Focus on Giving

Words Georgie Arnaud

Start your year in the giving spirit. If you’re looking to begin the new year by giving to others and emitting positive energy into the world, we’ve got the perfect answers to your generous dreams. Make a plan of all the ways you’re going to give back throughout the year. Each issue we feature three different charities committed to giving back to people less fortunate than ourselves. So, start your year off the right way sending love to those who need it, because we all hope to receive the same kindness that we give to others this year. You know what they say, “you get what you give.”

ZIG ZAG

YOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTRE

We had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing Sonja Ter Horst, Centre Support Coordinator at Zig Zag Young Women’s Resource Centre. Zig Zag provides a range of free, confidential, specialist services to young women and the wider community in the Wider Brisbane, Brisbane North, and Brisbane Southwest regions. Services include counselling, advocacy, and support to young women aged 12 to 25 years who have experienced sexual violence; and medium term supported accommodation, intensive housing support, and mobile support services to young women aged 16-25 years who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. We also offer professional training and information resources to the community in appropriately responding to these issues.

Zig Zag recognises the diversity amongst young women and we work in a way that promotes safety, and is collaborative, inclusive, supportive, and respectful. Zig Zag is committed to ethical practice and a process of continuous reflection and development that is informed by young women, practice wisdom and shared knowledge.

HOW DID THE ZIG ZAG YOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTRE ORIGINATE?

Zig Zag was established in May 1988, as an initiative of the Youth Advocacy Centre to provide services that responded to the unique needs of young women in the Wider Brisbane region that included responding to issues relating to sexual violence and harassment, accommodation, and the need to create a safe place for young women to obtain advice, support, and information.

Established as a community-based organisation based on principles of feminism and community development, funding was initially allocated for two full-time Support Worker positions. Thirtythree years later, Zig Zag employs eighteen part time workers and is funded to provide services to young women across three service sites at Camp Hill, Nundah, and Richlands. WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL AIM AS A CHARITY?

Start Believing Banner 2021

Nature Day Event 2021 WHY SHOULD OUR SUBSCRIBERS DONTATE TO ZIG ZAG?

Zig Zag relies on the generous donations provided by the community to provide direct brokerage support to assist young women aged 12 – 25 years in areas not covered under Government funding agreements.

This can include supplying basic furnishings and white goods to young homeless women and their children when transitioning into independent housing; providing childcare for young women attending group programs and court proceedings; educational and skills development costs such as driving lessons; and medical costs not covered by Medicare.

Zig Zag is committed to helping women out of difficult situations and empowering them to feel supported and capable of independence. To donate head over to the Zig Zag website or to become a part of the Zig Zag team, check the current vacancies listed on their website and create change from within.

Make your donations to Zig Zag Young Women's Resource Centre at www.zigzag.org.au

Zig Zag Young Women's Resource Centre

NORTHSHORE

MUM'S SMILE'S2U

If you are looking to put a smile on someone’s face this January and help them start their year in high spirits, consider making a donation to Northshore Mums Smiles2U. Northshore mums dedicate their time to providing support to children, adults and carers who visit the emergency room in local hospitals around NSW.

NSM Smiles2U was created with the viewpoint that when in distress, all it takes is a moment of kindness and care to point someone to the light at the end of the tunnel. A smile can make all the difference. Their care packages help every day people, our neighbours, our friends, receive some love and support during their hardest times. A lot of us know how difficult it is to stay positive in times of crisis, NSM Smiles 2U are giving people that little glimmer of hope to push through to better days. NSM Smiles2U provide packs with fun and creative activities for kids during their hospital stay, including puzzles, colouring books and more depending on the age of the recipient.

SMILES BAGS

ESSENTIAL PACKS

Essential packs are provided to adult patients with a range of essential items including, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, tissues and much more.

CANCER CARE PACKS

NSM Smiles 2U provide both a men’s and women’s themed care pack for cancer patients and loved ones of cancer patients. Included in the packs is items ranging from bath bombs ad nail polish to drink bottles and socks. The smallest gifts can go a long way in lifting a patient’s mood.

NSM Smiles2U was founded by Michelle Key 6 years ago after experiencing a number of hospital visits with her 3 children, there is only so much YouTube and ABC Kids that a child can cope with for hours on end. After months of research and contacting local hospitals to find out what was needed in Emergency, NSM Smiles2U was launched in July.

“A lot of work goes into Smiles2U every day but the reward is huge when we receive lovely testimonials and photos from recipients of our bags and I wouldn’t change it for anything else.” – Founder of NSM Smiles2U, Michelle Key

North Shore Mums Smiles2U is a 100% voluntary charity which aims to bring care and comfort to the many children, adults and carers who pass through the Emergency doors of our local hospitals every day. The packages are made to help everyone's needs when disaster strikes. These packs have been carefully put together with items to support the patient with comfort and care whilst going through a very challenging time in their lives.

NSM Smiles2U is 100% Voluntary funded, they rely on the community and local businesses for support. Without their support, they can't continue supporting the 12 local hospitals in Sydney and on the Central Coast. "Many thanks for everything you do. Your care pack was much appreciated during my daughters unexpected recent stay at RNSH. It very much helped to distract her during some difficult moments. Your adults care pack was also much appreciated by me. We have paid it forward and thank you for everything you do."- anonymous patient who turned to NSM Smiles2U for help.

Smiles2U became a Registered Charity in NSW with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status in 2020 and continues to work towards providing support to anyone is disastrous situations or who just need something to make them smile.

Make your donations to Northshore Mums Smiles2U at www.northshoremumssmiles2u.com

Northshore Mums Smiles2U north_shore_mums_smiles2u

GOT YOUR YOUR BACK SISTA

We were excited to interview Founder and CEO of Got Your Back Sista, Melissa Histon.

HOW DID GOT YOUR BACK SISTA ORIGINATE?

As a trained photographer, I had always wanted to go to a third world country to undertake a photography project for a nonprofit organisation. In 2014, that dream came true. I went to Nepal to help make the documentary about the sex trafficking of Nepali women and children.

For the next two weeks, our small team travelled around rural and remote Nepal with the Three Angels Nepal team, visiting the poorest of the poor villages. Three Angels Nepal is wonderful non-profit that rescues girls who have been trafficked and provides them with a place to live and job skills training, so they are not at risk of being trafficked again or falling into prostitution.

After two weeks of hearing the most horrendous stories from girls and women who had been kidnapped, tricked into going with a trafficker with hopes of a better life, drugged, raped, tortured and worse, I was changed forever. Coming back to Australia I felt compelled to do something: but what? I felt a sense of destiny, that I had had that experience for a reason and now it was time to figure out why and what I was going to do about it. I wanted to make real impact. The fire in my belly was lit. Like so many places around the world, domestic violence is a real issue in our community: a problem that no-one has solved as yet. I had witnessed the impact of violence on the girls we had interviewed in Nepal.

I researched the issue in Australia and found a gap to help women rebuild their lives after fleeing domestic violence. At the beginning of 2016, Got Your Back Sista was registered as a charity.

Our vision is to see women and their children happy, thriving and living independently after escaping the trauma of family violence. As such, Got Your Back Sista offers benevolent relief and support to women and children escaping domestic violence and who are at risk of living below the poverty line.

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL AIM AS A CHARITY?

Our Begin Again program helps women and children, moving from a refuge or violent home to independent living, to setup a safe home by providing furniture, white goods and household items, plus food and personal care items.

Our Rise Up & Thrive includes workshops and programs to help women gain the confidence, resilience, support and skills they need to be happy, live independently, achieve life goals, feel socially connected and thrive. Our Stand Tall Sista program is 6-week selfdefence that empowers women and girls to know what to do if they ever feel unsafe are threatened attacked or abused. It’s a great opportunity to learn about personal space and boundaries and learn tips and techniques to feel safe. Our Education Programs provide attendees with basic computer and administration skills. These skills will equip participants with basic tools to enter the work force assist with entering further education and help family members with school computer work. Our Community Campaigns and Partnerships are integral to engaging the broader community to stand against domestic violence and educate people about healthy relationships. WHY SHOULD OUR SUBSCRIBERS DONATE TO GYBS? Got Your Back Sista is a regional organisation that is having real impact supporting and lifting women to rebuild their lives after fleeing domestic violence. We are not government funded and so rely on the generosity of our community, corporates and individuals who help us to help women and children in need.

HOW DOES GYBS ENCOURAGE THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN? We don’t just give women a handout, we give them a hand up! We empower women to thrive by helping them to set life goals and teaching the tools and skills to achieve those goals. We run education courses as a pathway to employment so that they can be financially independent and are not at risk of living below the poverty line.

What Can You Do? • Make an individual financial donation • Partner with us for one our Community

Campaigns • Nominate Got Your Back Sista as your preferred workplace charity • Hold a fundraiser on behalf of Got Your

Back Sista • Donate grocery gift cards, new household items like toasters, linen and blankets, and new clothing.

Make your donations to Got Your Back Sista at www.gotyourbacksista.com

Got Your Back Sista

Gotyourbacksista

women’s financial outcomes

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