Community aid, thanks to volunteers

South Sydney Community Aid is a multicultural neighbourhood centre that provides free services to individuals who are culturally and linguistically diverse such as advice, facilities and classes that range from learning to speak English to knitting.

Last month this community was celebrated as members of the weekly Monday cooking class hosted a thank-you morning tea for the volunteers of the Work for the Dole Program, which is sponsored by Wesley Uniting Employment.

Jhan Leach, Manager of the Community Aid centre, says: “It is a reciprocal relationship. They get to help disadvantaged people and get help themselves in the program.” While volunteers did work for the centre, participating in hospitality, cleaning and administration, they were also able to participate in classes and programs offered by the centre.

According to Mick Kurwin, the Team Leader for the Work for the Dole Program, it is a policy of mutual obligation where the volunteers give something and get something back.” Not only are the volunteers helping the community but they are also learning skills and getting social contact,” says Mr Kurwin.

He also adds that, while volunteers may be initially unsure about the program, this appears to change after they start to experience the benefits.

Mark Mosby, 28, and Aunofo Tupou, 36, are two volunteers who proudly accepted their certificates at the centre. By participating in the program they had free computer access to look for work, and Mr Mosby has just been notified of an offer to work in the mines in Queensland. “It is actually good, it helps to put on your resume to gain employment and interact with non-English speaking people,” says Mr Mosby. 

The variety of people who go to the centre is reflected by husband and wife, Memphis and Agnes Sun, who are the only members of the cooking class that can speak English.” It’s just like a happy hour, we can make friends here and can also learn foreign cooking,” says Mrs Sun.

This feeling of embracing other cultures is also seen in their cooking teacher, Ahbah Oh, better known as Baba, who speaks seven languages. “It doesn’t matter where you are from,” says Mr Oh.

Photo: Ali Blogg - Box tunder photo: Lyn Tomlinson, who coordinates the Multicultural Bus Trips, thanks local businesses, the IGA, the Waterloo Butcher and the Waterloo Bakery for providing free food for the passengers. She is pictured presenting a certificate of appreciation to Brenda and Tim of The Bakery.

Source: South Sydney Herald December 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au