1. RUN MELBOURNE FOR HOTHAM MISSION ASP WITH ASEMANEW AND INNOCENT
2. VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND INFORMATION EVENINGS
1. RUN MELBOURNE FOR HOTHAM MISSION ASP WITH ASEMANEW AND INNOCENT
Asemanew and Innocent invite you to join their team to raise money for Hotham Mission ASP by taking part in Run Melbourne on Sunday July 18. We're hoping that groups from churches throughout Melbourne will join the team, along with any friend of Hotham Mission ASP, to raise money, to show your support for compassion and justice, and simply to enjoy a wonderful event.
Who are Asemanew and Innocent?
Asemanew is an accomplished runner, shown above winning the 2009 Montereal half-marathon. Innocent is an equally passionate footballer. They fled violence in Ethiopia and Rwanda respectively, and gained asylum in Australia. Part of their story, is Hotham Mission ASPs story - to provide casework, housing, money, advocacy - hope, to the most vulnerable asylum seekers in Melbourne. This July, Asemanew and Innocent are leading, and asking us to follow them in a great cause (Read more about Innocent and Asemanew below).
How to join the team and start fundraising
You've probably been in sponsored fundraising events before - walking, running, fasting and so on. It used to be thatparticipants in an event like Run Melbourne would raise money for a charity nominated by the event organiser. However these days, the participants choose who they raise money for, and it mostly happens on-line through a platform called Everyday Hero. Within a few minutes you get a web page (called a 'Hero Page') and then you can email everyone you know, wherever they are, asking them to visit your page and make a donation. They get an instant receipt, you don't have to go about collecting and accounting for money, and the charity gets the vital funds without the massive expense of organising the event! Those who take part still have the massive buzz of being together to do something worthwhile and enjoyable.
So here's what to do. There are two steps: First, to register for Run Melbourne, and second, to join our Hotham Mission ASP's team and create your own fundraising page.
1. Register for The Age Run Melbourne event:
Go to The Age Run Melbourne website, click on the "Entry" tab and select "Enter Now". This will take you to the registration form for the event, which you can then fill out and submit - the entry fee is cheapest if you enter online before 2nd July!
Some important points to note:
a) In response to "I wish to fundraise for", select "Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project" from the drop-down menu;
b) You can select a running distance of 5km, 10km or Half marathon, as you wish (we will have runners in all three categories);
c) In the "Team" field, you can opt to join our "running team", which is a great way to help lift Hotham Mission ASP's identity. To do this, simply click the "Select/Create a Team" button, and under "Team" type "Hoth" and click on "Search Teams". You can then select "Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project" from the list.
2. Set-up your personal fundraising page:
Go to Hotham Mission ASP's team page. Click on "Join this Team", type "Hotham", and then click on the "choose" button to scroll down and select Hotham Mission ASP. When prompted for the team p-word, simply type in "hotham".
You will then be ready to begin creating your page! Your personal fundraising page will automatically be linked to our team page. You don't need to complete it all at once. If you have limited time, you can begin the process, and then return to edit your page at a later stage. Everyday Hero will send you an ID and Password so you can log into your page and make changes whenever you like.
Once your page is set-up and ready, it's time to tell everyone you know! We will keep in touch with you along the way with ideas, team news, training and fundraising ideas. If you have any questions or need any other information, please don't hesitate to contact us (Michael on 03 93268343), and we will be more than happy to help.
Asamanew's Story
Asamenew was born in Ethiopia in 1983. Asamenew has always run for the love of running - but as an Ethiopian child it was also just part of childhood - watching over his family's cattle, running to and from school each day...
His passion for running grew as he watching Ethiopian winners like Haile Gebrselassie and Derartu Tulu during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and he became inspired to compete professionally.
When Asamenew finished High School in 2004, he focused solely on running. He raced in cross-country championships in Addis Ababa, and he lived and trained with other Ethiopian athletes. Asamenew's first marathon was in Holland, where he placed fourth. Following this, he completed further marathons in Pune and Nagpur, India.
However, whilst his running career had taken off, his life at home had been shattered. Asamanew's father and brother were involved in politics. His father was taken away during the 2007 elections and killed, and afterwards his brother was killed in similar circumstances.
During this devastating time, Asamanew continued to train and was invited to compete in Canada and Australia. He travelled to Canada in 2009 to compete in the Montreal Half Marathon - which he won! He finished the 21 km race in an outstanding time of 1:03:55.
Before going on to Perth he returned Ethiopia. The political environment was very tense. Asamanew was taken by the military and kept in prison for two months. Fortunately, he was released with days remaining on the visa he had been given for the Perth marathon. He was able to travel to Australia in October 2009, where he applied for, and was granted, a protection visa. Hotham Mission ASP was able to Asemanew with casework, housing and income support.
Asamenew is now working hard to build a new life for himself. He has recommenced training, and hopes to make a living by competing professionally. Although Asamenew is now free from danger, he is far from his remaining family and the traumatic memories remain. He has agreed to compete in Run Melbourne on behalf of Hotham Mission, because he wants to help give other Asylum Seekers the opportunity to live a life free from violence and poverty.
Innocent's Story
Innocent is 18 years old. He was just three years old when his mother was killed and his father was missing in the Rwanda genocide in 1994.
Innocent was raised by his Uncle in Uganda, and then Rwanda. During this time, he learned that his father had also died in 1994, when his name was read in out in a radio program. Still a child, he had to separate from his Uncle, who didn't have enough money to support him. With his brothers and sisters in Rwanda also struggling to survive, Innocent didn't want to increase the burden on his family, so he decided to fend for himself. At the age of 13, Innocent was homeless - sleeping with other homeless kids outside shops whose keepers were happy to have them outside as a barrier against theft, but at the mercy of random beatings by police and thugs.
Although the odds were stacked up against him, Innocent never gave up. Every second day he would go to school. On the alternating days, he would wait outside the local supermarket for customers to exit with their groceries. He would help them carry their bags to their cars for a tip of 100 Rwanda Francs (approximately 18 Australian cents). This was just enough to buy a little food to keep him going for school the next day.
During these difficult years, Innocent joined a soccer program run by AMANI Africa, a volunteer organization for Africa's youth. This program provided a source of motivation for Innocent, and it also gave him the opportunity to develop his talent and passion for soccer.
In 2008, AMANI Africa offered Innocent the opportunity to travel to Australia to play in the Homeless World Cup, with the additional responsibility of choosing the players to compete in the team. All of Innocent's training and hard work paid off - his team won their division in the championship!
Whilst in Australia, Innocent applied for a protection visa, which was granted in March 2010. He can now live and work in Australia, and finally has an opportunity to build a good life for himself in a country where he is free from danger and poverty. Innocent is studying VCAL, and hopes to begin some VCE subjects next semester. Innocent still plays soccer, and dreams of one day being able to manage his own team, where he can use the skills he picked up through AMANI Africa and the Homeless World Cup.
Innocent will be competing in the Run Melbourne event on behalf of Hotham Mission, because he wants to help raise funds to give other Asylum Seekers the opportunity to build a life for themselves in Australia.
2. VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND INFORMATION EVENINGS
The next Volunteer and Training Information Evenings are planned for
Dates: Tuesday 11th and 18th May 2010
Time: 6.30pm - 8.45pm
Where: Centre for Theology and Ministry, 1 Morrison Close, Parkville
Dates: Tuesday 10th and 17th August 2010
Time: 6.30pm - 8.45pm
Dates: Tuesday 9th and 16th November 2010
Time: 6.30pm - 8.45pm
This training provides information about volunteer opportunities with Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project and is designed to equip people to work with community based asylum seekers
Attendence to both sessions is required as a prerequisite for volunteering with Hotham Mission ASP
Light refreshments will be served.
If you would like information regarding these dates or wish to know anything else about Volunteering with Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project please contact Sam Charlesworth, ASP Volunteer Coordinator on (03) 9326 8343 or email: sam.asp@hothammission.org.au
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