SUPPORT

‘Volunteers are the backbone of many parts of our community …volunteers are happier than non-volunteers and have more energy and a greater sense of control over their lives.’ (SU4)

When did you last do something for nothing?

SUPPORT is a framework based around four key areas: Children, Humanity, Environment and Animals. It encompasses charity donations, voluntary efforts, fundraising, mentorship and other SUPPORT to communities in Australia and overseas, through elements including Fair Trade and other symbiotic relationships to better the local and global community. Recently, the era of the technological age has had most of us in awe with developments, but times are changing and we are moving to a more sustainable and community focussed period.

Too often we think of SUPPORTing Organisations and their great work as a chore, instead of an opportunity to help out and gain a sense of satisfaction ourselves. We all rely on local community charities and can sometimes become complacent about it – When was the last time you went swimming at the beach? Were there yellow and red flags? There are many charitable things we can do beyond giving our money. You can teach a foster child to read, have a puppy for bed and breakfast or beyond the charities themselves talk to your neighbours and if you know they’re fairly housebound ask them if you can grab some milk while you’re out. They’ll appreciate it and it might just be you one day.

Recently while in South America the Hotel Manager commented I’d had a massage nearly everyday. I mentioned I had, had one every day – something I’d never indulge in at home. She commented on how expensive they were, I told her the conversion made it AUS$8 an hour and it was one of the best I’d ever had. She asked how much they were at home? When I mentioned they were atleast 10x that price she nearly fell over and asked how anyone afforded it. The amount they earn is enough for them to survive at home but will likely never afford to leave South America for even one trip. Coming from ‘the lucky country’ the opportunities we have are sometimes far beyond our recognition. Fair Trade is about international Humanity, getting better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. For more information on Fair Trade and how you can get involved go to the Consumerism section under EARTH.

Each of the key areas below links through to a page specifically related to that area and contains suggestions for how you can lend a hand. Suggestions, Events and information are updated regularly to the site. You can Subscribe to the right and you’ll receive updates to your email. If there are other Organisations you feel strongly about and would like to bring to our attention, please CONTACT us, to let us know.

Children – provides support for a better place and future to children locally and overseas

Humanity - provides support for people and communities to create a better future for our own community, as well as those less fortunate locally and internationally

Environment - embraces the water we drink, the land we live on and the atmosphere we breathe, it can be local but the effects are global

Animals - are native, foreign, domestic, endangered or farmed species which are being trained to help people or other causes, hurt, neglected, disadvantaged or abused