What a privilege! Rotarians meeting, conversing, laughing and sharing beautiful African, Indian and Malaysian cuisine with 75 inspirational women and three men at the Changepreneurs’ International Women’s Day Event 2024.
Rotary SAFE Families Inclusive Communities Initiative’s Peter Berg (Rotary Melbourne) and Dorothy Gilmour (Rotary Hawthorn) were privileged to be part of the Changepreneurs International Women’s Day event at Hoppers Crossing where they presented to Community Leaders and Victorian Government Ministers.
SAFE Families Inclusive Communities works in partnership with Changepreneurs in empowering young women through outreach, education and mentorship.As part of her presentation, Dorothy was asked to provide an activity around coercive control and its dangerous impact. Much noise and conversation was generated. Chocolate was promised to the winning table, but Dorothy explained after totalling the scores, that Rotary focuses on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity so in respect of this, chocolate was given to all participants much to the delight of all.
Along with the Mayor of Wyndham Jennie Barrera, three Members of Parliament and presidents of many multicultural organisations, Dorothy and Peter met the most articulate, refreshing young women.
Connections and friendships were made which have already provided opportunities for our Inclusive Communities Team to reach out to many more diverse communities. Together, we can work towards the prevention of family abuse in culturally and linguistically diverse Australians.
Our Guide for Prevention of Family Abuse in Australia is now available online and translated into nine languages: Farsi, Dari, Hindi, Somalian, Swahili, Arabic, Mandarin, Greek and English. Printed resources are available via Dorothy Gilmour: gilmour.dorothy@gmail.com
As well as Changepreneurs, the Inclusive Communities Initiative is working with East African Women’s Foundation, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and the Australian Multicultural Media Centre. Thanks to Rotary Caroline Springs’ Ron Moss, we have now welcomed Rotary Richmond’s Lookman Lawal to our Team to commence a project connecting and working with African Youth. Watch this space! www.rotarysafefamilies.org.au
Remember: Abuse Prevention Begins with YOU and ME!