Girls’ school’s generous donation

“The girls of SCEGGS and their parents have given SSI this money to support the most immediate needs of our refugee and asylum seeker clients,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“Most of SSI’s clients who are seeking asylum do not have visas to work in Australia and live on an average $32 a day. People from refugee backgrounds can also face many barriers as a result of the circumstances that brought them to Australia. SSI provides support through various initiatives that aren’t all funded and so donations such as these are vital.

“Donations will contribute to funding food and essential material items, like baby clothes and kitchenware, or they can pay for travel costs to health services. Donations also contribute towards funding SSI’s Community Kitchen, Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative, arts and culture projects and education.

“Everyone at SSI thanks SCEGGS for their very substantial support.”

SCEGGS Reverend Garry Lee-Lindsay said the money had been raised in a few ways. He said about $2000 was raised at the school’s annual Christmas service and more was raised at a mother-daughter morning tea and hat day.

SSI Team Leader Zoe Bell, who is an alumnus of SCEGGS, spoke at the morning tea about her work with people seeking asylum.

“Initially, I talked to Zoe about doing something for refugees and asylum seekers for Christmas,” Reverend Lee-Lindsay said. “There are quite a few people in the community that want to do something to help asylum seekers and refugees but find it difficult to know what organisations they can get involved with. Through this exercise, it has shown some good opportunities to donate or volunteer to help.”

Organisations and individuals interested in supporting SSI and its clients can contact Community Engagement and Capacity Manager Trina Soulos: tsoulos@ssi.org.au.

Or donations can be given by following the Donate Now button below. SSI is a registered charity!