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18–22 September 2023

Living in Australia Program (LAP)

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Last month's program had 35 participants from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Guatemala, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Ukraine. Almost all had been in Australia for only 2-3 months. Some spoke good English, but a group of older participants who spoke almost no English.

    This program could never run without the generosity and support of our homestay hosts – 23 this time – who invited our guests into their homes. Or the 37 classroom volunteers who worked with small groups or (for those with almost no English) one to one.

 

Read the full report

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11–15 April 2023

Living in Australia Program (LAP)
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Formerly called Learn English Holiday (LEH), the April program was held at Immanuel Lutheran College. We were very grateful to have the use of such wonderful facilities and the support of several other organisations and people: Community Underwriting, Buddies’ public liability insurance provider who gave us a grant to fund both 2023 LAPs; St John’s College Nambour, Wildlife HQ,  Immanuel Church volunteers and Kendall, Linsey, Ziena, Jemima, Gun and Mu-raay.

 

Read the full report

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LAP 1
LAP 2
LAP 3
LAP 4
LAP 5
LAP 6
LAP 7
LAP 8
LAP 9
LAP 10
LAP 11
LAP 12

12 November 2022

Buddies 20th Anniversary Dinner
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Buddies members recently enjoyed a night of celebration and festivities at a multicultural buffet with entertainment held at Connections on King in Buderim

    Ex-Director Paul McKinlay and special guest Barbara Brewster, founder of Buddies, reminisced about the early years of Buddies and launched the recently produced book 20 years in the making

    The event also included a buffet prepared by Siva, recent proprietor of Raj Restaurant in Noosaville and an exhibition of multicultural dancing.

 

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A good gathering of Buddies old and newer

A good gathering of Buddies old and newer

previous Buddies Director Paul Mckinlay

previous Buddies Director Paul Mckinlay

Barbara Brewster, founder of Buddies speaks about how we came into being and the political

Barbara Brewster, founder of Buddies speaks about how we came into being and the political

Barbara Brewster, founder of Buddies.

Barbara Brewster, founder of Buddies.

Long term Buddies members Kayla Szumer and Margaret Landbeck

Long term Buddies members Kayla Szumer and Margaret Landbeck

Buddies Director Len Mangan

Buddies Director Len Mangan

A delicious meal was prepared and served up by Siva and helpers

A delicious meal was prepared and served up by Siva and helpers

A delicious meal buffet style

A delicious meal buffet style

Multicultural dancing

Multicultural dancing

20 year flyer

20 year flyer

18-23 September 2022

Learn English Holiday

Lesley Willcoxson

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Our homestay hosts and classroom volunteers have missed the opportunity to share their lives with our refugee guests due to COVID-19, so this LEH program was extra special!
    On this occasion we had 26 participants in the program - from Ukraine (11) Iran (3), Afghanistan (5), Tibet (2), Iraq (4) and Syria (1). Along with the 17 adults and a teenager we also hosted 8 children under the age of 8, most of whom were here as part of a single-parent, female-led family. We therefore not only ran a program for adults but also ran a separate full program for the children.

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READ LESLEY's FULL REPORT

 

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LEH participants and friends

LEH participants and friends

Connie and Phoebe - volunteers with children's  program

Connie and Phoebe - volunteers with children's program

Connie and friends

Connie and friends

Ziena with LEH participants

Ziena with LEH participants

Nataliia and Mariia (Ukraine)

Nataliia and Mariia (Ukraine)

Linsey Pollak

Linsey Pollak

Listening to Linsey's music

Listening to Linsey's music

Linsey Pollak and the group making music

Linsey Pollak and the group making music

Preparing to dance at the Multicultural Dinner

Preparing to dance at the Multicultural Dinner

Card games - on a wet day at the beach!

Card games - on a wet day at the beach!

Meeting the snake at Wildlife HQ

Meeting the snake at Wildlife HQ

Ozra and friend

Ozra and friend

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