Connectivity For Refugees, CFR, began as a collaborative community development effort between the University of Melbourne Chapter of Engineers Without Borders Australia, and the Adult Multicultural Educational Services (AMES)in the early part of 2005.

Melbourne's refugee community come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures and typically feel a sense of isolation in alien surroundings and difficult circumstances. Employment is hard to come by and educational backgrounds are non-uniform, both of which only increases their sense of alienation.

CFR is aimed primarily at enhancing their integration within Australian society. We aim to do this by teaming refugee students with a CFR trainer who, through a needs assessment process, helps the student in achieving their employment and education goals; and by guiding them to an understanding that the computer is a powerful communication and documentation tool and that the Internet is a vast resource of useful information.

CFR relies on the support of its volunteers and partner organisations.

For a photographic tour of some of our experiences over the course of this successful program, please visit:
EWB's Information For Development Photospace

Check our downloads page for specific resources.