Learning Together was set up in 2015 as a local response to the global refugee crisis. The founders identified one of the main roadblocks for the asylum seeker and refugee community (ASR) to be inter-generational learned helplessness (a state that occurs after a person has experienced a stressful situation repeatedly. They believe that they are unable to control or change the situation even when opportunities for change become available) which they set as their goal to overcome.  

Bringing 15 young asylum seekers together to answer “how can we help our community?”. By giving the young people a platform to make a tangible difference in the community, Learning Together believes that it activates their agency, aspirations, confidence, and creativity. The first program we launched was an English program for newly arrived asylum seekers taught by the young members of their community which continues to run and managed 5 years later by the young ASRs. The young people in our program learn how to manage a project, put a budget together, develop a curriculum, fundraise, speak in public and ultimately teach adults and peers within their community.

In 2016, keeping up with the growth of the young people we work with, Learning Together granted its first tertiary education scholarship. To date we have granted scholarships for 6 students.