Centacare FNQ turned the page on Queensland’s Multicultural Month by inviting people across Cairns and the Cassowary Coast into “The Human Library”.
The Human Library is a living, breathing library where “books” are people, and “reading” means sitting down in conversation to hear the real, unfiltered stories of their lives.
The format was simple, but the impact profound. Across Smithfield, Manunda, Earlville, and Tully, community members and Centacare staff sat together, speaking openly about journeys shaped by migration, resilience, faith, loss, and renewal.
At Smithfield Library, Eric spoke of fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo at just 13. Sixteen years in a Rwandan refugee camp taught him endurance, but also the value of hope.
Now a homeowner in Cairns, fluent in five languages, and working as a bicultural worker, Eric uses his experience to guide others through the same challenges he once faced – proof that even the longest journeys can lead to a place called home.
At Manunda Library, Ambika shared her journey from Nepal to Australia. She spoke of life in a refugee camp where she lived in a tent for 20 years after being forced to flee in the middle of the night. She met her husband in the camp and had children. They began a story of survival and hope that now continues in Cairns, where she supports others finding their way.
Also at Manunda, Santa’s story traced a parallel journey. Growing up in the Bhutanese refugee camps, she dreamed of working in law. She is now a Police Liaison Officer with Queensland Police, bridging trust between her community and local services, and raising two daughters who remind her daily of the strength it took to begin again.
For those listening, one of the most moving moments came with the realisation that Santa and Ambika had once lived in the same refugee camp – walking the same dusty paths, facing the same hardships -before life took them on different journeys.
FULL STORY
Reflections on The Human Library – Centacare FNQ’s Celebration of Multicultural Month (Centacare FNQ)
