Australia has a long and complex history of providing a safe haven for those fleeing persecution, a tradition that has profoundly shaped our social, cultural and educational landscapes. In my own work as an educator, writer and traveller, I have had the profound privilege of witnessing this transformation from two distinct vantage points: through my […]
Bang, bang, bang! The abrupt, sharp sound reverberated through the thin walls of my Can Tho hotel room at exactly 4:30 AM. It was an urgent and impossibly loud pounding on the door that ripped me instantly from the depths of a heavy, humid sleep. I scrambled out of bed in the dark, my mind
Karaoke, Commerce, and Culture: An Unfiltered Morning on the Mekong Read More »
The 2014 genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidi people in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq led to the violent displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, systemic sexual enslavement, and the tragic loss of countless lives. In response to this catastrophic humanitarian crisis, Australia opened its doors, specifically focusing its
For those of us working in education and advocating for displaced populations, the classroom—or the writing desk—is never neutral territory. When teaching Yazidi students, we are working with individuals whose primary language, Kurmanji, has become an act of defiance against a history of erasure. Understanding why many Yazidis harbor a deep aversion to the Arabic
In the quiet, ancient villages of the Sinjar mountains, childhood was once defined by an oral tradition dating back millennia. That peace was shattered on August 3, 2014, when the Islamic State launched a genocidal assault on the Yazidi people. As an author, I have spent much of my recent work attempting to capture the
Red Dust and the Peacock Angel: The Journey of Iraq’s Lost Generation Read More »
Australia’s identity is not a static monolith; it is a vibrant, evolving mosaic. As an English teacher working with adult learners, I have a front-row seat to the profound impact of this diversity every day. My classroom is a microcosm of the world, where students from vastly different backgrounds bring their unique stories, perspectives, and
The Strength of Our Mosaic: Why Multiculturalism Matters Read More »
Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult learners who possess low or no literacy skills—often referred to as LESLLA (Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults) learners—presents a unique and profound pedagogical challenge. In my own work, particularly when supporting adult Yazidi students, I have witnessed firsthand that this is not merely
Breaking the Silent Barrier: Teaching English to Non-Literate Adult Learners Read More »
An integration of academic landscape with real-world teaching, youth mentorship, and the narrative of refugee displacement. Introduction: From the Page to the Classroom In my three-part book series exploring the harrowing realities of refugee displacement, I have often written that forced migration strips a person down to their barest vulnerabilities. Yet, as my writings emphasize,
The Living Archive: Personalizing the Yazidi Linguistic Landscape Read More »
As an educator working with adult Yazidi students, I quickly learned that our lessons extended far beyond the classroom curriculum. To truly know the Yazidis, an ancient, indigenous ethno-religious minority primarily hailing from the Nineveh plains and the Sinjar region of northern Iraq is to understand their fierce resilience. Throughout a long history marked by
A Culinary Journey Through Yazidi Culture: Food, Symbolism, and the Sacred Grain Read More »
My appreciation for the culinary arts has been deepened in the most unexpected ways through my work as an educator. I have had the privilege of being introduced to the rich, aromatic world of Syrian desserts by some of my own students—talented individuals who, before joining my classroom, worked as professional chefs in Syria. Through
A Sweet Journey Through Syria: Origins and Traditions of Syrian Desserts Read More »