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About Us
Maisha Bora Program
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Maisha Bora, a Swahili phrase meaning “better life,” is a Skills Appreciation program initiated and run by African women in North Queensland. Our mission is to support the social integration of former refugees and migrants from across Africa. As the name suggests, our primary goal is to help newcomers find a better life in Australia. We encourage men, women, and children to take responsibility for their wellbeing and become positive forces in the community. Many of our participants have endured long and arduous journeys to find freedom and have found shelter in refugee camps, making them acutely aware of the value of their new lives in the safety and beauty of North Queensland.
Maisha Bora provides a range of skills and services aimed at supporting social integration. These include vocational training in hospitality, agriculture, and crafts, leveraging both traditional skills and formal training. We offer language classes, financial literacy workshops, and job placement assistance to enhance economic independence. Additionally, we organize community engagement activities to foster social connections and cultural exchange, helping newcomers to actively participate in and contribute to their local communities. Through these efforts, we empower individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and a better quality of life in their new environment.
About the Director:
Anna Wairimu Jones
A Compassionate Leader Committed to Community Integration
The Director of the Maisha Bora Skills Appreciation Program, is a passionate leader whose dedication to supporting new arrivals stems from her own personal journey as a migrant. Having experienced the challenges of adapting to a new culture firsthand, Anna has made it her mission to ensure that others have the guidance and support they need to
successfully integrate into their new environments.
Before resettling in Australia, Anna spent years working in refugee camps
across Africa, including Kakuma and Dadaab in Kenya, where she saw the
immense struggles that displaced individuals and families endure. Her hands-
on work in these camps shaped her deep commitment to aiding refugees and
migrants, giving her invaluable insight into the importance of smooth and
supported resettlement.
At Maisha Bora, Anna channels her lived experiences and professional
expertise into creating programs that go beyond skill-building. She
understands the emotional, social, and cultural hurdles that new arrivals face,
and she is passionate about fostering an environment where they can thrive.
Her initiatives focus on equipping migrants and refugees with practical skills
while also creating a sense of belonging and community.
As a migrant herself, Anna is driven by a strong desire to make the transition
for others as seamless as possible. Under her leadership, Maisha Bora has
become a vital resource for newly arrived individuals and families, offering
not just skills training but also cultural orientation, emotional support, and
opportunities for meaningful connections.
Anna’s work is fuelled by her belief that everyone deserves the chance to
rebuild their lives with dignity. Through her leadership, Maisha Bora has
empowered countless new arrivals to integrate smoothly, find their footing,
and contribute to the community they now call home.