Distributing face masks to Karen community in Melbourne
In early September 2020 when Melbourne was at the peak of COVID, with the highest case numbers in Australia, MiCare Settlement staff and volunteers distributed masks
Our staff helped get the message out to Karen Elders living in the communities of Wyndham and Brimbank on how to wear masks safely in their first language
In early September 2020 when Melbourne was at the peak of COVID, with the highest case numbers in Australia, MiCare Settlement staff and volunteers distributed masks; and helped get the message out to Karen Elders living in communities of Wyndham and Brimbank on how to wear masks safely in their first language.
MiCare staff member, Tamla
This was a team effort with contributions from; a talented young member of Wyndham Ambassadors Multicultural Youth (WAMY), Eh Blu Htoo Say who took messages from the World Health Organiation (WHO) on safe wearing and handling of masks, and added beautiful illustrations (which can be viewed below) to create a series of educational posters written in the Karen language of Myanmar. The posters were distributed to Karen Elders along with pre-packaged KN95 masks, kindly donated by a fantastic volunteer organisation, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Toy Drive. The organisation helps distribute donations to Refugee and Aslyum Seeker families in need.
The whole activity was co-orindated by MiCare staff and supported by the SECi COVID Response project (funded by the Department of Premier & Cabinet). Over two days of contactless deliveries, we were able to deliver to some 59 households, a total of 71 packs of masks, and educational posters. This was just one of the projects that our teams are undertaking to ensure the messages around health and safety in times of COVID-19 are reaching communities we work with, in appropriate languages, and in timely manner (as much as we can). Bringing together the goodwill, talents, and generosity of those involved, we can make a difference.