Sudan to Tamworth Stories of Resilience, Hope and Transition

The Sudan to Tamworth project documents a series of journeys taken by Sudanese and Australians. It focuses upon the transition and resettlement experiences of Sudanese migrants. The project was funded by the Federal Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship and is a partnership between 3 New England organizations Evolveris, Peaceworks and Social Ventures Media. Sudan to Tamworth opens a window into their aspirations, hopes and outlines the crosscultural learning journey that occurs through this project. These conversations allow us to reframe these refugee migrants as hardworking local heroes. Forced to leave their homes as a result of the interlinked impacts of climate change and armed conflict, the Sudanese in this film have journeyed through many countries before arriving in the New England. The digital film consists of a series of conversations and events that capture the interactions and reflections between Sudanese migrants and members of the New England Community. It opens a reflective space in which stories are shared, relationships are forged, and communities enriched. We have used the community digital filmmaking genre to help retain an intimate, realistic, no frills and sometimes touching picture of how friendships have developed across Tamworth and New England. We feel it is a positive story about cross-cultural learning, human resilience and hope. We feel this film opens up a space for a deeper understanding about what this refugee community brings to a regional centre. A key aim of the project helps raise awareness about some of the difficulties these displaced people have experienced. It allows the Tamworth Sudanese community members to engage with Australian regional communities and to build more understanding and enhance social cohesion. The project allowed us to run digital media skill development workshops for Tamworth Aboriginal students in storytelling and to mentor a local Sudanese man who documented his return to Sudan. Parts of these 2 digital stories from Simons return to Sudan have been integrated into this film. We have utilized the musical talents of some of the Sudanese refugees from Tamworth to develop and record the film score. The group has been invited to perform at the premiere in Tamworth.

This project has presented opportunities for some young people to be mentored by a professional community artist. Out of this, Evolveris and its partner Peaceworks have been able to conduct similar community digital storytelling workshops in Fiji. Other local New England young community digital storytellers were able to further develop their skills in filmmaking in the context of this community project.

Creating Cohesion Through Story We feel there is potential for this film project to be used as a reflective learning tool for regional stakeholders and government to re-think how we can more effectively support the Sudanese and other refugee migrant groups to find their own space. The Sudan to Tamworth is a partnered initiative of 3 local New England Organisations. The projects supporting stakeholders include the New England Institute of Technology (TAFE) and Tamworth Regional Council and was funded by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

Building Peace Across the Pacific - Australasia

Social Ventures Media its role. The brief from Evolveris for Sudan To Tamworth was to provide the media technologies that would help to open up the spaces into which the Sudanese migrants and other members of our communities in Tamworth & Armidale could speak and be heard to tell their stories of how they have fared with resettlement since the Sudanese first arrived here, over 5 years ago; to reframe the Tamworth story in the here and now. The commission was to record digitally document - these conversations, stories and community activities over the life of the project and publish a package that sums up the project its goal and outcomes. The SVM approach to this was to open up the technologies and processes of media production to the community of participants, with whatever technologies and skills sets were available within that community and to provide informal mentoring and training in these areas wherever needed. Over the year the community of people who were drawn into the project have created the content and formed a learning network around storytelling and digital media creation. Together we have: conducted and been the subject of interviews; filmed and photographed with digital video cameras, digital stills cameras, mobile phones and SD Card pocket video camerasrecorded audio of commentary and songs; used web based content management systems, Skyped, Blogged, used online media and document hosting services, edited digital stories, engaged with the print & broadcast media.trialled, tested and learnt how to use dozens of software technologies yes even Twittered. Every technology employed or piece of hardware used is what any community in Australia has at hand accessible to any one with a story to tell. Our stories are not solely the domain of the film/documentary maker, the producer or the news room or the TV current affairs program the media industry. What stories do they want to tell about us? How do they represent our personal truths? Some of us were new to these things, some of us developed our existing skills all of us were committed deeply to telling and capturing the stories of how our Sudanese brothers and sisters and other members of the community have fared with resettlement in rural & regional NSW. The digital document we are showing publicly is many things as was Sudan To Tamworth it is an audio visual essay, a project log, an oral history, a collection of yarns and memories, accounts of experience, an exploration of rich media documentation, ethnographic study, personal points of view.... It borrows from the conventions of photo-journalism, documentary making, digital storytelling, media interviews, music video clips, magazine articles, oral history, media mashing whatever would do the job in the moment.

At its heart is story tellingwithin a community, for that community above all, by that community. Sudan to Tamworth generated hundreds of hours of conversation, captured about 30 hours of those and many hundreds of stills.spanning the globe from Sudan to Tamworth, Armidale, Lismore, Sydney and even Suva. This edit is only a tiny slice of the range of content there are potentially another two or three pieces in the raw material from the contentious to the painful, the positive and the negative. And as alwaysthere are the moments that got away - off-screen or between takes.that only a story told in the old way can now bring back. Ill close by saying thanks to everyone involved, especially to Helen, and express my admiration and respect for our Sudanese friends this country can only benefit from the best of what they bring hereand they offer it so generouslyour start is to listen to what they have to sayto their stories. And they will have found home.whether its back in Sudan or in regional NSW or even the cities - as these become our stories too. Laszlo Szabo Social Ventures Media

Evolveris and Social Ventures Media would like to formally thank the Armidale community for their ongoing support and encouragement over the last year. Thank you. We hope you enjoy the evening. Helen Swain Kate Jones Laszlo Szabo (SVM) Rebecca Spence Mick OLoughlin