South-Sudanese children are ‘copping it’ in Aussie schools

SOUTH-SUDANESE children are “copping it” in Aussie schools because “hate and fear”, says a new video advert which has started to circulate on social media.

SOUTH-SUDANESE children are “copping it” in Aussie schools because of “hate and fear”, according to a new advert — which has been supported by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

The clip, which will start circulating on social media later today, says hundreds of families in the community are “frightened” because of what they have been through.

It asks that viewers to give the children of these families a “wave and smile” as they return to school this week.

It comes after national media coverage of a string of high-profile violent incidents in Melbourne over the summer break. Victoria Police has linked some of the incidents, such as the “war zone” house party riot in Werribee, to young “street gangs” of African appearance.

The clip’s narrator, former news anchor Helen Kapalos, says South-Sudanese parents are nervous about sending their children to school because of what’s happened.

“These kids start school this week and their parents are really scared for them,” she says in the clip. “Hundreds of these Australian families have survived a dreadful war and seen millions killed.

The advert will begin circulating online today. Source: Victorian Multicultural Commission.

“But, they are just as frightened now. Because some people in our community are spreading hate and fear — and it’s these innocent kids who are copping it.

“Yes, some kids have fallen through the cracks and the police are dealing with that. But don’t hate the majority of good people because a few have strayed. That’s not the Aussie way.

“So, when you see these kids come to school, look out for them. Give them a wave and a smile.”

Filmmaker Richard Keddie (who created Aussie films Oddball and Little Fish) made the 60-second clip.

“As the school year begins, some community members have expressed concern that young South Sudanese students may be a target for discrimination following recent media coverage and commentary,” a VMC statement reads.

A former street gang member from Melbourne who spoke to news.com.au last week said that he saw South-Sudanese youths band together at school because they were picked on.

He said Sudanese “street gangs” start in school because other kids made them feel unwelcome.

“What would happen is that people would pick on Sudanese kids at school and even bash them for no reason,” said the Melburnian, who declined to be named.

“Because they were scared and wanted to protect themselves, the Sudanese kids would band together. They felt like they were unwelcome in Australia and started to fight back.”

Former news anchor Helen Kapalos narrates the clip. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Mr Keddie told 3AW it was comments from Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Crisp which prompted the advert.

“He feared these kids were going to be persecuted,” Mr Keddie told the station.

“These kids are amazing, considering what they’ve been through, they love Australia, they want to be great Aussies.

“We just think, give them a fair go, because that’s what Aussies are best at.”

Ms Kapalos also recently posted a piece on the VMC website about the problems the South-Sudanese community faces in Australia.

“They fear they are once again more likely to be subject to discrimination,” she wrote.

“They also know they will have to fight that much harder to try and attain what all youth are aspiring for — a sense of belonging, the right pathways to education and employment, and the chance to build a life for themselves.”