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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through LDS Charites donated household and educational equipment to the Romero Multicultural Hub in Brisbane this week.
An auspice of the Catholic Church, the Romero Multicultural Hub provides essential support and case coordination services to refugees and people seeking asylum in Brisbane.
The Romero Multicultural Hub offers practical support, legal connections, English classes and a range of other services to refugees and people seeking asylum, who often arrive in Australia with limited financial resources and little understanding of English.
When the Church became aware of the challenges refugees face in the Brisbane community, local Church leaders met with the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT) to see whether there was anything the Church could do to help. QPASTT directed them to the Romero Multicultural Hub.
A partnership with the Romero Multicultural Hub was soon formed, and the Church now assists the centre in doing the vital work of providing support to those in need.
The goods supplied by the Church will help ensure people in need have a place in the community that they can go to prepare meals, access computers, learn English and other skills.
The importance of the equipment donated by the Church means refugees in Brisbane will have a place to socialise and connect with other people in a safe, relaxed environment.
Beata Ostapiej-Piatkowski, Manager of the Romero Multicultural Hub, expressed her thanks for the work of the Church in assisting the centre.
“There are no words to express how moved we feel; not only by the amount of support received, but also by the manner in which it has been given to us. The commitment, compassion, adaptability and responsiveness of the Church to unmet needs in the community is truly inspiring,” Ms Ostapiej-Piatkowski said.
“We are very excited to set up the brand-new sofas, chairs, pantry fridge and absolutely stunning new electronic boards and screens received from the Church, and to see the asylum-seeking refugees receive the Romero services in a dignified and modern environment.
“We cannot wait to see the smiles of our English volunteer teachers and skill trainers when they see their new teaching equipment.
“We look forward to a continued and growing relationship with the Church and its members,” Ms Ostapiej-Piatkowski said.
Elder Carl R. Maurer, an Area Seventy and senior Church leader in Queensland, said the Church is grateful for the opportunity to bless the lives of others.
“It is a privilege for the Church to assist the Romero Centre with the vital work they do to help those in need in Brisbane,” Elder Maurer said.
“The donation from the Church will bless the lives of the people who use and work at Romero, who may not otherwise have access to these services.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to help our brothers and sisters in the community and follow in the footsteps of our Saviour Jesus Christ,” Elder Maurer said.
The Church also provides “How to start your own business” workshops to Romero Multicultural Hub clients. The workshops are organised through the Church’s Self Reliance program and run by Canadian missionary couple Elder and Sister Baldry.
The Romero Multicultural Hub offers vital support through its case coordination services for unfunded people who are seeking asylum or who are refugees. Many of the people who come to the Romero Multicultural Hub face multiple challenges, including hunger, homelessness, physical and mental health issues, legal issues, and they are often isolated and alone in a new country where English is not their first language.
The Romero Multicultural Hub was established in its current form in 2000. It delivers aid and emergency support, and assists with accessing pro bono legal services, running inclusion programs, coordinating home stay programs, and providing English classes and other educational programs to refugees and people seeking asylum in Brisbane.
The equipment donated by the Church will help the Romero Multicultural Hub continue its vital work assisting those in need in the Brisbane community.