Melbourne-based African families send children overseas to learn discipline

African parents are desperately trying to tackle offensive youth behaviour by sending their Melbourne-born kids to Africa to learn discipline and escape escalating street violence.

Aguer Akech Lual, 17, died from injuries he suffered during a fight in St Albans on Sunday December 22.

An epidemic of violence and youth deaths has left families in African communities in Melbourne feeling “powerless,” with some sending children ‘home’ to keep them out of trouble and teach them about culture and discipline.

At least six Victorian-based families a year have made the tough decision to send wayward children overseas in the past two years.

The children — most of which were born in Australia — are sent to live with elders and attend boarding school in a last-resort approach for parents struggling to keep youngsters safe from street violence.

Sudanese Community Association Victoria chairwoman Achol Marial says families are sending children to Africa to get them away from escalating street violence. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Aguer Akech Lual (right) with Achol Marial.

Parents of children aged 10 to their mid teens, who are in trouble with the law, wagging school or ‘at risk’ of falling in with the wrong crowd are among those taking the drastic measures.

Achol Marial, chairwoman of the South Sudanese Community Association Victoria, said locals were “fed up” with the actions of certain groups of young people in the community.

“They (families) are feeling powerless,” Ms Marial said.

“And like they have no level of control.

“And at the same time a lot of people are struggling. Mothers are struggling.

“They’re resorting to taking their kids to boarding school. And to be cared for by their grandparents overseas.

“It’s seen as a retreat. It’s like a time-out.”

Ms Marial said it began after eight young people died around the time of 2010.

She said three separate cases in recent years showed the “complex issues” youth were dealing with.

They include:

A BOY in trouble with the law;

A GIRL who skipped school, went out partying and was at risk of abusing drugs and alcohol; and

A FAMILY with four young children concerned their kids could be influenced.

In two of the three cases the children have returned to Australia in later years and now have jobs or are studying at university.

Ms Marial said families from Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan had taken such measures.

“They’re doing it with best intent,” she said.

“Things are stricter back home. There’s no drinking or substance abuse

“The schools are quite harsh. The kids have to perform well,”

“A lot is being done … the offensive behaviour — it’s not going unnoticed (by the community).

“We are dealing with young people.

“And some people end up really appreciating what they have.”

It comes amid a hunt for the killer or killers of 17-year-old Australian-South Sudanese boy Aguer Akech Lual.

Aguer Akech Lual (right) with his mum, Martha Aluel Mayola.

Police investigate the area around Keilor Plains railway station. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The teen died after a violent fight between two groups of youths in St Albans last week.

The Herald Sun has been told Mr Lual was among a group of men trying to run to the home of two associates when the fatal attack happened.

Among those believed to have been at the scene are high-level youth crime offenders who have spent time in youth justice custody.

Their social media accounts indicate a fixation with the kind of US “gangster culture” which has been of concern to authorities for years.

Police investigate the area around Keilor Plains railway station after Mr Lual was murdered at Regan Street, St Albans. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Items of clothing found around Keilor Plains train station. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

One veteran police officer said Melbourne had a long history of gang violence.

But, unlike decades ago, the results were now being felt by many members of the broader community through carjackings, violent street robberies and home invasions.

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The perpetrators now had no fear of the consequences of being caught, he said.

“If someone did an aggravated burg on a 75-year-old granny back then (30 years ago), going to court was the least of their worries,” the officer said.

“The core group is wedded to this whole gang culture which will be hard to break.

“They’re continually trying to goad us and jack us up.

“There’s very little voluntary compliance.”

The officer also said calls to deport the worst of offenders made no sense when most of those involved in gang violence were born in Australia.

Originally published as Melbourne-based African families send children overseas to learn discipline