City2Surf brings fitness, happiness and community pride
As a member of SSI’s team in the City2Surf and captain of a soccer team comprising members of western Sydney’s Rohingya community, Mohammad Younis knows well the benefits of participating in sporting activities.
From the CEO – Advancing towards a disability sector inclusive of CALD communities
Most of you are probably aware of the important work SSI does around refugee and asylum seeker assistance, but you may not know as much about our growing portfolio of work within the disability sector.
Freedom of expression vs cultural appropriation
Journalists, comedians and writers will explore the blurry lines between freedom of expression and cultural appropriation at an event that will tip the traditional debate format on its head. Cultural appropriation controversies continue to dominate headlines, targeting everything from festival wear to the hairstyles of the Kardashians, but critics argue these continual outcries are stifling the creative expression. Should artists be restricted by cultural boundaries when creating their work?
SSI Member Spotlight: Illawarra Multicultural Services
A program run collaboratively by Illawarra Multicultural Services (IMS) and Anglicare is helping young refugee women think inside and outside the box.
Shared Table fosters friendship
SSI was recently delighted to have the opportunity to invite clients of all religions and backgrounds to participate in the five-week Shared Table Project, a grassroots peace-building initiative that aims to counteract prejudice and stereotypes and foster interfaith dialogue and friendship.
Ignite supports entrepreneur to re-establish himself after becoming a refugee
Rassul Zahrouni had a successful and happy life in Iran. He owned two jewellery shops and enjoyed peace and prosperity with his family and friends.
SSI joins Sydney Alliance in tackling housing affordability
SSI representatives were among Sydney Alliance members who recently met with Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts to address the need for serious action to tackle the housing affordability crisis facing Sydney.
The Tapestry Couch: healing and new beginnings at heart of refugee arts project
Moments of healing and friendship amidst uncertainty about the future are at the heart of a community art work that will debut during SSI's New Beginnings Festival for Refugee Week 2017.
University of Wollongong students and refugee entrepreneurs connected through Ignite Small Business Start-ups
Shazy Sahrulazizi, Ariff Bahar and Chen Hu are all final year students of the Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Wollongong. As do many of their peers, they juggle classes, study, group assignments and extra-curricular activities, trying to fit everything into their busy schedules.
Ability Links NSW supports participant to get her confidence back
Mina Furqan couldn’t understand what had happened to her. Back in her home country of Pakistan, she was very active, with a job she loved as a community worker and always involved in lots of projects.
National Volunteer Week 2017 profile: Meet Ladan
Ladan Haghighat volunteers for SSI in the Friendship Garden at Auburn Centre for Community. That’s fitting because her name, Ladan, is Persian for the nasturtium flower.
National Volunteer Week 2017 profile: Meet Al
His name is Clodoaldo Moroni but you can call him Al. Al, originally from Brazil, loves volunteering.
Syrian family settles in the Northern Beaches with SSI Housing
A classic red-brick house located in a quiet suburb on the Northern Beaches hosts the beginning of a beautiful bond between two families. Through SSI Housing and the generosity of its owner, the granny flat has become home to a newly-arrived refugee family of four from Syria.
National Volunteer Week 2017 profile: Meet Zakia
When Zakia Housaini started working with SSI it changed her personality. “It made me more confident. And I kind of know the world better,” she said.
Program with heart connects refugee women
Basima Zahrah’s life has undergone huge change since she was forced to leave her native country of Iraq in 2015. She escaped alone to Jordan with her four young children, three of whom live with disability.
Young refugees experience Australian beaches for first time
A group of newly arrived young people from Syria and Iraq learned how to keep themselves and their friends safe in the Australian surf on a recent outing to Manly Beach.
From the CEO — Game-changing volunteers and social businesses
Something that unites the different arms of civil society is a belief in working for the common good. Religious organisations, community groups, unions, Rotary branches and more benefit from the hard work of everyday citizens who have put up their hands to get involved with something that inspires their passion. They do this for no other reason than that they believe in a cause.
Youth forum at Callan Park Refugee Welcome Centre gives young refugees a head start
Over 200 young refugees have spent a day developing the fundamental skills to successfully settle in Australia at SSI’s E3 Youth Forum, a day of workshops and activities held at the Refugee Welcome Centre in Callan Park earlier this month.