The establishment of the Wilai Foundation Ltd. was inspired by Wilai, a young girl who was both an orphan and stateless, living in Thailand. Our project: BAAN RAK (A Loving Village) will enable us to continue our support of Wilai, and other girls in similar situations.
Will you join with us to #BETHEVILLAGE? IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD
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You’ll join a virtual map of supporters from around the world calling on world leaders to take action on resolutions already made by the United Nations.
Learn more at www.ibelong.unhcr.org
#IBELONG to a world where everyone has the right to a nationality.
Across the world today more than ten million people are told they don’t belong ANYWHERE. They are called ‘stateless’. They are denied a nationality. And with it, they are denied their basic rights. Statelessness can mean a life without education, without medical care, or legal employment. It can mean a life without the ability to move freely, without prospects, or hope. Statelessness is inhumane.
The main reason people are stateless is because of discrimination. Because of their ethnicity. Because of their religion. Because in some countries women cannot pass their nationality on to their children. We believe it’s time to end this injustice. With enough courage we know it is possible. Governments can change their laws and procedures, and give stateless people their rights and a place to belong. Within ten years, we can ensure everyone has a nationality. Because if we don’t this injustice will only get worse.
A child is born stateless every ten minutes. By the time you finish reading this letter another person may have started life without a nationality. We are ready to make our voices heard. We believe that if we take a stand, others will join us. And if enough of us stand up we will end this inhumanity. That is why UNHCR has launched the Campaign to End Statelessness in 10 years. Sixty years ago, the world agreed to protect stateless people. Now it’s time to end statelessness itself.
Board Member Julie Costello has been a massage therapist for 25 years and understands the healing benefits that massage can provide. Julie is also deeply aware of the healing and assistance that is required for stateless children to survive and so Julie is generously offering Massage Therapy appointments in the school holiday periods and weekends in the Geelong and Bendigo area, with all payments going to the support of Wilai and other stateless young girls. You can read more about the Wellbeing Weeks for Wilai under the fundraising menu in the header at the top of the page, or head straight to the DONATE button below and purchase a one hour massage. For bookings: wellness@wilaifoundation.org.au
In September 2017 Fr Jim Carty sm walked an incredible 714 km on the Camino in France to raise money for the Wilai Foundation and awareness of statelessness. (If you missed the opportunity to sponsor Fr Jim, you can still donate, by clicking the “Donate” button below.) This outstanding effort by Fr Jim has inspired us to launch the Walk for Wilai 2021, journeying on the Camino in Australia. You too can “Walk for Wilai”. Please visit Walk for Wilai www.walkforwilai.com.au for more information.
We would love to have you as part of our amazing team, working together to #bethevillage for Wilai and other young girls, by becoming a member! Membership is $25.00 and your membership fee goes directly towards giving support to Wilai and other stateless young girls. You can be involved as much or as little as you like. See the Membership Form under “Be Involved”.
Your donation can make all the difference! Please join with us to #BEthevillage!
Here are just a few of our wonderful supporters:
A huge thank you to the Staff and Students at Cerdon College, Merrylands.
For their ongoing generosity in supporting the Wilai Foundation. From pancakes to cake stalls, you are remarkable! Thank you.
[Check out the photos here]
| “Dr. Peter C. Farrell, Founder and Chairman of ResMed, believes in giving back. For several years he has been a stalwart supporter of universities, primary and secondary education activities, as well as various arts and cultural organizations in the United States, Australia and elsewhere”. The Wilai Foundation are extremely grateful for Dr Peter’s extraordinary generosity and support of Wilai and other stateless children. |
Our Cat’s poster needed a frame and the lovely people at Kardinia Picture Framers carefully crafted one and donated it for us. Thank you!
Sunday March 11th – at St Patrick’s Church, The Rocks. A fabulous cake and plant stall. Your generous donation of cakes, plants and TIME is deeply appreciated. For more info and photos: Click here
Fr James and the Parishioners at Lumen Christi Leopold have been behind Wilai from the very beginning. Your support and encouragement inspired the Wilai Foundation to evolve…. a humble and deeply grateful “thank you”.
Promotions Only provide us with all our promotional needs and are a generous sponsor of the Walk for Wilai. The service from their wonderful staff is amazing and we can’t thank them enough for all their support.
The Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich baked and donated cakes and sweets for sale at our Cake and Plant sale at St Pat’s, The Rocks. Thank you so much! The cakes were delicious!
HiLite Amusements brought the “highlight” to our recent raffle, donating 20 free tickets for the Giant Sky Wheel in Geelong, to our First Prize hamper! Thank you!
Much to the excitement of some of our board members, the Geelong Cats donated a signed 2017 team photo for us to auction. Go Cats!
Moorabool Valley Chocolate is located in Batesford, Geelong and when the Wilai Foundation was in its infancy, the lovely people at Moorabool Valley Chocolate donated a morning tea for two at their delightful “Bellerive” for us to raffle. Their willingness to support us and generosity inspired us and we will be forever grateful. If you are in Geelong, please do pay them a visit!
If YOU have ever wanted to walk the Camino in Spain or France and it has always seemed out of reach – now you have the opportunity to be part of a wonderful community of people from varying faith backgrounds and walk the Camino on Australian soil, close to home!
Visit www.walkforwilai.com.au to find out more.
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