Australian League of Immigration Volunteers: Difference between revisions

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Australian League of Immigration Volunteers is a non-religious and non-political Australian charity seeking to improve the lives of children and families with Bridging Visas and those living in Community Detention; as well as adults and children living inside Immigration Detention Centres.^[1]

Here is ALIV's Rainbow Story as told by ALIV:

Once upon a time a group of people got together and decided to build a play room for all the wonderful children. But the room was old, dark and gloomy at first. Until one day workers and volunteers from all over Sydney came together and started to build one of the best children's rooms ever.

As the volunteers started to wash off all the old scratched pictures from the walls the children of Villawood Detention Center poked their heads in to see what was going on. When the children found out their rainbow was about to be washed off they protested and demanded that it not be removed. When the volunteers asked them why all of them said it was because it looked good. That is all except little Scotty. When he was asked he replied, "Because my mother painted it".

That day the volunteers learnt that just because something isn't perfect to them doesn't mean it isn't perfect to someone else, and important to the world. And because the rainbow was important to the children the volunteers left it there. So in memory of all the children in immigration detention centers the room was thereafter called the "RAINBOW ROOM".

On world refugee day 20th June 2003 the room was officially opened so all the children could enjoy and play in the room happily ever after.

ALIV’s programs are for families in community detention, families in the community on bridging visas, as well as families experiencing difficulties because of the immigration process and/or experiences of torture and trauma in their countries of origin.

The kids program involves volunteers taking kids on activities every 4 weeks on a Saturday. It seeks to improve the happiness of the kids and their quality of life by linking them with their local communities and increasing their level of self confidence.

Past programs include sailing, swimming, caving, rock-climbing, horse-riding and other sports; cultural shows, entertainment, recreation parks and museums.

The program seeks to have a positive impact on the happiness of the young people and on their quality of life.

This program consists of volunteers taking families on activities every 4 weeks on a Saturday. It seeks to provide much needed recreation and bonding time for the families.

Past programs include the zoo, the beach, ice-skating, ten-pin bowling, picnics, sporting days and cooking competitions.

ALIV kids helping other charities in the community

In 2006 an ALIV kid said that he wanted to volunteer and help other people. This led to the initiation of the ALIV Charities Program. The program seeks to help the kids volunteering for other Australian charities. The kids are trained in balloon tying, face painting, magic tricks and other skills. They then use these skills to provide fun and entertainment for disadvantaged, disabled and hospitalised children in the community.

Past programs include performances at Starlight Rooms in Westmead and Randwick Children's Hospitals, Stewart House, Camp Quality, Magic Mania, Harmony Day Festival and Deaf Society Fair.

In October 2006, two ALIV Charities Program kids received STARTTS Humanitarin Awards in recognition of their work in helping other Australian kids.

This program consists of volunteers taking families on activities every 4 weeks on a Saturday. It seeks to develop kids in transition between the Kids and Charities program. The program seeks to be development focused and to assist kids in graduating into the Charity program.

Past programs include cooking workshops, dance classes, group activities such as the amazing race and recreational activities.

The ALIV Protection program seeks to assist and build kids aged 5 - 13 who are falling behind their peers in any one of a broad set of domains.

Past sessions have seen volunteers build educational, social, emotional, and literacy skills in targeted kids.

The most important part of Protection is fostering a close friendship between volunteer and child. Once a friendship exists, volunteers create and introduce developmental activities to meet the specific needs of a kid. Volunteers can expect to have FUN and build relationships with kids who will benefit massively from the attention.

The ALIV Homework Program involve volunteers spending an hour a week after school with kids who need extra help with school. This is usually done at a local library or community centre. After homework there is usually some free time to get food or play sports.

ALIV conducts camps every school holidays. Camps seek to provide needed recreational time for the kids while exposing to places that fire their imaginations, expand their knowledge and encourages personal development.

Adult English Programs are conducted by qualified ESL teachers and volunteer assistants on Saturday afternoons. They seek to provide interactive English classes for adults inside Immigration Detention Centres.

ALIV Christmas Island Program is a program that sends volunteers to Christmas Immigration Detention Centre for a minimum duration of 4 weeks. The program seeks to provide people with the opportunity to put aside th politics and just do something good.

Volunteers work with all kinds of clients from kids, families and women to unaccompanied minors and men. Past activities have included arts & craft, sport, movie nights, English classes, cooking and many more.

• [1] ALIV Website
• [2] ALIV Christmas Island Website