Wonder- Wellsprings for Women

The last twelve months at Wellsprings for Women have been characterised by uncertainty. We learnt as staff, Board Directors, volunteers and participants that we have to consider the current pandemic and accommodate its restrictions when making any plans. Maintaining motivation and injecting enthusiasm and energy in all we do was getting harder. On the positive side, we learnt to value the face to face gathering we did manage to squeeze in between lockdowns and cherish those moments we are able to be physically together.

Our work has blossomed despite these challenges. Our tenacious advocacy for supporting migrant and refugee women impacted by family violence finally delivered the outcome we needed. Our Women Support Program received the funding it sought to continue operating. It was a major outcome for the 120 women who desperately relied on the services we provide.  We also managed to assist one of our volunteers to gain working rights in Australia and she is now employed by Wellsprings. When she finally received her new visa she said it was like winning the lottery. She had been fully relying on her family to support her financially since she arrived to Australia two years ago. With the pandemic, the family was experiencing financial hardship and could no longer support her, so, after trying more than 5 times without success, Wellsprings engaged a migration agent who helped her with the application and securing working rights. 

In the last 12 months we worked on our new strategic plan which has now been endorsed by the Board and we hope to launch it at our fundraising dinner in November. Living Justice for us is about working alongside women in our community burdened by isolation and  various forms of oppression. Working at the grass roots gave us quick access to people who were most impacted by the cumulative effect of lockdowns and enabled us to respond to their needs, alleviate their isolation and help them to find their way back into community life.  We are strengthened through our links and relationships with Kildare Ministries. It has been quite heartening to experience the feeling of wonder through the increased collaboration between our schools and community works. Cultural Cuisines, our Wellsprings social enterprise, was engaged to provide catering on a number of occasions and  we are  planning a number of new activities in partnership with schools and community works.  You can find out more about Cultural Cuisines on the next page.