Press Clippings 5

taken from Footscray Mail

SAIL PROGRAM

by Billy Crossland

THE Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning Program [SAIL], has been helping Sudanese refugees learn English for two years. The program celebrated its second birthday with a concert on Saturday. SAIL is based at the All Saints Anglican Church in Footscray, and assists Sudanese people from across the western suburbs. It currently has 250 students, and 185 volunteers. SAIL survives on funding from the Order of Malta Trust and the Anna Wearne Trust.

Co-founders of the program Matthew Albert and Anna Grace Hopkins are excited about its success so far.

" They are the fastest growing ethnic community in Victoria,'' Mr Albert said. "We were accidentally there from day one and the Sudanese community has built up around the SAIL program."

Mr Albert praised the work of the volunteers, who he said take many benefits from their roles. "They are a phenomenal group of people- we have people travelling enormous distances to be involved in the program,'' he said. "It's a place of exchange rather than giving and receiving. It's a place for people to share their experiences and gain friendships and seek the support of other people.''

Ms Hopkins said she had found her work with SAIL to be very rewarding. "When I started there was five children who we helped, and it's been in credible to see those same five children settle in and grow and change, and what they've got to offer,'' she said. "It's really special to see those five children are still involved in the program.''

SAIL has also benefited recently from the Victoria University Community Initiatives Program, where students from the Footscray campus have spent two days a week working to restore the building.

Billy Crossland
Journalist
Fairfax Community Newspapers

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