Appeal from Selba-Gondoza Luka, CEO of Afri-Aus Care, for a roadworthy vehicle
Mama Veronica is one of the Co-founders of the Empowering African Mothers: UBUNTU in Practice Program, developed by Afri-Aus Care and funded by the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
The UBUNTU Program uses culturally appropriate and responsive approaches to build capacities of African mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds to support their children and families, some of whom are in contact with the justice system and/or are at risk of offending or reoffending.
The program’s use of UBUNTU practices and the Positive Change Model Methodology has seen the empowerment of over 100 African Australian mothers and provided positive employment outcomes for a large majority.
Since coming to Afri-Aus Care in 2018, unemployed and struggling to support her family of 12, Mama Veronica has been empowered; she is now employed as a Disability Support Worker, and spends her time working with Afri-Aus Care to support disadvantaged and isolated African mothers facing similar struggles she has overcome.
However, recent events have left Mama Veronica feeling stressed and anxious. One of her sons was driving her car and got into an accident. She was lent a vehicle so she could continue working. That car has since ‘died’, so Veronica now has no mode of transport to get to work, drop off/pick up her children from school, and complete daily activities of living such as grocery shopping etc.
Veronica’s job requires a car, however she is limited financially as the money she makes from her job is only enough to pay her mortgage and support her younger children. At times she is living from week to week, so she is not in a position to buy a new or used car, and is now at risk of losing her job, the stability she has achieved through becoming empowered, and becoming socially isolated and succumbing to deteriorated mental health due to the pressure of these burdens.
On behalf of Veronica, Afri-Aus Care is seeking a vehicle. It only needs to be roadworthy. If she is able to get a car, it will enable her to continue to work, support her young children, and support Afri-Aus Care to assist other struggling African mothers.
If you can help please contact Robert Fisher.
My thanks to Robert Fisher and the Melbourne Rotary Club for their continuous support of marginalised African Australians.
Selba-Gondoza Luka
15 July 2022
Rotarians might like to view the video below showing Mama Veronica – Speaking about the Empowering African Mothers: UBUNTU in Practice program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57uZ8_pHXzU&ab_channel=Afri-AusCareInc.
