For the past four years I have been a volunteer at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in West Melbourne and have seen first hand the wonderful work they do at the coalface.
As most of you know I have a soft spot for the amazing work done for asylum seekers by The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and their wonderful leader Kon.
Well, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is on the move to the new ASRC Home of Hope in Footscray. A couple of weeks ago I took helped out at one of their many working bees to get the site ready. They have had a wonderful turnout by those in the community happy to donate their time to this wonderful organastion and the people they help.
I'm privileged to be able to give my time and provide my professional services to help with their interiors. Kon's vision is to create a place where asylum seekers feel welcome, safe and supported, and the amazing team of staff and volunteers there do just that. What I am hoping to do is create a space just as special.
Since 2001 the ASRC has grown to be Australia’s largest asylum seeker organisation. In its first 9 years the ASRC has assisted over 7000 people seeking asylum, provided more than 1 million hours of free help and turned no one in need away. All of this has been achieved with almost no government funding, with more than 95% of their funding coming solely from the community and philanthropy. The ASRC does it all – from direct aid, welfare and medical care, to strengthening families and communities through community development, to campaigning for social change.
So with all of their rescources going into the wonderful services they provide there's really nothing left in the kitty to inject some warmth into the space. They have been lucky enough to have office and other basic furniture donated, but I'm hoping to bring so much more.
So how can you help? I'm hoping that local suppliers/ designers/ artists/ the community may be able to donate some things to make this space a home away from home. You can see from the colour scheme that we are not afraid of colour...
If you think you have something to donate that we may be interested in please email me at info@petrinaturnerdesign.com.au and I can get in touch with you to let you know what we are looking for to work with our scheme. Please type “ASRC Home of Hope” in the subject.
In short it is things like:
Cushions
Rugs
Side tables
Artwork/ prints
White and/or coloured pots for pot plants
White picture frames (various sizes)
Lots of coloured vinyl that we can make fitted table clothes for the community meals area
Childrens furniture/ floor cushions
Childrens indoors play equipment
Toys
Oh and I mentioned they are opening on April 1 right? So if you are interested in helping out I would love to hear from you by mid March so that I have time to curate and install everything.
Please feel free to pass this on to anyone who may be interested... it is the gift of hope to those most vulnerable in our community... asylum seekers.
Thank you!
Petrina xx
PS - Please contact me and not the ASRC with your enquiries regarding the interior fitout as they have quite a lot on their plate looking after people in need.
#itsnotillegaltoseekasylum #ascr #refugees
