IN the space of five months, David Nguyen has helped change the lives of 15 young Karen refugees.

As a part of the Home Lands project, David has taught the group of newly arrived Karen people how to use innovative multimedia technology to connect with their homeland communities.

On completion, the group’s digital stories about their life in refugee camps and in Australia, will be showcased at the annual Winter Light Festival, held in Federation Square on Saturday.

With the help of Singing Bowl Media, the group have learned basic video and web design skills to complete their short video productions. The videos will then be simulcast via Skype to a corresponding peer group in Thailand refugee camps.

“The participants really enjoy getting their hands busy with all the equipment and learning how to digitally translate their stories to their home communities,” Mr Nguyen said.

Having worked extensively in multicultural youth arts, David was honoured to be offered a role which would not only help young people find their place in the community, but also establish their identity in a new country.

Launching the pilot project last year, new residents across Hobsons Bay and Wyndham City have been very responsive to the Home Lands project. Next year the project will focus on connecting young people of Sudanese heritage to their homeland, a project David is more than happy to participate in.

“I’d be honoured to appear in any coming projects with Home Lands. At the moment, we’re managing a long term plan for the Karen group to continue to share their stories in workshops, make their own short videos and eventually put them online,” David added.

The free Light in Winter Festival is running until Sunday 4 July, with the Home Lands project airing on Saturday at 6.30pm.