Caroline, Community Support Officer celebrates her 10th year with SCARF. “In 2012, I was new to Wollongong and was looking specifically to volunteer with people from refugee backgrounds”. Carolyn came across SCARF online, and rang Sharyn, SCARF’s founder. The following week she started volunteering for SCARF every Friday in the...
We’re excited to introduce the new faces in our SCARF virtual office. Join us in welcoming Emily, Drew, Cherie and Sitara to the staff team! Emily, Volunteer Support Officer Having studied, worked and lived in the Illawarra for the past eight years, Emily is passionate about creating inclusive, empathetic and...
PRINCESS “I’m 19 and I just graduated from year 12 at Illawarra Christian School. I’m currently studying at the UOW College to get into nursing next year. I came to Australia with uncle Dennis in 2006, with my brother Kadu, and then later on my aunty Annie (pictured below) joined...
Commencing this Sunday, 17th of June is Refugee Week. To celebrate the diversity and common humanity of all people, we have been interviewing and photographing individuals from a range of backgrounds and experiences in the Illawarra community in a collaborative storytelling project with Bear Hunt Photography called ‘The More You Know’....
“To all SCARF’s members, former and present, I hope this email meets you in good health. I am writing to inform you that my younger student, Alphonso has completed high school, and to also thank you for your extraordinary support that got all my children through high school. In 2005,...
“My name’s Azita. I’m Afghani, but I was born in Iran. My parents were born in Afghanistan but forced to flee because of the Revolution – my father was a politician, on the opposing side. My uncle was shot for his political beliefs and later died. My parents felt safe...
“I’m from Myanmar and I was a refugee in Malaysia for about 7 years. In Malaysia my wife and I were scared about the Police and criminals, and if we were sick it was very hard to get medicine as we were asylum seekers and didn’t have passports. After we...
“I had to leave Iraq because I had war in my country. I’m also a journalist, so that’s very big trouble. I didn’t have safety. After one month in Australia, I came to SCARF. The language is very hard for me, so I can’t find a job, I can’t study. I...
It’s often commented that one of the best things about SCARF are the friendships formed in our community. Indeed, many SCARF friendships have become lifelong, continuing outside the parameters of volunteer roles and SCARF activities. SCARF actively encourages friendships through our Befriending Program, where volunteers are paired with community members....
“My name is Ghada. I came from Syria to Australia with my family, who are my husband and 5 children. We arrived in Australia on the 15th of January 2015. Language has been the most difficult challenge of living in Australia. My family and I speak Arabic. Leaving family behind...
