During 2017 our group continued to grow organic vegetables. These were given to refugees and asylum seekers living in the community and experiencing poverty and misfortune. Fresh vegetables are also delivered weekly to two emergency centres which house some indigenous women and refugees. Some volunteers have prepared pesto and salsa verde made from garden produce. […]
CONTINUE READINGThe VDSA lunch group programme is now five years old, and in 2017 the activity has continued in the format of a flexible number of people working in teams of three. We prepare and serve a monthly, generous hot lunch for refugees and asylum seekers who are clients of the Asylum Seekers’ Centre. Meals are […]
CONTINUE READINGOn Friday 26 May, 2017, a FILEF (Italian Federation of Migrant Workers and their families) meeting was held at the Italian Forum Cultural Centre in Leichardt, Sydney to discuss how refugees seeking asylum in Australia could be supported. NGOs including Amnesty International, Asylum Seeker Centre, Refugee Action Coalition, Valerio Daniel De Simoni Association, People Just Like […]
CONTINUE READINGThis 5th year of activity has seen a drop-off in the number of detainees visited, as some were finally released, after 5 or even 6 years in detention. Contact has continued with some of these, especially with our Sri Lankan friends. Some financial assistance has been given to those now in the community to alleviate […]
CONTINUE READINGThe VDSA Lunch Project for the ASC has been in place since 2012. Our group consists of a flexible number of people, working in teams of three each. They prepare a monthly hot and tasty lunch for the clients of the ASC. Our meals are cooked according to hygiene and cultural requirements. Lunch is served […]
CONTINUE READINGIn 2015 members of The Valerio Daniel De Simoni Association continued to provide monthly lunches to asylum seekers who are clients of the Asylum Seekers’ Resource Centre in Newtown. This project has been running since 2012. Approximately twenty people working in teams of three cook, prepare and serve hot and tasty lunches for the clients […]
CONTINUE READINGOur visits to the Villawood Immigration Detention Facility (as it is now called) continue as in past years. There have been disconcerting moments when some of those we visited were moved overnight to other parts of the country (such as Yongah Hill, Perth, from Blaxland to Christmas Island and from Blaxland, to a correctional centre […]
CONTINUE READINGNicoletta Zanardi, head of the Villawood Volunteer Program, reflects on the program’s activities in 2013 and their impact in supporting and asylum seekers.
CONTINUE READING“During 2013 our Valerio Daniel De Simoni Association group of volunteers (in alphabetical order: Dina, Elio, Genevieve, Giulia, Helen, Jacquie, John, Karen, Kathryn, Kerry, Louise, Mariella, Michelle, Nicoletta, Paola, Rioko, Silvia, Vittoria) has regularly provided once a month the promised lunches for the clients of the ASC to help relieve their distress and misfortune. Instructions […]
CONTINUE READINGVittoria and Rosie took 1st lunch for 20 people to the Centre. The employees were very welcoming and helpful and one, Victoria, had lived in Italy for few years, so was very happy to practice her Italian with us! Food included organic pasta with tomato sauce offered by Pasta Emilia, bread offered by Iggys, plus […]
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