SSI volunteer Maria Hitchcock is no stranger to a worthy cause, or the challenges of coming to a new country. Having come to Australia at the age of three from post war Europe, she recalls her own family’s journey while she works with the newcomers to the Armidale community.
Ethiopian refugee and 33-year old single mother Adi Tefera arrived in Australia as a young child. Today she keeps herself busy in Sydney with her young son Yonathon along with her passion for food and a rapidly expanding pipeline of new business projects.
Four Brave Women is open for business!
Developed as a joint initiative between The Trading Circle, a division of the charity Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, and SSI, Four Brave Women is a café and community space where refugees have the opportunity to create a sustainable income for themselves using their culinary skills. It is a creative and inclusive space that celebrates different cultures through food and art.
Read more: Four Brave Women: Summer Hill café empowers refugee entrepreneurs
Sue Vile was among the first to be inducted into the SSI’s Armidale volunteer program, bringing with her a wealth of experience and existing training gathered from her time in aid work, in Australia and abroad.
A retired school teacher and nurse, Sue has dedicated an enormous amount of her time in recent years on the front line of humanitarian services, helping refugees at many stages of their journey to safety.
Violet Roumeliotis has been recognised as the 2017 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year. As the CEO of SSI, Ms Roumeliotis has overseen innovative diversification leading to more than 1,100 per cent revenue growth
Read more: CEO Violet Roumeliotis 2017 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year
I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria. Syria is the country where I attended school and university for free, where I enjoyed safety and security, where I learned to communicate and respect others even when we have differences in religion, thought, doctrine or ideology,” she said.
Read more: Bright future ahead for new Australian Dana Al Samaan
Ania Kebabjian fled Syria via Lebanon and arrived to Australia in 2016 as a refugee. She admits that starting up a new life and settling in takes time - but 2017 was different, Ania explains to Marie Claire magazine, as she finally feels at home.
Read more: Ania Kebabjian story featured in Marie Claire Fashion Magazine: "I made Australia home"
Bassam Maaliki, a 14-year-old student at Homebush Bay High School and founder of the social change campaign #uBelong, was announced winner of the Youth Medal at the NSW Premier’s Harmony Dinner on 21 March 2018.
Arriving in Australia in 2013 marked the beginning of a new life and career for 49-year-old Saman Khaladj.
Read more: Ignite helps Saman Khaladj Iranian refugee forge new career path
No-one knows more about the barriers people with disability face every day than someone with a lifetime of first-hand experience. But what can apparently be a drawback has been used by Yagoona resident Quang Nyugen as a drive to establish his own business, while also finding a way to help the community.
Read more: Quang Nyugen an entrepreneur with disability breaking down barriers
