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The second Ballarat Multicultural Women's Camp aimed to address issues of isolation and promote integration among refugee groups and the wider community.
Horn of Africa Women's Group chairwoman Melika Yassin Sheikh-Eldin said the camp was the start of a process to better understand and address cultural issues.
"A key priority is to narrow the gap between refugee groups and the wider community," Dr Sheikh-Eldin said.
Participants enjoyed a variety of interactive cultural exchange workshops including henna painting, hair braiding, knitting and dancing.
Ballarat Youth Ambassadors and Victorian Rural Woman of the Year Deb Bain spoke at the camp.
Dr Sheikh-Eldin said the camp helped women meet and share their settlement experiences with other refugees.
"It also helps to raise awareness among regional communities of the settlement issues faced by refugee communities and especially women," she said.
"Women don't have the family support here like they do back home."
The camp was run in partnership with Adult Multicultural Education Services, Horn of Africa Community Network and Centacare Catholic Family Services.
Source: Ballarat, April 27, 2008