ADRA Community Centre – Springvale South (Settle Assist) Australia

ADRA’s Settle Assist project provides integrated social and mental health support services to migrant youth at-risk and their families in Melbourne’s southeast in partnership with Afri-Aus Care Inc. Through our services and programs we promote social inclusion, crime prevention, community development, and youth resilience using the Concept of Ubuntu and The Positive Change Model.

The partnership provides coaching and mentoring through basketball with the Black Rhinos Basketball Club and the Ubuntu Peer-Peer Restorative Family Programs. We also provide healthy cooking on a budget, conversational English classes, alternative education and employment pathways, community gardening, culturally appropriate family support, children’s numeracy and literacy support, creative learning and inspiration programs, sewing, fashion and design classes, culturally appropriate advocacy through the court network, and prison visits. Women participation and interaction with youth is paramount in most of our program.

Youth are offered the opportunity to choose what program they would like to participate in. Our programs aim to assist youth in becoming more open to learning new values and the importance of respecting themselves and others. Our current youth leaders found that such programs have helped them to increase their self-confidence and self-esteem, make connections to peer networks, build positive relationships, and have increased their employability, among additional benefits and positive outcomes. We are always looking for more willing volunteers to get involved, form friendships, and make a positive difference in the community. Please contact Centre Manager Kwacha Luka at [email protected] for more information.