By Taylah Eastwell
Innocent Karabagega can envision the day he sees the multitude of crime stories involving African-Australians replaced with front page spreads of his people excelling academically, and is urging others to bestow the same belief in the African community.
In a talk at the Federation University Berwick campus on Wednesday 4 September, Innocent told students and academics of the life changing opportunity that the Australian government gave him that urged him to begin giving back to the Australian-African community.
After fleeing his war-torn country of Burundi in 2010 and losing both of his parents to murder, Innocent spent considerable time in Uganda and Kenya as a refugee.
“Being a refugee there was a critical time, I was unwell,” Mr Karabagega said.
Now excelling as an inspirational 26-old father of two, husband, brother and law student, it’s hard to believe just nine years ago Innocent was on the verge of death after being poisoned in his home country.
Innocent believes he would have died if it weren’t for the good Samaritan who took him to hospital, where he spent almost a year recovering. Innocent was looked after by the UNHCR before being given a second chance at life by the Australian Government.
“I thank everyone who comes from a tax payer’s family, the privilege you give us as migrants to come into society and accept us, to go to school and gain skills, it is something we do not take for granted,” he said.
Innocent spoke about his vision of building a bridge between the Australian government and African communities. He believes that by sharing what he feels is right from an African perspective would be beneficial to create a more inclusive society for all.
“At the moment there are no politicians focusing on African matters in Australia. Politicians are the ones who can better transform the ongoing issues within African communities,” he added.
“When I talk in schools I hope the young people understand that Africa is a continent with complex issues. You may see an African making a mistake but their mistake does not represent the whole continent”.
Innocent assured the crowd the majority of Africans in Australia are willing to learn how to socialise in the broad Australian community, urging the government to create more jobs to enable them to stay out of trouble.
“It’s like you going to Africa and you are not given the opportunity to work because you don’t speak French, how would you feel. You’d wish the workplace would accept you the way you are. Nowadays African issues stem from employment, education and mindset,” he said.
With only a semester left of his law degree, Innocent dreams of representing Africans and Australians in their criminal matters.
“I feel like I’m representing my community and my family and by the time I practice I think it would be a good image for Africans to see someone from their own background in the courts.”
