Compassion at Wellspring for Women

Reflecting on 2021-2022 and how we measure our work using compassion as a lens, I can confidently state that compassion has underpinned all of the work at Wellsprings for Women this year. An example of this would be the education programs we provide both online and face-to-face. Our main objective is to be welcoming and inclusive of all women. We welcome all women to enrol in these courses regardless of whether they qualify for government subsidies or not. We waive our already very nominal fees if the women declare that they cannot pay. 

As a community, we have felt the full effects of the pandemic.  Many of our participants have endured job losses, increased caring responsibilities, financial hardship, increased levels of family violence, mental health issues, loss and grief. On top of that, we lost the involvement of 50% of our volunteers. In late 2021, the fall of Kabul into the hands of the Taliban led to an increased influx of Afghan refugees into our catchment area. This resulted in a spike in demand for our services; material aid, food and emergency relief.  Our Women’s Support Team working with women experiencing family violence continue to receive referrals every week as we offer a culturally responsive service that women find comforting and trustworthy. Compassion informs our work in advocating for policies and sector reforms to end the perpetuation of violence against women and the exclusion of women from economic participation.  

However, with compassion comes hope. We must remain hopeful and draw on the energy and love that compassion gifts to us everyday.  We continue to move forward, holding our faith close, remembering that we stand on the shoulders of amazing women who came before us. Women, like Nano Nagle, who risked their lives to make the world a better and more compassionate place. They carried the lantern to shine a light in the darkest of corners. It is their example that sustains our faith in a compassionate and merciful God who nourishes us as we deal with the challenges of our time.

Dalal Smiley

CEO - Wellsprings for Women

Fundraising Event!

Wellsprings for Women presents 

"High Tea for a Cause"