Season of Belonging
$ 100.00
The festive season can be a wonderful time of joy and celebration. But for many people, like Chazz, it can also be a difficult time of year.
“You're meant to get together with family and be all happy and cheerful and jolly, but it's not like that when you’re feeling anxious, stressed and depressed,” Chazz said of his own experience.
Chazz went through a rough patch after losing touch with a few close friends. He’s spent years coping with a challenging mental health condition, which left him feeling isolated and lonely.
Chazz paid a visit to Jeays Street – a community centre in Brisbane run by Australian Red Cross – to find out how he could get involved. He started volunteering a couple of times a week, using his love of nature to help out in the centre’s garden.
Pretty soon, Chazz had made connections with other volunteers and visitors at Jeays Street, and grown a wonderful support network of friends.
“The positivity and support encouraged me to get more involved. It was great to have those familiar faces. People helping each other, supporting, motivating and inspiring each other,” Chazz said.
“It made me feel like I belonged somewhere, and that I had a purpose. It was great to know I had something to offer that could help people,” he said.
Chazz is now a vital member of the Jeays Street community, welcoming and supporting new people and sharing messages of hope. He’s even famous for cooking delicious pesto toasties for his friends at Jeays Street, using fresh ingredients he had grown in the garden.
Having a supportive community around him has helped Chazz feel less lonely, and more confident in himself. He’s now looking forward to the future with hope, and working on his dream of starting his own marketing and web development business.
That’s the extraordinary power of belonging.
Loneliness and social isolation can affect people in all kinds of different circumstances, from the youngest to the elderly, men and women, to people living with a disability.
When someone feels lonely it can have a profound impact on their physical and mental health. And the rest of their community misses out on the amazing gifts and talents they have to share.
Thank you for taking the time to read Chazz’s story. I hope it’s inspired you to make this a Season of Belonging for more Australians like him.
“You're meant to get together with family and be all happy and cheerful and jolly, but it's not like that when you’re feeling anxious, stressed and depressed,” Chazz said of his own experience.
Chazz went through a rough patch after losing touch with a few close friends. He’s spent years coping with a challenging mental health condition, which left him feeling isolated and lonely.
Chazz paid a visit to Jeays Street – a community centre in Brisbane run by Australian Red Cross – to find out how he could get involved. He started volunteering a couple of times a week, using his love of nature to help out in the centre’s garden.
Pretty soon, Chazz had made connections with other volunteers and visitors at Jeays Street, and grown a wonderful support network of friends.
“The positivity and support encouraged me to get more involved. It was great to have those familiar faces. People helping each other, supporting, motivating and inspiring each other,” Chazz said.
“It made me feel like I belonged somewhere, and that I had a purpose. It was great to know I had something to offer that could help people,” he said.
Chazz is now a vital member of the Jeays Street community, welcoming and supporting new people and sharing messages of hope. He’s even famous for cooking delicious pesto toasties for his friends at Jeays Street, using fresh ingredients he had grown in the garden.
Having a supportive community around him has helped Chazz feel less lonely, and more confident in himself. He’s now looking forward to the future with hope, and working on his dream of starting his own marketing and web development business.
That’s the extraordinary power of belonging.
Loneliness and social isolation can affect people in all kinds of different circumstances, from the youngest to the elderly, men and women, to people living with a disability.
When someone feels lonely it can have a profound impact on their physical and mental health. And the rest of their community misses out on the amazing gifts and talents they have to share.
Thank you for taking the time to read Chazz’s story. I hope it’s inspired you to make this a Season of Belonging for more Australians like him.
Project has been fulfilled. This gift is not taking further donations.