Australia Copts Proud to Bring Diaspora Voice to Australia Parliament Open Forum

The Rev. Hon. Dr. Gordon Moyes introduces Coptic Orphans executive director Nermien Riad

Australian Copts gathered at the New South Wales Parliament On October 28 th for an open forum on the role of diasporas in development hosted by the Rev. Hon. Dr. Gordon Moyes, the prominent Australian parliamentarian and pastor. Coptic Orphans executive director Nermien Riad spoke to a group of about 50 Australians, many of whom were Copts, at the event.

Nermien Riad, Executive Director of Coptic Orphans, described Diasporas as “ethnic minority groups of migrant origins residing and acting in host countries but maintaining strong sentimental and material links with their countries of origin—their homelands.”

She noted that migration worldwide has more than doubled in the past forty years, and “remittances,” money sent to the homeland by various migrant groups in countries outside their homeland, now makes up 30% of the total amount of public and private foreign assistance coming from the US.

According to Riad, the Coptic Diaspora is in a unique position to work for the good of Egypt over the long term because their distinctive faith makes them cohesive internationally and gives them infrastructure for action in Egypt through the Church.

She explained the role of Coptic Orphans in the Coptic Diaspora as making sure remittances from the Coptic community not only reach the poorest of the poor, but are used strategically for development so that both the impact of remittances and the involvement of the diaspora might extend beyond the first and third generations.

Riad believes that the key to the success of Coptic Orphans is that the organization has a foothold in both Egyptian

culture and the nations of Diaspora. This makes Coptic Orphans sensitive to local issues and able to effectively work in and with the Egyptian Church where Coptic Orphans is deeply rooted, and at the same time able to use its professional expertise, international resources, and Coptic connections worldwide to bear on local challenges.

Audience members watch a brief presentation

The Copts who attended the open forum felt a sense of pride that an open forum at the Australia parliament involved their community. It showed for many present just how important the perspective of the Coptic Diaspora is beginning to become in issues of international development.

The Rev. Hon. Dr. Gordon Moyes, who hosted the event, became interested the Coptic community and the development of Egypt some years ago, and has visited Egypt. He has been a friend of Coptic Orphans since 2002.

Read Gordon Moyes' Letter Congratulating Coptic Orphans on 20 Years

Listen to SBS Radio Australia's Interview with Nermien Riad

(You can listen to it there in three different locations: under podcast (by clicking on ‘download your favourite interview' …), in 'What's Happening' (on the Front Page), and in 'Audio Highlights' (on the left hand side)).