Reflection time…
So, Why did we choose this topic?
&
What were my goals for the project, what did I want to accomplish?
In the moments as I stepped out of Dandenong train station, a Wednesday morning some weeks ago, I finally understood what our project was about. Diversity surrounded, it did not feel like inner city Melbourne, but a place that felt worlds apart from where I grew up. Though the area I have lived in most of my life is very multicultural, there was something about Dandenong, something quite different about it. The streets were full of Indian clothing stores, Afgan food stores, hairdressers specialising in African hair- I finally understood why that Wednesday night at the beginning of Semester, Bita came in with this idea and a commitment to it. There felt as though there were so many untold stories.
Interview after Interview, it was clear that the portrayal of Dandenong is of course quite different to what the locals think of it. There was something quite special in the interviews that took place, as the refugees told their story of how they came to be here. The local organisations made it clear how important it was to them to make integration easier for them and there families. There were many moments where I felt touched.
I have learnt a great deal from this project. At the beginning of semester I had hoped to gain more experience in group work and in journalism. I feel that I have achieved that with the help of my fellow group mates in sharing knowledge and as we learnt together how to adapt to different kinds of people and there different ways in doing things.
The end product is something that I think we are all quite proud of. As the initial idea, “Integration, Culture and Issues in Greater Dandenong” seemed so broad and big at the time, it took me a while to get my head around it. Now, we have a multimedia piece which has voiced the stories of people whom before had never expressed there concerns and beliefs. Without the commitment and passion of the group this piece would not have been as great as it is.
Thanks everyone!!! 
Its be challenging, and lots and lots of fun!
