Fundraiser Film Screening: Flee

Family Reunion Circle (115) who assist asylum seekers and refugees with either protection visas or family reunion are holding a film fundraising evening.

The film is Flee, an animated documentary, directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen with three Oscar award nominations, based on the real-life story of an Afghan man fleeing to Europe for his life.

Flee tells the story of Amin Nawabi as he grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years, one that threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon-to-be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to the director, he tells for the first time the story of his extraordinary journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan.

When: Fri 16 June 2023, 6pm for 6.30pm start

Where: The Regal Theatre, Kensington Rd, Kensington Park
Tickets: Purchase tickets via TryBooking or pay cash on the night.

There will be finger food and wine for $5 a glass.
There will also be  a raffle so bring some cash to buy tickets.

Ongoing support needed for Asylum Seekers on bridging visas

Recently the Federal government made a decision to grant permanent protection visas to some of the people seeking asylum who arrived in Australia by boat. This is an extremely exciting and overdue development which will have an enormous impact on the lives of those who are eligible. They will be able to make use of services previously inaccessible to them, will find it much easier to find jobs, and, importantly, will be able to apply to be reunited with family members they have not seen for years.

However, there is still a small but significant cohort of people seeking asylum who are not eligible for these permanent protection visas. Some of these people arrived in Australia in 2012/2013 by boat but have been refused refugee status or are still awaiting a final decision under the so-called ‘fast-track’ processing system, a system which has been heavily criticised for its procedural unfairness. Others spent years on either Manus Island or Nauru before being transferred to the Australian mainland. Almost none of these people is able to access any form of social security after the Federal Department of Home Affairs, under the previous government, severely curtailed eligibility. While most have work rights, those who came from either Manus Island or Nauru are not permitted to study.

It is extremely hard for many of these people to find work, or at least sufficient work, to make ends meet: they often have poor English language skills, their qualifications are not recognised and they cannot afford to retrain, they lack local work experience and contacts, their age in some cases counts against them, and some have serious physical and mental health problems. Even more importantly, the fact that they only possess temporary short-term bridging visas (usually of only six month’s duration that need to be constantly renewed), acts as a major obstacle to securing a job.

Circle of Friends has been advocating on behalf of these asylum seekers to the Federal government with a view, at the very least, to reinstate some form of social security, but also to allow this cohort of people to re-apply for protection under a fairer system that allows for a merits-based appeal.

In the meantime, however, there remains a large need for financial assistance for basic living costs for this group of asylum seekers. To enable us to continue to support this vulnerable group of people we would be very grateful if you, or anyone you know, would like to donate to Circle of Friends Australia. All circles welcome donations. If you would like your donation to go to the circles that specifically help this vulnerable group of asylum seekers, please ask for it to go to either C110 (Rapid Response Circle) or C121 (SOS for Asylum Seekers).

Celebrity Quiz Night

Presented by Blackwood Circle of Friends .

All profits going to support refugees in our community.

Come join us for a high energy quiz night with Amazing Celebrity Quiz Masters including:

Put together your table of eight and prepare to compete!

When: 27 May, 6:30pm for 7pm start
Where: Blackwood Uniting Church, 266 Main Road, Blackwood SA 5051
Cost: $20.00

Bring your own nibbles to share with your table
BYO drinks and glasses, (there will be a BYO license)
Tea and Coffee provided

Raffle and Silent Auction… so bring cash!

For further Information contact  Jenny Lewis 0418 848 508.

 Fundraiser – Circle of Hope – Refugees need our help!

We invite you to enjoy an evening with Circle of Hope (Circle 114) sampling a meal with lovely choices of Kurdish and Sudanese traditional food, as presented by dedicated chefs Gullala and Margaret.

Evening includes a chance to:

  • Learn how we support refugees
  • Hear Phil Barron speak about ‘Borders, what borders!?  What can we learn from globe-trotting birds?’. Phil a twitcher (with longstanding research on the ecological restoration and bird-life on Kaurna and Peramangk land) will use birdsong and photographs to appreciate and help us get to know our feathery friends!
  • Take part in a Lucky Dip!  Bring a small wrapped gift to go into the draw and…. for a small sum of $5 the luck of the draw may celebrate you as the person who received the most unusual gift!  Bring some cash for a few games:)

Invite your friends! Children under 10 years free.

When: 6pm Friday 19 May
Where: Spicer Uniting Church, 44a Fourth Avenue, St Peters, SA 5069.
Cost: $35 per person
Register via Humanitix. Registrations close on Friday morning 19 May. Please register early as possible to enable chefs to prepare.

You can let us know any dietary or other requirements via email. BYO Drinks.

The funds raised will support the rental costs, medical needs and living expenses of the refugees that Circle of Hope is currently supporting.

Multicultural Mother’s Day Fundraising Event

Celebrating Mothers and assembling Birthing Kits

Join us to honour memories and stories about our mums and help us to fold 200 Birthing Kits to send off to the Middle East and Africa (these facilitate a safer birth for women in places where hospitals are few and far between). We will also pack blankets for single mums giving birth at the Women and Children’s – you are welcome to donate a little toy for the baby, a small gift for the mum (like deodorant / body cream / a nice pair of socks) and the knitted blankets are already donated.

There will also be a chance to share a laugh with Interplay and enjoy afternoon tea delights including an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, Iranian Cakes and Savouries from the Kaurna home-soil!

Date and time: Sun 14 May 2023, 2:30 pm – 5 ish pm

Location: Prospect Road Uniting Church Hall, 174 Prospect Road, Prospect.

Cost: $15 per person, children under 18 free, $10 concession and donations welcome to support the important of Birthing Kit Foundation  and Zonta as we work to make a better world for all.

Proceeds to Circle of Friends Australia.

Please register via Humanitix.

For more information please email Liellie McLaughlin.

This event is part of a Community Connect Across Culture!