BOOK-SALE BOON
GIRL GUIDES
ALWAYS wanted to know what goes on at Girl Guides? Here’s your chance to find out.
Gold Coast Girl Guides is hosting a free come and try day at Benowa on April 6. Explore the outdoors with games, get a taste for camping with cooking, test your skills at knotting and try an obstacle course.
Each activity is designed to help you discover something new about yourself.
Girls aged 5 to 17 are invited to attend.
The day runs from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Sir Bruce Small Park.
Gold Coast Girl Guides has units in Beenleigh, Burleigh, Coomera, Labrador, Logan, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Ormeau, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Mt Tamborine and Tugun. The Unknown Project and Griffith University have joined forces to help raise vital funds for refugees through selling second-hand books STRUGGLING local refugee students are receiving vital resources thanks to an army of Griffith volunteers putting a twist on the classic book sale.
The Unknown Project, a Brisbane-based social enterprise, has spread its wings to Griffith University. The goal is to provide students at the Multicultural Families Organisation, a refugee support agency, with stationery and technology by selling mystery books across the Gold Coast.
Griffith University project leader Natalie Durack said the social enterprise is going full steam ahead on all campuses.
“We are collecting secondhand books from the community and holding regular wrapping workshops,” she said.
“We wrap the books in brown paper to conceal their identity and inscribe three clues on the front about the themes, plot and genre of the book.
“We then sell them for $5 at a range of events with all profit going straight to the centre. We have recently donated 18 iPads, tech accessories, and board games.
“We have sold 100 books already this year — our goal is to sell another 300.”
The Unknown Project cofounder Rory McGahan said the social enterprise was born in the wake of her and Olivia Roney’s experience with families from a refugee and asylum seeker background.
“After my experience with the legacy case load at the Red Cross legal clinic I truly understood how insane this global crisis was,” Ms McGahan said.
“We needed to do something, we could not just talk about it. We started our project at the Suitcase Rummage and the rest is history.
“We are so excited to make this partnership with Griffith University.”
Ms Durack said she wanted to get involved after hearing about the project’s success at the Romero Centre in Brisbane.
“It was great to see a social enterprise raising funds that go directly to purchasing products that are a necessity for children,” she said.
“Many students I encounter struggle with their English and fitting into school. It can be quite a culture shock.
“Nevertheless, as many of them have been denied an education in their home country they are enthused to study and give back to the local community.”
Multicultural Families Organisation Homework Club youth development coordinator Wai Yin Naidoo said they are blessed to receive donations for young people, who are a large proportion of their clientele.
“The children are overjoyed to have received the tablets, accessories and board games,” she said.
Multicultural Families Organisation executive director Cornelia Babbage said students typically from Ethiopia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq cannot afford to partake in social experiences like their Australian-born peers. To counteract this, the centre now has social afternoons at Headspace in Southport.
“The idea of the homework club is to provide academic assistance, but also activities that enhance wellbeing,” Ms Babbage said.
“If their wellbeing isn’t cared for, it is hard for them to achieve anything in their lifetime.”
Rory and Olivia hope the project will expand to other communities and empower them to challenge damaging stereotypes and to promote connection and inclusion for all.
Second-hand books can be donated to Griffith University libraries and Headspace in Southport.
The mystery books can be purchased from regular market days at Griffith University, or in bulk for corporate and special events.