Long-time Neighbourhood Centre co-ordinator, community advocate and social justice campaigner, Paul Sekfy, has been invited to join the board of the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centres.
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He is thrilled and eager to share what the appointment means for our community.
"Here I am, a little old community worker from the Nambucca Valley being asked to join this international body," Paul said.
"The IFS has the highest NGO status at the United Nations, which means we can talk to all those UN bodies and connect our neighbourhood centre work here in Australia with their goals of sustainable community development."
The implications are huge, especially as Australia is due to host the 2020 conference for the organisation.
"The IFS has never met in the Southern Hemisphere, let alone the Asia Pacific. In 2018 myself, as treasurer, and others from the LCSA (Local Community Services Association), the peak body of neighbourhood centres here in Australia, attended the Helsinki conference and presented our pitch for the 2020 event - and our bid won!
Check out the video that brought the international conference in Helsinki to its feet with resounding applause (Storm Boy Productions, July 2018)
"We are now busy with the planning. There will be 300 delegates and the theme is Social Justice, which follows the Helsinki theme of Democracy in Danger.
"There are neighbourhood centres all around the world, here in Australia there are 1000 ... that is more than McDonalds! They all vary in size but people know that when they walk through that door, they will not be judged and we will offer them help or else point them to where they need to go.
"Our work is democracy on the ground, working towards the elimination of poverty ... which aligns perfectly with the UN.
"Social justice offers the tools to achieve the UN goals of sustainability."
People know that when they walk through that door, they will not be judged and we will offer them help
- Paul Sekfy
Paul is passionate about the work that has already been done locally, and which was showcased in Helsinki.
"We have always been clear that the way out of poverty is education but if kids are not ready for school, then they start with a disadvantage, which is why we developed the Ready Set Go School Ready program.
"This involves parents preparing their kids ... parents are the first and most important teachers and many find being at home with a toddler isolating, so we are working to alleviate that.
"We've had events like the Teddy Bears Picnic and the Mini Olympics - we want the Nambucca Valley to grow the best kids possible.