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.