A Million Stories, One Community: Cecil Celebrates Refugee Week

A Million Stories, One Community: Cecil Celebrates Refugee Week

This year's Refugee Week theme, "A Million Stories," marked a powerful milestone for  Australia has now welcomed one million refugees through its humanitarian program since 1947. Once again, Cecil paused to honour those journeys and celebrate the strength, courage, and resilience of those who have sought safety on our shores.

Term 2 Week 9 opened with a dedicated Focus Refugee Week Connect presentation, followed by a full week of Connect activities  that invited our school community to reflect, learn, and show compassion towards others.

The highlight was our Refugee Week Lunch, a warm and joyful gathering where refugee students and their families joined staff, senior leaders, and invited guests. Tables were filled with traditional Iraqi dishes lovingly prepared by refugee parents, alongside pizza and refreshments. Guest speakers Liliane Utamuriza, Maldeena Banyameen Matti, Saarah Hajjar, and Fayhaa Alzuhairi moved the room with their stories of courage, loss, and determination to rebuild , while refugee students and parents added their own powerful voices to the conversation.

Behind every statistic is a story of fear and sacrifice, but also of incredible hope and resilience. These stories shape the diverse, vibrant nation and the Cecil community which I am proud to be part of.

At Cecil let's carry the spirit of Refugee Week beyond a single week, and continue building a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, regardless of their journey.

- Imeelya Jameel Year 11 and Ms Marilyn Rattos Refugee Coordinator 

Ms M. Rattos, English