Greetings to the Koonung Heights Community,

Over Advent, when we support Christmas Bowl, Peta Lowe is going to share some stories about how this program assists people around the world.  These are from the Christmas Bowl resource.

‘This week, our focus is on the work of the Christmas Bowl in Jordan. Nurturing hope and peace in exile, the work supports Syrian and Palestinian refugees who are building new lives through empowerment and community resilience.

In Jordan, Hassan was unsure of his future, after displacement left him without opportunities. Through the Christmas Bowl, he joined the Forsa Youth Project and trained in hotel management, giving him skills, confidence and employment.

The Forsa Youth Project, run by the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees, empowers Syrian and Palestinian refugees to rebuild their lives through vocational training, business development and financial literacy. Families who fled their homes are finding hope and self-reliance through this locally led initiative. Hassan now works in catering and customer service, a transformation he describes as life changing.’

Blessings, and thanks Peta – Heather Hon (she/her)