The WOW Launch - Saturday 22nd June 2013

Back row: (LtoR) Harrison Htoo Po Kyaut, Bernad Ngendakumana, Mars Drum, Shauna Stringer, Yasmin Harradine
Middle row: Abraham Rajput, Hozaira Ahmad, Madhu Annathurai, P'Leah Htoo Po Kyaut, Buket Akiz, Yaren Akiz
Front row:  Soe Son Di Shwe Ta Lee, Sarah Htoo Po Kyaut
Absent: Yvonne Ndayikeze, Tina Kalenzo, Sentia Kamikaze 

Bernad Ngendakumana quotes: "Life is a journey. I'm glad it has brought me to Horsham"  
This has been installed now in stainless steel at the entrance to the library.

Madhu Annathurai, stunning in her Tamil dress: 
"Two countries so far apart, Yet both are homes in my heart"

Soe Son Di, looking so fabulous in her traditional Karen dress: 

"I know I belong when I feel calm and safe. I feel safe in Horsham"

Yaren Akiz, whose "My house is beautiful. My heart is warm. I love it here." is now installed on a seat in Firebrace St. There I am trying to remember exactly how Yaren's piece goes...

P'Leah Htoo Po Kyaut poses in her traditional Karen dress beside her seat: "In my world, every day, everybody would greet each other with a smile"

How could anyone not smile back at P'Leah?

We will be taking more photos of the WOW writers beside their work as it is installed around Horsham.... Watch out for Buket, Sarah, Harrison,Tina, Shauna, Bernad, Yasmin and Yvonne.

Abraham Rajput with his dad, Magbool Ahmad, stand in front of Abraham's quotation on the Army Lane wall: "I remember my talent when I come here". Councillor Mark Radford was so impressed with Abraham's discovery that he has offered to personally pay for a new plaque to be made up with Abraham's words on it, and installed on a seat in Firebrace St.

Yasmin Harradine takes the microphone to read out her quotation:"I love learning about my culture", which graces the front of the Horsham library in stainless steel. Yasmin gave an important speech at the launch, welcoming all recent migrants in the WOW group and their families to Horsham. It was a very special and significant moment in Horsham's history, I think. Here are her words:
Hi, my name is Yasmin Harradine, I am Indigenous, and I am Wotjobaluk.

I was born in Horsham, the country of my ancestors.

I ‘belong to this land’ of the Wotjobaluk, the river, the trees, the sky and the air that we all share. 

I would like to welcome everyone here today to the launch of the WoW Project. I have made many friends with different cultural backgrounds during the WoW project, I WELCOME YOU and YOUR FAMILIES. 

Delki njaui means good day in Wergaia the language of my people.

Thank-you to Councillor Mark Radford and John Martin for their photos.