Founded in 2014 by Ashoup Atar, a former South Sudanese refugee, Kowanj was created to remove
the barriers experienced by new migrants trying to access education, employment, and belonging in
Australia. “Kowanj,” meaning help/assist in Dinka, reflects the organisation’s purpose: to walk
alongside communities with cultural understanding, dignity, and respect. What began as a small
volunteer-led initiative has grown into a trusted, award-winning organisation supporting
multicultural communities across Victoria and internationally.

Grounded in the principles of the Early Intervention Investment Framework (EIIF), Kowanj
prioritises supporting people early - before challenges escalate -by addressing root causes of
disadvantage such as long-term unemployment, intergenerational hardship, social isolation, trauma,
and systemic exclusion. Our model integrates cultural expertise, peer leadership pathways, and
multi-sector partnerships to reduce demand on crisis services, strengthen families, and build
resilient communities. This approach has proven transformative, with more than 3,000 individuals
supported across our programs in Victoria, South Sudan, Kenya, and Egypt through education,
employment, capacity building, women’s empowerment, and youth leadership initiatives.
 

With 17 staff and volunteers, many of whom share lived experience with those we serve, Kowanj
brings deep cultural insight and linguistic diversity, enabling genuine trust-building where
mainstream systems struggle to connect. In 2022, Kowanj received the Victorian Multicultural
Award for Excellence in Education in recognition of our innovative community-based learning model
that links training to real employment outcomes. Through strong collaborations with community
leaders, employers, RTOs, TAFEs, local councils, and government, Kowanj strengthens Victoria’s
social infrastructure by promoting economic participation, community cohesion, and self-reliance
among diverse communities.