Mariella Totaro-Genevois Our group is now eleven years old. While most of its members have been active since the beginning of our project, not only have other people joined as needed, but somebody new has popped up offering help to the team when required. In other words, the group is healthy and flexible and thriving. […]
CONTINUE READINGCharity Haynes VDSA’s work with refugees continues as usual in 2022-23 despite a reduced number of volunteers due to ill health. Nevertheless, a lot of good work has been done with the following individuals/families: During the year VDSA volunteers organised several successful picnics with refugee families, around Coogee. Kids swam and delicious food was prepared […]
CONTINUE READINGOn Sunday, June 18, VDSA celebrated the grant of a permanent Visa to longstanding client and friend Nathan with a picnic at Bronte Park. Clear skies and bright sunshine made the day even more special.
CONTINUE READINGCentral Sydney High School refugee students were thrilled to be invited to enter a Creative Expression Competition initiated by the Valerio Daniel De Simoni Association. Their President, Vittoria Pasquini attended the school where she met with the school’s Deputy Principal, Kathie Power, Head Teacher Wellbeing, Kylie Stamos and Student Support Officer, Elizabeth Weblin to discuss […]
CONTINUE READINGThis year the VDSA Lunch Project Group, nicknamed The Foodies, celebrates its 10th birthday. The team includes approximately twenty people, and while there are members who had to leave because of life circumstances, the core of the group has remained untouched in time. Equally untouched has remained their generosity, enthusiasm, and steady collaboration in providing […]
CONTINUE READINGBy Charity Haynes Visiting refugees in their homes has continued in 2021-2022 but we no longer visit the Villawood Detention Centre. Families have been helped in many ways, including rent assistance, paying for doctors bills & electricity accounts. Highlights of visits include delicious lunches, seeing the progress of the children, several starting school for the […]
CONTINUE READINGOn October 16 at the Wanderers Football Park in Sydney a friendly soccer match between newly arrived young Afghani refugees and an Italian Australian soccer team was played.VDSA sponsored the game together with the Massoud Foundation, Amnesty International, Filef, Comites, NSW Government and Grandmothers for Refugees.It is the second match VDSA has sponsored to provide […]
CONTINUE READINGBy Mariella Totaro-Genevois In 2022 the VDSA Lunch Project Group for the ASC in Newtown will celebrate its 10th birthday, and notwithstanding the disruption and distress provoked by COVID-19, as I will illustrate later, there is definitely cause for being proud of its work and achievements during very difficult times.So far, the VDSA Lunch Group […]
CONTINUE READINGVisiting refugees has continued this past year despite the Omicron variant of Covid being present. The first event in 2021 was a picnic for a group living in the Auburn area, which was dominated by the youngest taking his first steps! A feature of our visits is seeing the progress of the children and the […]
CONTINUE READINGBy MarielIa Totaro-Genevois In 2021 the VDSA Lunch Project Group has marked its ninth year of existence, and notwithstanding the disruption and distress provoked by Covid 19 there is still cause for celebrating its work and achievements. Since its foundation the VDSA lunch group has prepared, transported and served lunches to clients of the Asylum […]
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