A table of kindness

The 3rd day of Christmas

We all know the main event of Christmas is food. It brings people together and breaks down barriers. The Welcome Dinner Project has been building on this idea since 2013, bringing established Australians and new arrivals together to share a meal.

Founder Penny Elsley was working in settlement education, hearing over and over that many new arrivals had never set foot in an Australian’s house. Her initial plan to bring people together to share their “common humanity” has now “expanded and ourished beyond anyone’s wildest dreams,” says project co-ordinator Rachel Clark.

For new arrivals, a meal offers a sense of community. For established Australians, it’s a chance to learn from the experiences of people from across the globe. “Bringing people together is the most powerful, transformative act for changing perspectives,” says Rachel.

Christmas provides the chance to extend an invitation – visit welcomedinnerproject.org