When Layla was just 14, she was forced to leave her home and her country. As part of the Yazidi community in Iraq, her family was among those targeted by ISIS during the 2014 genocide. Layla, along with her mother, father, and siblings, escaped to Türkiye, where they spent two and a half years living in a refugee camp.

Today, Layla is a reserved but joyful mother of two living in Wagga Wagga. She is a Tutor with Anglicare’s Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), and her eyes brighten when she talks about her work.

“I was so happy to become a HIPPY Tutor. I didn’t know that, as a mum, I would be able to have an opportunity like that,” she said.

“I can remember meeting Layla for the first time and introducing her to what HIPPY is about,” said HIPPY Coordinator Mel Crawford. “I said to her, ‘Maybe in the future you could be a HIPPY Tutor,’ and her face just lit up with this big smile. She said, ‘Please don’t forget me.’”

Mel did not forget.

Layla and her family have lived through incredibly difficult times. They lost their home and belongings. They were separated from her other siblings. And in the camp, they were unable to leave the confines of the fence for their own safety.

“That was the hardest time,” Layla recalled. “We walked for two days and one night to reach Türkiye. My mum was unable to walk because she was older, so my brother carried her on his back. My sister was 38 weeks pregnant, and her husband and my brother took turns carrying her and her child.”

Layla also shared that one of her sisters, who had two young boys, attempted to travel to Germany by sea. “After that day, we didn’t know anything,” she said. “We tried with the Australian Red Cross to find out, but after all that suffering, there was no information.”

After the journey, Layla and her family were placed in a refugee camp, where they were not allowed to leave. During this time, seven of Layla’s older siblings made the difficult decision to return to Iraq to continue their studies. Sadly, some of them have not been seen since.

Through everything, Layla has held onto hope and gratitude, taking on the challenges of a new country, a new language, and new opportunities.

Her willingness to try new things may have come from her father, who was only the 10th person in their refugee camp to register for an Australian visa. Others tried to talk him out of it—“Do you know how far away it is?” and “There will be no one from our community there”—but he wasn’t dissuaded.

“If we try and it works, it will be good for us,” he said. “If not, nothing will happen and we will be stuck here.”

It took 10 months for the family’s visa to be approved. Once it was granted, they had just 40 days to prepare.

Arriving in Wagga Wagga, Layla’s family knew no one and spoke hardly a word of English. Only three or four other families from their background lived in the region, and they helped show them where to shop and how to find Centrelink. But it was the local multicultural centre that became their main source of support. Through her case manager, Anne, Layla was eventually connected with Anglicare’s Ashmont Community Resource Centre (ACRC) and the HIPPY program.

“After I finished my Cert III TAFE English course, I was looking for something to help teach my kids a little bit—especially my older one—to learn English and be introduced to education. I needed that for myself as well, to improve my English. Being a mum, being home for a while, especially if English is not your first language, it is hard to know what is out there. Anne discovered HIPPY and introduced me to Mel, and it went from there.”

Layla enrolled her son in the two‑year early education and parenting program and soon saw a transformation.

“Before HIPPY he didn’t know a word of English. He loved the program—especially the activities and storybooks. He was always waiting for Nadine, his tutor. After we did HIPPY, he was interested in going to school and excited to see books and pens and pencils.”

The HIPPY program runs for 24 months, and parents who complete the course are often encouraged to become tutors for the next round. When Mel asked Layla to get involved, she was thrilled.

“As a mum, I was not aware of outside opportunities,” she said. “I was so happy to become a HIPPY Tutor.”

The role has provided Layla with valuable work experience and a strong sense of connection within the community. She is hopeful about the future—for herself and for her children.

“HIPPY has opened up opportunities for me and my family,” she said. “I am so thankful to Mel for giving me this opportunity. She always helped me and showed me how to learn things.”

Layla continues to embrace new challenges. Once both her children are settled in school, she hopes to become either a police officer or an early childhood educator. Her journey is just one example of how HIPPY supports families.

The HIPPY team at the ACRC is currently enrolling students for the next session. Call 0428 573 414 or visit the HIIPPY Ashmont Page to learn more.