Welcome to Australia English program empowers Afghan migrants Welcome to Australia based in Bowden runs a program teaching English to Afghan women in their own homes. AREFA Hassani says her mother Laila is reclaiming her independence and making friends thanks to a program teaching her and other migrant women English at home. "Before she would only spend time with the Afghan community and wasn't comfortable going out and speaking to people," Ms Hassani says. But she loved the group straight away ... and it gets her out of her loneliness. Ms Hassani and her family, of Blair Athol, arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in 2006. She learnt English and became familiar with Australian culture, but her mother struggled to learn and became socially isolated and dependent on her for help with everyday activities. Ms Hassani says poor English skills meant her mother relied on her for basic tasks such as answering the phone and accompanying her to appointments. Last year she and other Afghani volunteers at Welcome to Australia, an organisation helping migrants and refugees feel part of the community, spoke of their situation and got the help they needed. "The fact they are doing it in a group it helps them learn from one another," Ms Hassani says. I'm looking forward to her being more independent. Welcome to Australia spokeswoman Kate Leaney says the "English Tea" program, which is being trialled with the group of Afghani women, is about making learning English less daunting. She says many older migrants put their children's learning ahead of their own when they come to Australia. "We realised there's a lot of older women who haven't been able to access traditional learning," Ms Leaney said. (This) setting is a lot more social and relaxed - it's not a strict school setting. Lessons are in the participants' homes and are run by an English as a second language teacher. The group also takes time to socialise over afternoon tea and later sessions might be run from a cafe once the women are comfortable enough. Ms Leaney says the group has provided a support network of women with a similar background and helped them gain confidence interacting with people outside of the Afghani community. Pooraka woman Marziya Mohammadi also says she can see her mother Fatima's confidence growing after taking part in the program. "My mother had started thinking, `I can't learn anymore, my English is going down'," Ms Mohammadi said. Now she does have more confidence. She feels she can get out and talk to other people. Ms Mohammadi arrived in Australia from Afghanistan, via Pakistan, with her family in 2006. "My mum is so happy now," Ms Mohammadi said. She's looking forward to sessions - it's something she wouldn't miss out on.