Dim Thian Cing came to Australia from Burma on the first day of winter in 2018. She remembers the pleasure of the cold fresh air on her arrival at Tullamarine Airport.
Within a month she was studying English at Yarraville Community Centre, adding to her native Burmese and Siyin Chin. Before coming to Australia she spent six years in Malaysia, and understands Malay and Chinese, but ‘doesn’t speak very well’.
She is currently enrolled in the AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program) in Footscray. The experience of being a student at YCC has confirmed for her that, ‘Education is everything. I love learning new things, and the teachers always give me encouragement’, she says with a beautiful smile.
Dim smiles a lot. She sees her future as full of possibilities. ‘They teach more than English here’.
She gives examples of excursions and training that have added to her ability to settle into her new life in Melbourne, such as work experience, employment and educational opportunities and an understanding of rights and responsibilities. She said that her teachers at YCC have helped her to gain practical living skills and knowledge about housing, shopping, car ownership, public transport, and sporting and welfare organisations. She enjoys the camaraderie of being with other students from other countries
After further English study, Dim wants to train as a police officer: ‘I want to help people’. In preparation, she is working on her physical fitness, regularly running in her local area.
‘I love that Australia has Refugee Week. It shows that people care.’
For more information on any of our programs please call 9687 1560 or email info@ycc.net.au
