STARTTS 
NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors
Covering for Claire Niven.

 

Unfortunately, Claire was a late withdrawal however the partnership between STARTTS and PCYC provides the basis for a number of programs which have started up to help local refugees settle into the local community. Tim McLaren kindly stepped in to do the STARTTS  presentation.

 

Tim explained that the creation of the Beyond Borders Youth Group which meets every Thursday provides sporting, games, social interaction to up to 72 children each week. STARTTS and the AW Volunteer group have minibuses which collect the children from school, drop them at PCYC to enjoy some friendship, food and activities. The children are from 16 different countries and attend 6 different schools - so the logistics of providing this service is a challenge. STARTTS is always looking for volunteers to help - supervise or drivers if interested.

A special event started for the refugee children is a camp - this year 26 travelled to Hallman's Gap - many coming from African countries were surprised by the cold weather but were extremely excited with the prospect of seeing snow for the first time. In the grounds of PCYC a number of garden beds have been set up to attract older refugees - a growing number of Bhutanese have joined on Mondays which is pleasing to hear about. 

A group of Congolese have started sewing classes which has been popular. And another extremely helpful program that is running is the "Homework Help" held at the Lavington library which appears to be helping the refugee students with their education - understanding help at home is difficult with language issues and level of education the parents may have. 

 

We thanked Tim for his presentation which was very informative about the problems associated with the resettling of refugees. 

A ARAM certificate was presented and the Club will contribute another mosquito net under the malaria program.

 

Thanks TIM.

 

 

We are fast approaching the end of the financial year, and members are reminded to consider making a donation to the Rotary Foundation. 

Keeping in mind that Rotary Doing Good in the World is relies on the Foundation for funding.

 

The Share Project in Broadford has captured my interest. SHARE stands for Serving Humanity and Repurposing Equipment which operates along similar lines to RARE, DIK and MediShare collecting surplus hospital, medical and educational goods for shipment overseas. 

SHARE have developed a system where a Club sponsors a shipment with the contents from a "wish list" managed by a committee made up of local and in country representatives. This ensures the country receives goods needed not simply what is surplus here and available.

The Nepal container is still held up in customs waiting final clearance for the hospital in Kathmandu to take possession of the contents.

Three more containers are in progress - PNG, Uganda and Cambodia. 

Share is working with Cambodian based Safe Haven and Wheelchairs for Kids a Perth Rotary project.

 

RAWCS have just celebrated their 60th anniversary with the launch of an online book containing 60 project stories -- we managed to get our Nepal volunteer works included which was pleasing to see.

 

 

Go to the RAWCS home page to view the book.

 

Thanks