2025 marks the first full year of Marri Mittigar’s existence. Established in May 2024 by Barker College, this unique school for children from a refugee background is made up of many nationalities, ages and experiences.
It is a space where diversity is celebrated, and first language and culture valued and fostered. All children spend part of the week immersed in their first language so they learn the songs, the poems, the literature and history of their original countries. Strong literacy in the first language carries across to the second and subsequent languages.
Although originating from all corners of the world, staff, students and their families are unified in the purpose of education.
The Barker community have been intricately involved since the beginning in planning, setting up the physical environment, working bees, Christmas celebrations, morning teas, donations of food, expertise, furniture, housing support and many other ways.
Many Barker students have become involved in the School’s activities and given regular time to teach violin, Latin, play football, arrange craft activities, to name a few areas.
Remarkably, an average of 58 hours a week of volunteer labour has been given to Marri Mittigar. Support has been given in areas such as literacy and numeracy, chess, catering for morning teas and other functions, working bees, medical and dental advice, housing support.
As the families find their feet in Australia, they start to contribute their energy and unique skills to the school – from cooking and sharing recipes from their home countries, to flower arranging.
The unique nature of the school as the first special assistance school for children of refugee experience has attracted many visitors, including Ambassador Waissi from Afghanistan, who recently joined the Persian class and chatted to the Dari and Farsi-speaking children.
