LIFE will be just that little bit easier for newly arrived Afghan refugees who have received a warm welcome from the Newcastle community thanks to their generous donations.
Families are now equipped to buy food and clothing with cards redeemable at most supermarkets and retail chain stores in an effort initiated by the Adamstown Uniting Church.
Afghan refugee and former coach of the Afghan women's football team, Khorsand Yousofzai, said he was looking forward to using the gift vouchers.
"Many thanks to the Newcastle community for your generous donations," he said. "I'm really looking forward to buying some much-needed essential items and start my new life here in Australia."
Settlement Services International Humanitarian Settlement Program regional coordinator for Newcastle and Hunter, Helen Larkin, said that the donations had met critical needs for the newly-arrived Afghan refugees.
"Thanks to the community's warm welcome and gift vouchers, immediate needs have been met," she said.
"We're now focused on supporting Afghan arrivals to move forward on their settlement journey and will broaden the scope to include other refugee cohorts."
Northern Settlement Services CEO Sharon Daishe said that future donations would be directed towards wider goals with the support of both NSS and SSI.
"We'll be focused on long-term outcomes including access to education, boosting digital literacy, programs for women and girls, sporting, swimming and wellbeing programs, and social connection opportunities."
