Double Celebration Supporting Refugees in Cumberland
By Ruben Amores
Sydney-Australia
September 6, 2019
ASCON members who attended the ceremony posed following the signing of the Declaration: (from L to R) Nava Sangarapillai, Glorina Papaioannou, Izeta Zecevic, Dr Cen Amores, Caroline Cardos and Ghassan Alassadi .
On the 29th of August 2019, the Cumberland Council and the Refugee Council of Australia signed the Declaration of Cumberland Local Government Area as a Refugee Welcome Zone. It also coincided with the celebration of the successful Refugee Camp in My Neighbourhood Project. Mayor Greg Cummings announced that as part of the declaration, Council will be putting up signages to various community facilities declaring that Cumberland is a Refugee Welcome Zone.
The Auburn Centre for Community was full to capacity as Cumberland Council members and staff, representatives of various local community organisations, refugees who were employed as tour guides, other guests and supporters gathered to support this initiative of celebrating the benefits of diversity, inclusion and upholding the human rights of refugees.
Now in its sixth year, the award-winning Refugee Camp in My Neighbourhood is a partnership project of Cumberland Council and Auburn Small Community Organisation Network (ASCON) Inc, supported by NSW Refugee Health Service, Refugee Advice & Casework Service, STARTTS and the NSW Government and was funded by DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club.
After the awarding of the Certificate of Appreciation to ASCON by Cumberland Council: (from L to R) Merryn Howell, Cumberland Council’s Manager Community Development and Placement, Caroline Cardos, Dr Cen Amores, Ghassan Alassadi and Brooke Endycott, Cumberland Council’s Director of Community Development (Photo taken by Glorina Papaioannou)
In recognition of its contributions to the Refugee Camp in My Neighbourhood Project, the Auburn Small Community Organisation Network (ASCON ) Inc led by its current president, Dr Cen Amores , received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Cumberland Council.