This year, we are excited and honoured to welcome Abang Othow, an extraordinary woman with a deeply inspiring life story to the SCA (NSW) International Women’s Day Afternoon tea.
Abang’s journey, poignantly captured in her feature on 7 NEWS – Left alone in a war zone at age 5, Abang tracked down her family 13 years later, began in the shadows of war as a five-year-old separated from her family during the brutal civil conflict in Sudan.
We spoke to Abang about her incredible journey and what community means to her.
How important is the strength of a community?
Community is everything. I have learned that we achieve nothing alone. Community educates us, shapes our leadership, and, for me, became the parent I did not always have. It holds us accountable, lifts us when we fall, and reminds us of who we are when the world tries to erase us.
How does empathy from everyday Australians contribute to the successful settlement and welcoming of refugees and people seeking asylum?
Empathy changes everything. It turns a stranger into a neighbour. It opens doors to accommodation, education, and meaningful employment. It restores dignity. When everyday Australians choose to see, listen and include, refugees do not just survive, they belong. And when we belong, we give back. That is how communities grow stronger.
Empathy changes everything. It turns a stranger into a neighbour. It opens doors to accommodation, education, and meaningful employment.
You are a storyteller, educator, author, ambassador, researcher, mother. What stands out as the proudest moment for you so far?
Helping people move from survival to thriving is one of my greatest honours. But my proudest role is being a mother. I mother with intention, even though I grew up without mine. To break cycles, to lead with love, and to raise a child who feels safe and seen, lives with integrity; that is my deepest achievement.
One of the things that now sustains you is giving back. Tell us about Buckets of Hope.
Buckets of Hope began as a visualisation strategy I created during one of the most traumatic periods of my life. I needed a way to hold my fear, my memories, my growth, and my resilience without being overwhelmed. Over time, it evolved beyond mindfulness. Today, it is a storytelling and leadership framework that helps people move from survival to thriving, organise their emotions, reclaim their narrative, and rise with intention.
To learn more about Buckets of Hope, head to – Buckets of Hope by Abang Othow | Discover the Journey
Abang Othow will be speaking at the SCA (NSW) International Women’s Day Afternoon tea – International Women’ s Day Afternoon Tea
