Newsletter

From the Director

A warm welcome to the first Humanitarian Crisis Hub newsletter. We aim to keep you up-to-date with how we're supporting migrants and refugees from conflict areas around the world make their homelands more peaceful and secure.

Most Australians take peace and security for granted- for themselves and for their families. When they leave for work in the morning, they know that chances are they'll see them safe and well on their return.

Unfortunately, this isn't the case for some Australians. Many migrants and refugees face each day not knowing if loved ones they left behind in their countries of origin are going to be rounded up and tortured, raped, kidnapped and even killed.

Many migrants and refugees are actively working to raise awareness about the situation in their homelands, and to eventually change it. The Crisis Hub exists purely to support migrants and refugees towards these goals. We believe that they not only have the right to speak up and be heard given their unique position, they must be heard.

The Humanitarian Crisis Hub has come a long way since it started in 2008. We have grown from one person and a computer, to a vibrant organisation with an office in Melbourne CBD, two paid staff and 18 pro bono staff- all of whom are committed to human rights across the globe.

During this time, the Crisis Hub, among other things, has worked one-on-one with community groups and has run workshops on a wide range of human rights activism issues. These have been attended by members of the Darfuri, Congolese, Liberian, Eritrean, Burmese, Ogaden, Tamil, West Papuan communities, as well as, by other human rights groups, students and peace activists.

Over the next few months, as our What's Happening section outlines, we have more exciting projects and events coming up. Stories of Survival is a major project around the personal stories of people who have survived conflict, while Introduction to Refugee Advocacy and New Tactics for Human Rights Advocacy and Campaigning continue our popular series of workshops throughout June and July.

All the best,

Denise

To learn more about us, visit: www.crisishub.org.au

back to the top

Are you a migrant or refugee? Do you or your group promote human rights in war and conflict?

The Crisis Hub exists to support your work, so do come and talk to us about how we can assist you. We:

• Provide training sessions and workshops on a number of topics.
• Match you with skilled volunteers
• Help you organise projects and events
• Link you with national and international campaigns and organisations
• Provide consultancy and mentors for human rights activism

You can either come to us or we can come to you. We are Melbourne-based, but can travel to country Victoria or interstate on request.

For more information, contact us on: info@crisishub.org.au or +61 (0)3 9095 8588

back to the top

Happenings @ the Hub

Upcoming

1. Workshops



We run workshops on various topics throughout the year. Groups are typically small and participants get to learn the latest lobbying techniques from highly skilled facilitators; network with like-minded people and organisations; and play out their ideas in a warm and friendly environment.

Upcoming workshops:

• Building Alliances between Community Groups and with International Humanitarian Agencies
  Evening session 22 June, 5:30 - 8:00pm.
  Mezzanine, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane.
  
  

  Feeling confused about the current state of play with refugees, or just want to know more? This workshop will explore topics such as: How do we advocate for refugees? What are the steps involved in the refugee process and what is the current legislative environment?

• New tactics for Human Rights Advocacy Campaigning
  Workshop 24 July, 11am - 4pm
  Level 4, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane
  
  

  Based upon the groundbreaking New Tactics in Human Rights Project, this workshop, which is facilitated by Anthony Kelly from The Change Agency, will explore how you can use a broad array of innovative tactics to mobilise supporters and campaign for human rights in war and conflict.

To book or for more information on these workshops, contact workshops@crisishub.org.au or on +61 (0)3 9095 8588. Or register online for either session.




2. Stories of Survival



The Humanitarian Crisis Hub is looking for people who have survived conflict and would like to be part of our new project, Stories of Survival.

The Crisis Hub has recently received funds from VicHealth to empower survivors of conflict to record their experiences in print, media, film and art, as well as, to construct a dedicated website about their stories. These stories will focus on what people have done to protect themselves, their families, and their communities in the face of conflict.

Four masters-level interns from Monash and Melbourne Universities have begun secondary research on this project in Semester 1 2010, and have compiled case studies of community-based protection initiatives in armed and political conflict. A second group of interns will continue this work in semester 2.

If you are a survivor and are interested in participating in this project, please contact the Crisis Hub.

Recent

E-Campaigning for Human Rights Workshop a Success

The Humanitarian Crisis Hub's recent workshop, E-Campaigning for Human Rights, was an overwhelming success.

The workshop, which was held on 22 May, explored how we can use online media such as websites, blogs, Twitter and Facebook to strengthen and extend our advocacy work.

Participants came from Care for Congo, the Ogaden Youth Forum, Darfur Australia Network, Eritrean Australian Humanitarian Aid Inc, Numurkah Women's Multicultural Friendship Group and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

The very able Anthony Kelly from the Change Agency facilitated the session, alongside inspiring guest speakers Gautam Raju and Eyal Halamish from OurSay.

See the photo gallery for pics of the workshop.

back to the top

Comings & Goings

Meet Our New Program Coordinator: Meski Ashagrie

I am from Ethiopia. Having lived in a country with a history of perpetual war and conflict, I am no stranger to the atrocities that follow such events.

As such, I am very excited about taking part in the great work the Humanitarian Crisis Hub is doing to promote the human rights protection of people living in war and conflict areas.

I am also impressed with the Crisis Hub's rights-based community development approach that empowers resettled refugee communities to fight against the very injustice they experienced in their home countries, and, at the same time, fight for the human rights of those who are left behind.

I look forward to working with the enthusiastic volunteers, who are the pillars of the Crisis Hub, as this organisation journeys towards its vision.

Meet Our New Communications Volunteer, Elsa Arellano

I'm originally from Monterrey, a city in the north of Mexico, and I have been living in Australia for the past three years.

I'm very interested in the humanitarian field. I volunteered at Oxfam in a number of positions last year, and now I'm very excited to be working with the Crisis Hub and the amazing people that work here.

Farewell to Communications Volunteer, Sara Meger

Sara Meger, our much-loved communications team star, is moving to Brisbane later this month. While we are very sad to see her go, she will still be working with us via email and phone. Sara has been at the Crisis Hub for eight months, working on communications and the website, as well as research on human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo and conducting outreach with DRC community groups in Melbourne. Sara is also a PhD candidate, working on rape as a weapon of war in the DRC.

back to the top

Volunteer Opportunities @ the Crisis Hub

Administration Officer, voluntary

Commencement: immediately
Hours: approximately 6 hours per week

Scope of Position
The administration volunteer will work closely with staff and volunteers to help with the day to day running of the Humanitarian Crisis Hub.

Skills & Experience

• Knowledge and/or experience in administration tasks.
• Highly accurate data-entry skills, typing speed of 40wpm.
• Computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office, Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of human rights, development, geography, armed conflict or related fields are desirable.

Graphic designer, voluntary

Commencement: immediately
Hours: variable, as required

Scope of Position
The graphic designer will work closely with the communications team and program coordinator to design and layout printed materials and liaise with printers.

Skills & Experience

Demonstrated experience in producing print-ready artwork, understanding of design principles that maximise readability, particularly to audiences from non-English speaking backgrounds and high level written and verbal communication skills.

Journalist/Sub-editor, voluntary

Commencement: immediately
Hours: variable, as required

Scope of Position
The journalist/sub-editor will work closely with the Crisis Hub communication team to draft, edit, coordinate and maintain public relations collateral for the Humanitarian Crisis Hub, including the newsletter, brochures, news releases, and website updates.

Skills & Experience

• Knowledge and/or experience in communications, especially skills in writing for web
• Excellent computer literacy, and preferably experience maintaining website content
• Excellent copy editing skills including spelling and grammar proficiency
• Knowledge of human rights, development, geography, armed conflict or related fields desirable

Workshop Coordinator, voluntary

Commencement: immediately
Hours: variable, as required

Scope of Position
Working closely with the Director and volunteers, the Workshop Coordinator will manage the Humanitarian Crisis Hub’s workshop operations. The workshop coordinator will work closely with staff and volunteers to support and strengthen community initiatives in campaigning, advocacy and other relevant areas. Key to this position is the planning, coordinating, monitoring and supervising the implementation of the Crisis Hub's range of workshops. It will also entail direct support to community groups.

Skills & Experience

• Experience in workshop development and/or teaching.
• Experience of working at a grassroots level and/or community development.
• Workshops will cover areas such as advocacy, campaigning, media liaison, and awareness raising (among others) – knowledge of some of these areas would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of human rights, development, geography, armed conflict or related fields desirable

People with activist backgrounds, refugees and migrants from countries experiencing conflict/humanitarian crises, are especially encouraged to apply.

To apply or for more information, contact us via email on meski@crisishub.org.au, or phone +61 (0)3 9095 8588.

back to the top

Community Notice Board

Refugees Are Welcome Here Rally

A broad coalition of individuals and groups, including the Crisis Hub, under the umbrella of the "Refugee Advocates Network", have gotten together to organise a major rally on World Refugee Day, Sunday June 20.

If you would like to participate in the rally, meet at 12 midday at the State Library (Swanston St) for speeches and a march through the city.

For more information visit the website.

Peace Brigades International Info Nights

Peace Brigades International (PBI) Australia invites you to an information evening for people interesting in finding out more about the work of PBI in Indonesia, Nepal, Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala.

Each evening is a detailed introduction to PBI's unique role in protecting human rights and include videos, presentations and discussions about PBI's work facilitating peace-building initiatives and providing protective accompaniment for human rights defenders, organisations and communities threatened by political violence.

Wednesday 9 June 6pm at the Northcote Town Hall, 189 High St. Northcote
Wednesday 7 July 6pm at Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Each night is free but book to reserve a place via pbiaustralia@peacebrigades.org or 03 9016 3769

More info at http://www.pbi-australia.org/

--------------------------------

If your group has an upcoming event you'd like listed in our community notice board, email the details to comms@crisishub.org.au

back to the top