PAUL'S PICKS [Book Reviews of Publications by Local Authors]: "A Resilient Life: One Woman's Refugee Journey" by Mariam Issa
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[Book Reviews of Publications Penned by Our Community's Local Authors]
Mentone
Public Library is committed towards promoting local history and the
local literary talent of the City of Kingston and surrounding
municipalities; the Cities of Bayside, Glen Eira and Port Phillip in the
Bayside region of Melbourne Australia.
Mentone Public Library is pleased to have recruited Paul "Percussion & Poet" Karp to source and review the local literary pearls of publications you might be yet to discover.
This month Paul's book review pick is:
by Mariam Issa
Mariam Issa's 2012 autobiography is
a vivid account of her life, from a simple, largely idyllic early
family life with her mother (Hooya) and siblings growing up in Somalia
and coastal Kenya. Her school years kindled her love of reading and her
thirst for knowledge. The epic-scale wedding preparation, then
celebration, of firstly her sister's arranged marriage, followed by her
own wedding, are entertainingly detailed. She briefly enjoyed a more
prosperous life starting a family when Somalia became war-ravaged and
she fled with her children by overcrowded boat to Kenya and became a
refugee. Ever thankful for the providence of gaining an Australian visa
she embraced the challenges and greatly appreciated the rewards of a new
life for her family. Mariam's story is a rewarding read by a bayside
author from a unique cultural perspective.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
We were privileged to have Mariam speak at Mentone Public library
on Saturday, 3rd August 2013.
Mariam spoke candidly about her traumatic experiences of oppression and forging a new life in Australia.
Despite the hardships earnestly presented, Mariam was anything but a beaten down woman.
Before us stood an inspiring woman emulating empowerment, strength, warmth and love through her daring to be open and vulnerable.
Miriam's biographical brief on her website describes her odyssey to emancipation as follows:
"Mariam Issa arrived in Melbourne from
her Somali homeland in 1998 with her husband, four children and a fifth
on the way, and little knowledge of Australian life. Today she has
established herself in Melbourne as an inspirational public speaker,
author, storyteller, intercultural facilitator, dedicated community
builder, social cohesion champion and social entrepreneur.
In
2012 Mariam launched her autobiography - A Resilient Life- which shares
her refugee experience and story of determination to persevere despite
immense hardships she faced growing up in a culture and nation dominated
by clans and tribalism, patriarchy and superstition, to then overcome
the vast cultural differences and challenges of inclusion in Australian
life.
In that same year she
co-founded and incorporated the not-for-profit organisation and
community garden RAW (Resilient Aspiring Women) in the backyard of her
own home in Brighton, where the Australian government settled her and
her family. Forged from Issa’s inspirational trust and determination to
serve and build community around her RAW aims to support women’s
resilience through intercultural dialogue and exchange faciliated by
activities of storytelling, cooking and gardening.
Mariam
continues to share her experience and commitment to improving refugee’s
lives by sitting on the board of Asylum Seekers Resource Centre,
serving as an ambassador for Refugee Council of Australia and a Director
at Family Peace. She is an International Women's Forum member and
co-founder of Space2b, an art and design based social enterprise
established to support asylum seekers, refugees and newly arrived
migrants. She was recently awarded the Ambassador of Peace award from
the Universal Peace Federation - in recognition of her on-going work
promoting social cohesion amongst Melbourne’s culturally diverse
population. She is regularly invited to speak to different community
groups and featured in national Australian TV, radio and press."
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