So much news and so many new connections and events, our Inclusive Communities Initiative has proven to be very successful with Rotarians and many multicultural diverse communities. Our Guide for Prevention of Family Abuse in Australia has now been translated by volunteers into 9 languages: Farsi, Dari, Hindi, Swahili, Somalian, Greek, Mandarin, Arabic, (soon Dinka) and of course English.

We are working closely with the following:

• Changepreneurs (Association of young women from migrant backgrounds dedicated to making positive changes in the Australian community one goal of which is promoting awareness of family violence and child abuse and relevant community programs. Creator Abiola Akinbiyi (Rotary Wyndham Harbour)
• East African Women's Foundation (non-profit community association that has worked with the East African community in Melbourne at a grass roots level since 2007, providing casework, advocacy and settlement and referral services as well as successfully running many events and projects to address community needs.
• Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria
• Ethnic Council of Shepparton
• Rotary Clubs from far and wide: Melbourne, Caroline Springs, Chadstone/East Malvern, Carlton, Richmond, North Brighton, Wyndham Harbour, Nhill, E-Club Melbourne, E-Club District 9790 and 20 Clubs from District 9790 who have joined with us. We now have 145 Rotary Clubs following us.

Recent events we have been overwhelmed with interest, generosity of spirit and wonderful friendships:

Changepreneurs International Women's Day event, March 2024. Some of the 80 women, including 3 Members of Parliament, President of Multi-Cultural Organisations, 3 males and our Inclusive Communities Initiative with Dorothy presenting an interactive quiz on Coercive Control!

 Presenting on SBS Somalian Radio and Swahili Radio. Podcasts were made which are available on SBS website. 

A valuable member of our ICI Team Oscar Lumire is seen here recording a play he wrote for Kenyan radio. Oscar is a Rotarian from Rotary Kericho in Kenya

Peter Berg (Rotary Melbourne) and Dorothy showcasing at District 9800 Conference in Bendigo, 2024

Dorothy Gilmour with Victoria Community Policing Police before presenting to 600 Sikhs in a Temple in Tarneit.

Dorothy online in Mogadishu, Somalia with Global Peace Ambassadors at a Global Peace Conference. The slogan "Give Men a Choice and Women a Voice" was created by Dorothy at that meeting with African men who want to give women safety and a voice in their African nation. We must not try to change the culture of male dominance, but dominance does not include abusive behaviour. We need to give men something if we are to give women a voice. So a "choice" of how they choose to behave is how this slogan was created.

Here we are again, Peter Berg and Dorothy at the District 9790 Conference April 2024 in Shepparton. We were overwhelmed with the number of Rotarians especially from country Victoria, who want us to present to their club and take part in Rotary SAFE Families and especially Inclusive Communities.  Dorothy was Guest Speaker at Shepparton. Notice just some of our 9 translated Guide for Prevention of Family Abuse in Australia.

Dorothy with President Tania Aisbett and PE Kathy Noble after presenting the film Elder Abuse followed by an open forum at the Chadstone/East Malvern Club. This is one of 3 invitations from Chadstone/East Malvern. Thank you and especially for donating your Raffle money to RSF. Incidentally, a huge thank you to Rotary Maitland Sunrise who unexpectedly donated $1,000 to us. 

What's Next?

• Our ICI Team has been joined by Lookman Lawal (Rotary Richmond) and along with two new young African Australians, we are researching and planning to address African youth in Victoria.
• We have Workshops we are planning with many multicultural Community Leaders in Victoria so they are informed and able to support their own communities with prevention of family abuse whilst keeping families together (hopefully).
• We are meeting with more Afghan and Indian Australian Community Leaders.
• Dorothy has been booked for many more Rotary presentations especially showing the Members the film Elder Abuse. 

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