News
Ali, Haneen & Hasan: “All the adventures that I am experiencing these days is because of my new good friends from WDP.”
Arriving to Australia as a family from Iraq, Ali, Haneen and Hasan were able to form a large circle of friends through the WDP: Good Friends are Priceless Initially we were involved with the Welcome Dinner Project as guests. After this first Dinner, our circle of...
Serena’s Story: “Thank you, WDP, for broadening my horizon and giving me new experiences.”
As an international student from China, Serena shares how WDP helped her come out of her shell while studying in Australia: Big Start for My New Life in Melbourne When I arrived in Australia to study my accounting/business law Master degree, I didn’t participate in...
Leta’s Story: “WDP truly enriched my life, broadened up areas of interest and opened up my mind.”
Leta Chen is an established Australian and dinner host from Melbourne who has found The Welcome Dinner Project has positively affected her life in more ways than one. Opening Home and Opening Heart In June 2015 a friend of mine forwarded an email prior to the...
Maisoon’s Story: “We really needed a program that would give us a chance to feel less embarrassed, less alien.”
An Honour to Meet Australian People When me and my family came to Australia in 2007, we felt like strangers who couldn’t express themselves. Back then we really needed a program that would give us a chance to feel less embarrassed, less alien. If WDP existed back...
Kate’s Story: “The Welcome Dinner Project was quite eye-opening for me.”
It's common for friendships to remain long after the Welcome Dinners are hosted. One particular example comes from Kate, who shares the privilege of getting to know one of her dinner attendees. A Privilege for Me I finally got around to contacting one of the newly...
Zaki’s Story: “We need these opportunities to bring humanity back.”
On the 3rd day of Christmas, we meet Zaki from Afghanistan. After struggling to feel a sense of community during his first two years in Australia, he was able to find it through The Welcome Dinner Project. A Feeling of Belonging In 2014 I met Penny Elsley and that...
Developing high quality facilitation skills – a deep dive with the Groupwork Institute.
Reflection by Angela Moran - WDP Victoria Central Hub Member On Saturday 9th December 2017 I was lucky enough, along with several other WDP volunteers, to participate in another wonderful professional development workshop thanks to Joining The Dots. The aim of the...
Debra’s Story: “I am so humbled by the kindness and generosity of humanity at these dinners”
Today's story comes from Debra, who is based out of Hobart and has been a facilitator for us for over a year. Here's her take on The Welcome Dinner Project Open Space for People to Connect in Their Own Way I've been a Welcome Dinner Project facilitator for just over a...
Valerie’s Story: Now I can say, “Wow, I’m great as a migrant!”
12 Days of life-changing stories from The Welcome Dinner Project... This Christmas season, we wanted to look back on the past 5 years of The Welcome Dinner Project and reflect on how much it has grown and impacted people's lives. From small...
WDP Victoria Retreat Reflections
Retreat Reflection by James Seow I had some time to reflect on the volunteers' retreat we attended last weekend and feel compelled to share my thoughts with you. 🙂 It's heartwarming and reassuring to see volunteers and staff - people in my community - so passionate,...