Marie-Anne Bulonza, a Congolese refugee mother, was living a wretched life in Uganda, unsafe and in poverty with her 2 small daughters. She contacted Sanctuary and we sponsored her (over 7 years ago). Her case was refused, as are so many, but we tried a second sponsorship, sadly still without success. One of our wonderful supporters, patron and actor Kate Atkinson, … Read More
A family reunited
It has been four long dangerous years of waiting for Ethiopian refugee Tiki, since Sanctuary submitted her visa application. When her innocent husband was kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered by rebels her nightmare began. Suddenly arrested, she refused to testify against others, and suffered brutal physical torture for 3 months at the hands of security agents. Crushed both physically and … Read More
Thank you to the Crescent Foundation!
We would like to thank the Crescent Foundation for their wonderful donation of laptops, which will provide refugees with assistance with their school work, accessing online Government services, studying English and seeking work opportunities and to connect with others.
Computer donations for former refugees
Sanctuary Australia Foundation has received funding from the NSW Government to provide support to local former refugee students and their families with the donations of recycled computers. This grant means that we are able to provide computers donated by Atlassian, Crescent Foundation and other individuals and companies. We are seeking further support and partners with this program to allow us … Read More
Sofia reunited with siblings in Brisbane
We would like to welcome Sofia’s three siblings from Eritrea, who arrived safely in Brisbane last month. They received an interest-free travel loan from Sanctuary Australia Foundation. Sofia escaped Eritrea in 2009 due to ongoing persecution for being a Christian, and she spent two years suffering in Sudan as a refugee. Sofia’s mother and father here were very happy now … Read More
Burmese family arrive in Coffs Harbour
Sanctuary recently welcomed a new Chin family of 6 to Coffs Harbour. The Chin are a persecuted Christian minority in Burma, that have suffered terribly at the hands of the Burmese military including arbitrary arrests, torture and mistreatment, forced labour and extrajudicial killings. The father of the family, escaped from the hands of the Burmese military as they suspected that … Read More
The Sanctuary Helfgott Anniversary Concert 2018
The Sanctuary Helfgott Anniversary Concert will be held on Sunday , April 22nd at the Bellingen Memorial Hall (in Bellingen, near Coffs Harbour), starting at 2.30pm. This wonderful event will celebrate 30 years of Sanctuary’s work, helping refugees from many war-torn parts of the world. All funds raised will be carefully used to provide direct assistance to needy refugees. Renowned … Read More
Barriers for physical activity and leisure participation among refugees in Australia
Sanctuary Australia Foundation has partnered with Western Sydney University to deliver a project in Coffs Harbour that has the aim of evaluating the factors that influence the patterns of physical activity and leisure participation among ex-refugees settled in the region. The project also intends to identify how these factors might be related to the mental health and well being of … Read More
Welcome Alain from the Congo!
I am a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I fled my country in February 2010. During the war, my step-father was suspected of being a spy due to a misunderstanding among friends. My step-father refused to join the rebels and so these ‘so called’ friends colluded to kill him. Our step-father was aware of their plan to attack our house … Read More
Reunited after 10 long years!
The wife and children of Ajith Bol have finally arrived to join him in Adelaide! They met in Kakuma refugee camp, both refugees from the terrible war in S. Sudan, and married. When Ajith received a special humanitarian visa to come to Australia, they had no idea that the process for his family to be reunited with him in Australia … Read More