Freedom to Flourish

A WEC Story by Caroline

Freedom to Flourish is a ministry partnership between WEC Hope’s Sydney Refugee Team and some other mission groups (SIM and Pioneers) working amongst new migrants, the majority from refugee backgrounds. It was established to respond to the specific mental health needs in the refugee community. It offers low cost counselling and therapeutic, supportive groups, incorporating Horticulture, Expressive Arts, craft or carpentry. Most groups are run at a site in Granville on a local church property where we have use of the buildings during the weekdays and have established a therapeutic community garden named The Restoring Garden. The vision of Freedom to Flourish is to see people of refugee background fully restored, in freedom, growing and flourishing in their lives and relationships (within themselves, with others and with God).

Freedom to Flourish recently hosted a ‘Master Gardener’ course run by Community Greening and TAFE NSW, and this greatly enhanced our Restoring Garden. Spring is such a lovely time in any garden and it has been great to see the Restoring Garden flourishing after much work, sun, and rain over the past few months.

We have regular committed groups meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays and are really building community and a shared sense of purpose and belonging. In Term 3 our Creatives made decoupage coasters, decorated pots with paint, and woven or wrapped twine. We had fun measuring the cord and learning macrame knots together for pot hangers. These are adding to the beauty, and welcome for people as they enter the garden along the recently constructed path. Everyone enjoys the time we gather over a cuppa and share reflections on the day. I have introduced movement exercises that integrate what people have been doing and builds connections (neurologically and relationally) without language. 

The Crafting Connections Group recommenced on alternate Thursdays to the Proactive Woman Group. We have been enjoying building a sense of team with new and existing volunteers. We haven't had many attend yet, although some have shown interest. The women seem to find it challenging actually getting there. Our hope was to cater for recently arrived Afghan women and children, but many have started English classes or are less comfortable leaving their homes at present.

I have also been helping the South Sudanese Proactive Woman Group build on their sewing skills, completing the bags they started before Lockdown 2021, and starting to make a skirt each. A few factors have made it difficult to meet a few times in recent weeks, but we will help the ladies finish their sewing projects this term.