Local Government Case Studies
Enfield
Telling stories of refugee escape and resettlement
Goal
Educate the wider community about the Cambodian refugee and settlement experience in South Australia.
How?
A display that told stories about Cambodian culture, the war years during the 1970s, and the suffering experienced under Pol Pot. It also described life in the refugee camps in Thailand and about the journey to South Australia.
More …
Council's Community and Cultural Development Officer was approached by the Cambodian community to assist them in the development of a display called Stories from cardboard boxes; survival of Cambodian refugees in South Australia.
The very successful exhibition was on display in the Community Access Gallery of the Migration Museum in Adelaide for several months. It was particularly relevant at a time when discussion of refugee issues is dominating our political life.
The Cambodian community came together to write the text, select the photos and objects and to decide on the layout of the exhibition panels. Many organisations, including the City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council, supported them in this work.
The exhibition has had many spin-offs and currently the council is again working with the community, this time to make a banner which acknowledges the Cambodian community, their culture and their contribution to South Australian society.
Contact
Hanlie Erasmus
Community and Cultural Development Officer
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Telephone: 08 8405 6848
Email: herasmu@portenf.sa.gov.au