Helen recalls tearing up on her first day of school in Australia, feeling overwhelmed by not knowing how to communicate.
Born and raised in Iraq, the former Sydney Catholic Schools student and her sister Nadeen had a tumultuous start to life, constantly facing the looming threat of persecution from militant groups.
In a country where Catholics make up less than one percent of the population, the sisters and their parents relocated to Australia via Lebanon, seeking better opportunities, a higher quality of life and the freedom to practice their faith in peace.
In 2020, fate led them to Sydney Catholic Schools’ Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), and their academic future quickly became one of optimism, brimming with newfound potential and opportunities.
The CEF supports a number of refugee students via bursaries across 39 Sydney Catholic Schools, easing financial burdens and supporting families academically, emotionally, and spiritually.
“The opportunity to study in a Sydney Catholic School was one of our parents’ main goals. Catholic values align perfectly with who we are as a family. Without the CEF’s support, our parents wouldn’t have been able to afford to enrol us at our dream school, and it gave them significant peace of mind,” Nadeen said.
Starting high school in Year 10 and Year 11, when most students already have established friendships, took significant courage. Additionally, the pressure to perform well academically was immense.
“I struggled with understanding the accent and often joked about needing subtitles. However, through the CEF’s support, intensive English programs and a nurturing school community, we overcame these obstacles,” Helen said.
Helen and Nadeen truly returned their parents’ persistence and dedication in ensuring their daughters had every opportunity available to them during their academic journeys and beyond.
Despite the multitude of challenges and a couple of early exam results they’d prefer to forget, both sisters dug deep, each graduating with astonishingly high and impressive ATARs: 95 for Nadeen and 97 for Helen.
“Our number one motivation was our parents; they gave up their dreams to get us to where we are now. The smallest thing we could ever do is make them proud,” Nadeen said.
“My other motivation was honestly to show to everyone and to prove to myself that our circumstances, where we came from, and our challenges are never a reason to stop improving and seeking excellence. It’s changing the mentality from being a victim of your challenges to being a survivor that makes the whole difference.”
“In terms of motivation I also cannot forget my sister’s amazing ATAR; she was one of the biggest reasons why I stayed motivated because she seriously raised the standards,” Helen adds.
Nadeen is currently pursuing a degree in architecture at one of Australia’s most prestigious universities, driven by a passion for drawing and mathematics. Helen is studying biomedical engineering, also at a top Sydney university, with her compassion and desire to help others serving as her inspiration.
CEF Supervisor Kathleen Badolato regularly receives heartwarming feedback on what the support means to refugee students like Nadeen and Helen, and their families.
“Our current refugee bursary students and alumni are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to receive a Catholic education, especially considering their parents arrived in Australia after enduring numerous hardships, and often without money or job prospects.
“When a student shares how they can freely practice their Catholic faith without fear within a school environment, and how they’ve found a sense of belonging for the first time in their young lives, it truly underscores the mission of the CEF,” Mrs Kathleen Badolato said.
Thanks to their family’s courage, their own determination, and support from Sydney Catholic Schools’ CEF, Nadeen and Helen have achieved and will continue to achieve more than ever thought possible.
About the CEF
The CEF provides financial support to nearly nine per cent of all students currently enrolled across Sydney Catholic Schools.
Since 2020, more than 2,966 refugee students have received the gift of a Catholic education. The CEF needs your support to continue its important mission.
