LHMU News
The best day of my life
Abuk Bol has rebuilt her life and her family, with a little help from LHMU
Proud hospitality member Abuk Bol just had a Christmas Day she will never forget — the day she finally saw her family again, after a decade apart.
Abuk is a graduate of LHMU Victoria’s Service Stars program which trains and places refugees and other disadvantaged people in real jobs with decent wages and conditions.
She now works as a food and beverage attendant with Spotless Catering at the MCG.
Ten years ago she was forced to flee her village in southern Sudan, with her father and two of her four brothers.
Their lives were in danger — a murderous civil war raged across her country.
In the chaos, the family became separated from Abuk’s mother and her other two brothers.
“We got separated in the war. We had to run away with my father and we didn’t know where my mother and brothers were. We were afraid they were dead,” Abuk said.
“We walked to Kenya. It took months.”
Abuk and half her family made it to a refugee camp in Kenya. They immigrated to Australia in 2004.
Slowly, Abuk built a new life in Australia: a home, school — and then a job, through our Service Stars program. But her family remained torn apart.
“My uncle phoned us here to say he had found my mother and brothers. We were so happy. They got to the refugee camp in Kenya a year after we left it,” Abuk said.
Abuk worked hard in her hospitality job — sending money back to Africa to feed her family and help process their immigration application.
“If I didn’t get a good job then all of this wouldn’t have happened. I am so grateful to LHMU for having a program like Service Stars.”
Abuk’s mother Rebeka and brothers, Mayen and Yach arrived in Australia on Christmas day. Abuk said this was the best day of her life.
“It feels so amazing. I have missed them very much.”
“I was so stressed all the time about how my mother and brothers were surviving over there. It is so nice not to have to worry anymore.”
Both Abuk and her mother have big plans for the future.
“Mum is very happy here. She thinks Australia is amazing. She is looking forward to learning how to read and write.”
“I will be helping mum settle in and then I will be able to go back to school — then I want to travel the world,” she beamed.
