Africause
We are committed to celebrating these journeys because each story reminds us why we do this work, to see families thrive, children smile, and dreams that once seemed impossible come true
Real voices from our community sharing how Africause has made a difference in their lives.
When I was struggling in Year 11, I thought about dropping out. The homework club and mentoring program at Africause changed everything for me. The tutors didn't just help with my studies – they believed in me. Now I'm in my second year at university studying engineering. I want to give back to my community the same way Africause gave to me.
Coming to Australia as a refugee, I never imagined I could become a police officer. The Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program through Africause gave me the training, confidence, and support I needed. Today, I'm serving my community as a Police Officer, and I'm proud to represent both my African heritage and my Australian home.
The Empowering Women program was life-changing for me and my daughters. I learned about my rights, gained confidence, and understood how to access services in Australia. Now I can better support my family and help other mothers in our community who are facing similar challenges. Africause treats us with dignity and respect.
Dr Berhan and the Africause team have supported over 5,000 people in our community. When my son was at risk of falling into the wrong crowd, Africause provided mentoring that turned his life around. They understand our journey, speak our languages, and genuinely care. This is what community support should look like.
These are real stories of courage, determination, and success from members of our community who have transformed their lives with support from Africause
Pictured: Mr Stephen Mutton (Jesuit Social Services), Ms Fiona Bocksette (Victoria Police), Ms Kate Wadsworth (Jesuit Social Services), Mr Phil Brooker (Africause), Constable Birtukan Weaven-Cahill with Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, Ms Kate Savage (Victoria University)
Historic AchievementIn May 2021, Constable Birtukan (Birty) Weaven-Cahill became the first African Australian woman to graduate as a Police Officer in Victoria. Born in Ethiopia and moving to Australia in the early 2000s, Birty's journey represents a breakthrough moment for representation in Victoria Police and an inspiration for young people from African backgrounds across the state.
I fled Eritrea at 19 years of age in 2008, paying a smuggler to get us across the border. After three and a half years in a refugee camp, I arrived in Hobart, Tasmania in 2011, speaking no English and carrying no passport. Despite being put into temporary housing and facing initial resistance, I persisted in moving to Melbourne because I felt I needed to be surrounded by my community.
In 2020 I reached out to Dr Berhan at Africause for a job and to help my sisters in a refugee camp in Sudan. He put me onto Thrive Refugee Enterprise, and they assisted me with a loan and guided me to take on my own cleaning franchise, Keen To Clean.
Since starting in July 2020, my business is booming! I can't take on any more clients now. I now speak English beautifully and live in public housing with my three-year-old son and five-year-old daughter. I hope to buy a house and move to a suburb with a mix of all different sorts of Australians. I love being surrounded by all the African Australians in the commission housing, but I want more diversity and a safer neighbourhood for my children.
• Africause in partnership with TRE provides franchise opportunities including Australia Post and cleaning businesses.
Like many in our community, I was facing extended unemployment when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. What was already a challenging situation became nearly impossible. The job market froze, opportunities disappeared, and the future looked increasingly uncertain. During this difficult time, I reached out to Africause for help.
Africause didn't just offer sympathy – they provided real, practical support. They connected me with employment opportunities, helped me navigate the application process, and provided the encouragement I needed to keep going. Their team understood the unique challenges facing our community and worked tirelessly to create pathways to employment. Today, I am now a full-time bus driver with Transdev. This employment opportunity saved my life.
Common questions about our success stories and how to get involved
Our programs are open to African Australian community members. Simply contact us at (03) 9042 1604 or info@africause.org.au to discuss your needs. We'll help you find the right program whether it's education support, employment services, mental health resources, or migration assistance.
These are real success stories from real people in our community. We've changed some names and identifying details to protect their privacy, but every story represents genuine experiences and outcomes from our programs.
Yes! We'd love to hear from you. If Africause has made a positive impact on your life, please reach out to us. Your story could inspire others in our community. Contact us to discuss how you'd like to share your experience while respecting your privacy preferences.
We collect stories with full consent from participants who choose to share their experiences. Privacy and dignity are our priorities. We work with each person to ensure they're comfortable with what's shared and how their story is told.
There are many ways to help create more success stories in our community. You can volunteer your time as a tutor or mentor, make a donation to support our programs, partner with us if you're an employer or organization, or simply spread the word about our services to those who might need them.
Every donation helps us provide essential resources to those who need it the most. Join 10,000+ supporters making a real difference in our community.
