Randa and Mona

Randa remembers a happy childhood in Lebanon as the self-described spoilt only daughter of a family of six.

She was 26, married with a two-year-old daughter and pregnant with twins when the Civil War in Lebanon forced the couple to leave their home of origin.  

“I came to Australia in 1st of September 1990, so around 33 years ago during the Civil War in Lebanon. It was the main incentive reason for me to start thinking to immigrate, to be honest. No, I didn’t know anything in specific, but all I was, remember that it was a free country that had opportunity for immigrants to live a better life.”

Starting over in a new country came with many challenges, especially adapting to different cultural and religious beliefs.

“It wasn’t easy to settle in Australia, especially because I came from a country that had different religious beliefs. I went through a lot.”

“Raising four children by yourself in a country you don’t know anything about is hard,” Randa says.

“I had difficulty with my scarf not being accepted. It took time to get used to society and for society to get used to me.”

“It took me a long time to feel safe.”

Now, decades later, Randa is proud of her achievements and the life she has built for her family in Australia. She plans to keep healthy and to stay strong so she can give what she can through her connection to community and social groups and continue to support her children. 

“I’m comfortable. I’m happy with what I achieved. I’m happy with what, who I am now. I’m happy that my kids have a safe and enjoyable environment to live in. So yeah, my wishes and my hopes [were] for a better life, good future. Safer future for me, for my family. And I think I did achieve that.”