should try
hard to engage in local activities. THERE IS NO MAGIC WAND FIX.

My argument is that is you are in charge of your life in line with the
rational decision that you have made as an adult-to make a new life in
a new country.

Having said this I also strongly believe that government of Nepal,
Nepalese community based organisations in Australia (nCBO) can play
more proactive role to help overcome these challenges.

For example, government of Nepal should closely monitor the activities
of migration/educational agents who have been exploiting the students
by directing them to a wrong path with an ulterior motive.

The trouble and hard times the student have to go through due to such
misguidance can be turned into flames as we saw September 1 2005 in
Nepal where all the labourers torched the employment agency in the
wake of Nepalese killings in Iraq .

Simple program like conducting workshops (prior to leaving Nepal)
providing induction and orientation on Australian life, education
system, job markets etc in conjunction with nCBO can throw light on
the expectation vs. reality.

From nCBOs prespective, they can design programs aimed at helping
students and migrants overcome challenges of social inclusion.

For example, organising workshops on the local job market, forming job
clubs to help share experience of others , provide information to
access right services to acquire skills etc will be widely applauded
than efforts to mirror trends of Nepal ,which in my perspective a
waste time.

No wonder, in a recent poll in www.mrsnepalaustralia.com 60% of the
voters said that nCBOS have failed to have pragmatic policies,
programs or road map for welfare of Nepalese living in Australia.nCBOs
should have clever ideas to work for welfare of students and migrants
in like manner. Most of the students feel neglected by the community.
Simple gestures are enough to get them more involved.

For example, help students with their pressing issues like
accommodation search; nCBOs can create a body to closely monitor the
activities of illegitimate hostel operators who provide students with
service of a third world country and exploit them.


Nevertheless, I also urge students to think and rethink of their
decision to go out of the way for permanent residency; this will cost
you a career and sacrifice of the field of study that you are
passionate about.

How many of you have seen people pursuing studies and ultimately
career that they dreamt after long years of struggle just to get a
Permanent Residency?

In this globalised world where borders are disappearing, it is
important to equip yourself with adequate skills which are the
passport to live and work where ever you wish.

NCBOs with planned coordination among themselves can play a vital role
in stopping this brain drain and most importantly brain rot of our
youths.

You might argue that students are not responsibility of the Nepalese
community based organisation. But we know that 95 % of them will stay
back and will be part of the community in coming years .If we do not
address critical issues facing them ,we will regret a big time in
years to come.

If necessary please change the policy/constitution/objective to make
it an inclusive platform. After all policies or constitutions are man
made and have to be changed as scenario changes.

I have heard in grapevine with no solid evidence, that many people
involved (taken up positions) in various nCBOs are solely engaged for
commercial (business) benefit and have always created hurdle to those
who are there to bring positive changes. They have successfully made
nCBOs handicapped, disabling the true social worker in the team to
bring meaningful programs and structures for change. Something worth
discussing.

Lastly, “Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work so most
people don’t recognise them.” AND “Dreams can often become
challenging, but challenges are what we live for.”

No matter what the circumstances and challenges are: we can fix it
with positive attitude and coordinated team work.

Jai Nepal/Advance Australia Fair.