Firstly I want to say thank you to supporters: whether giving time as a volunteer, passionate support as an advocate or generosity as a donor. However you support the work we do – we are so incredibly grateful!
Because of this support the ASRC can continue to provide critical wrap around services that people seeking asylum desperately need right now.
I am writing to ask for help again because rising cost of living pressures continue to take a real toll on the people we serve who are already dealing with so much past trauma, stress and financial pressure.
I want to share with you Aaliyah’s* story – her family came to Australia seeking safety from Myanmar when she was only 9 years old, fleeing decades long unrest and conflict. Life was uncertain and dangerous, forcing her parents to make a decision that they hoped would transform their lives for the better.
When they arrived in Australia and sought asylum they were granted a bridging visa, with the hope that permanency would soon follow. Yet, a decade later, Aaliyah and her family have been living in limbo, subject to endless reapplications, ongoing delays and living in constant fear of being returned to the place they were escaping.
To make things worse, Aaliyah’s father suddenly passed away earlier this year leaving Aaliyah’s family heartbroken, devastated and with no income.
These are the words of 19 year old Aaliyah*:
"I know I have to be strong. I have to help myMum and be there for my Brother and Sister.Inzali cries at nights and I can see Yesheclosing off – when our Mum gets really downit's even harder – we all miss Dad so much."
No teen, or young adult should have to bear the burden of supporting their entire family because of the broken system of seeking asylum in Australia. It is unfair, it is shameful, it is a consequence that we cannot accept.
Aaliyah’s mother Marlar* was already managing complex mental health issues, including severe depression and long-term impacts of trauma. But after her husband passed away Marlar’s mental health spiralled and she started to get debilitating migraines.
“We didn’t have a lot, but mum liked the house spotless. She was shy outside and would always ask me to translate, but she enjoyed going out with me and my siblings. Now, she is quiet all the time, she doesn’t leave the house unless she has to. She still looks after Yeshe and Inzali when they are at home, but she’s like a ghost. It can get really bad when she gets migraines. It’s very tough”
Unfortunately, this is something many people seeking asylum and their families experience during the years stuck in the system.
This winter your donation will help provide refugees and people seeking asylum like Aaliyah and her family a hand up in the form of food, healthcare, counselling and employment support while they rebuild their lives in the community.
I encourage you to watch this 2min video as Aaliyah shares her story of hope for a better future.
I am so inspired by Aaliyah’s resilience. Despite what she and her family are facing Aaliyah is still filled with hope. A day when her whole family will be granted permanency so they can finally rebuild their lives and have the future they always hoped for.
In a world of injustice - will you choose to support resilience?
Aaliyah had no choice but to go to work to support her family. Here is a young person who is navigating the cruel circumstance she finds herself in, yet remains determined to show up for her family, support their basic needs and help look after her brother and sister.
Please give a hand up for families like Aaliyah’s this winter.
Your urgent support will make sure people can access their immediate needs like vital healthcare, medications, food, housing support and emergency relief payments to help with paying rent and bills.
As thousands of people seeking asylum face so much injustice and adversity, together we can choose to support resilience and give people seeking asylum the hand up they need this winter.
In hope,
Kon Karapanagiotidis, CEO and Founder
PS: When you donate today, you are providing a hand up to people like Aaliyah seeking asylum this winter - giving them access to food, a health clinic, medication, housing and legal support this winter. Please give before June 30. If you would like to donate by phone before June 30th or if you have any further questions, please call us on 1300 692 772 Monday-Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm. For other donation enquiries please email us on fundraising@asrc.org.au
PPS: If you have recently donated, thank you so much! Please don’t feel pressure to donate again if you are unable to.
*Detail and names changed throughout to protect the identities of people seeking asylum
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is an independent not for profit whose programs support and empower over 7,000 people seeking asylum each year to maximise their physical, mental and social wellbeing. As a movement we mobilise and unites communities to creating social and policy change for people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia.
MORE:
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)
214-218 Nicholson St, Footscray VIC 3011, Melbourne Australia
The ASRC acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and pay our respects to their elders; past, present and emerging.