AAFRO Circles
AAFRO Circles is a central hub for a range of programs offering wrap-around support for individuals, children, young people and families to reach their full potential. These programs aim to improve child development, young people's and families' mental health and well-being, increase employment opportunities, provide resettlement support, reduce homelessness, create a sense of belonging, community safety, contribute to economic growth and help reduce poverty and hardship. It offers cultural training and support to organisations. The Circles promote peace and coexistence through AAFRO’s Ubuntu philosophy and restorative and community healing practice.
Demographics
Last Year, AAFRO Circles engaged over 20 families
26% were ages 5 to 14 years old
34% were young people aged 14 to 22 years old
30% were mothers aged 23 and 45
10% were grandmothers aged 45 and 60 years old
Education outcomes
Before program engagement, 41% were enrolled in education
Post program engagement, 70% were reengaged in education and enrolled in vocational training in TAFE and Universities.
Employment outcomes
Before program engagement, 23% were employed
Post program engagement, 58% gained sustained employment in various fields.
Justice and Reintegration
100% of young people engaged in AAFRO Circles' early intervention programs have 0% involvement in youth justice.
90% of young people are engaged in education.
85% of young people released from youth detention went on to reintegrate with their families and communities.
90% were able to gain employment.
Early Intervention Programs
Our early intervention programs create a welcoming environment and space for children and young people to grow, connect, and contribute towards fulfilling their full potential by involving them in the process through the following:
Beat The Time
Live2Learn
AAFRO in Schools
Stir It Up
Our programs
Beat the Time
AAFRO Beat The Time school holiday program is created to fill the gap during school holiday breaks by bringing children and young people together and empowering them to participate in activities that are fun, meaningful and aligned with their needs. The program promotes a positive attitude toward others and teaches new skills where all feel connected and grow. Finalist 2024 Victorian Child Protection Awards.
Live 2 Learn
Live2Learn is a program that provides free educational support for primary and high school students who are in hardship, new arrivals, and low socio-economic backgrounds. It helps them to become more independent in their educational challenges by providing them with tutoring in all subjects. It currently operates online.
AAFRO in Schools
Work in collaboration with schools and provide workshop activities, including mentoring for students at the school. It creates a safe and welcoming environment that reflects students’ needs and cultural backgrounds, where all feel accepted and understood.
Stir It Up
Stir It Up is more than a cooking class, it is a stepping stone designed to mentor young people to become more independent and self-sufficient by introducing them to cooking fresh food, food safety, and hygiene and to increase their leadership potential, resilient, health, wellbeing and increase their chances to employment opportunities in hospitality.
Youth Justice Program
This program offers support to young people who are in contact with and at risk of encountering the justice system. It provides intensive support to bridge the gaps between young people, the community and the wider society. It helps overcome barriers, reconnect with families, access education and employment opportunities, increase health and well-being and get on with their lives. It also helps prevent young siblings from falling into the justice system
AAFRO Circle
Provides intensive case management, one-on-one mentoring and young people’s whole family support. This program aims to operate in the community and custodial facilities to help them restore relationships, access opportunities, improve well-being, and integrate into their families and wider society. It helps reduce younger siblings to follow on their individual and community safety.
Women’s Empowerment
These services work with women and their families, especially those impacted by the migration crisis, family violence, unemployment, social isolation, mental health, educational access, housing crisis and family breakdown. They include:
The Generation
The Generation is a community collaborative and empowerment early intervention service for young women up to the age of 30, who need support. It offers a culturally responsive safe space through group activities, one-on-one mentoring sessions, case management, employability skills, education and training workshops, and housing support.
Women’s Words
This service increases women’s awareness of, and access to, available resources such as employment, training opportunities, crises such as family and domestic violence, and health and wellbeing services. It helps to reduce social isolation, family violence, homelessness and the impact of poverty.
It helps women to become self-advocates for themselves and their children.
Employment and Job Readiness
This program provides training in employability skills such as preparing resumes, cover letters, responses to key selection criteria, mock interview skills, job searching, and job applications. It collaborates with participants in practical skills development that leads to sustained employment while integrating into a new role.
It also provides culturally safe employment practices. It works and supports employers to hire people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including cultural support to both employees and employers to overcome their barriers while working together for a good outcome for all.
Cultural training in Partnership with WILTINA-R3
AAFRO-Ubuntu cultural training is a full day of training with up to 16 people per session. It aims to equip training professionals with information and skills that are helpful to work in an Ubuntu way and use the AAFRO-Ubuntu philosophy and framework when engaging to support people from African backgrounds. The AAFRO Ubuntu way is a culturally responsive practice that looks at the inter-relationship and connection of the individual, family, community, and wider society.
“Together We Build a Strong Community” By AAFRO-Ubuntu