Refugee Week Celebration
Refugee Week Celebration
On 21 June 2025
the Victorian Afghan Associations Network (VAAN) successfully hosted a Refugee Week celebration at Bunjil Place, attended by 220 people, primarily newly arrived community members.
The event officially commenced at 6:30 pm, with Ms. Arezo Rahimi as MC. Dr. Hafiz Asadi, Head of VAAN, welcomed guests, outlined VAAN’s activities, and introduced team members.
The evening featured keynote addresses from dignitaries, including Cr. Stefan Koomen Moyer (City of Casey), Ms. Lida Hazara (President & Co-Founder, Women for Change), Mr. Julian Hill MP (Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs), Mr. Jim Memeti (Mayor, City of Greater Dandenong), and Mr. Gary Maas MP. Speakers emphasized community cohesion, education, and support for refugees.
Cultural performances included a poetry recital by Mr. Rohullah Razawi and an outstanding Hazara cultural dance by Mahtab Hazara, Zahra, and Zainab.
Human rights advocate and filmmaker Mr. Muzafar Ali delivered the keynote address, sharing his experience supporting refugee children’s education in Indonesia and promoting girls’ education in Afghanistan. He also spoke about his upcoming 4,000 km cycling journey from Queensland to South Australia to raise awareness of these causes.
Refugee Week Awards 2025
VAAN annually recognises exceptional community members. In 2025, awards were presented to:
- Sajeda Zahidi – High academic achiever with a 99.70 ATAR score from Nossal High School in 2024, excelling in English and Legal Studies.
- Muzafar Ali – Acclaimed Hazara photographer, human rights activist, and founder of Cisarua Learning, the first refugee school in Indonesia.
Awards were presented by Professor William Maley and Professor Srinjoy Bose.
Community Engagement and Support
The evening concluded with a communal dinner and a fundraising initiative to support refugee children in Indonesia and girls’ education in Afghanistan, led by Mr. Hussain Soltani from the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre.
The celebration closed with live music by Mr. Taqi Khan Hazara and team, performing songs including “I Am a Refugee, My Homeland on My Shoulders.”
The event was coordinated by Shukoor Farahmand
Photography by: Ahmad Shirzad
Financial Statement
1st July 2023 – 30th June 2024
Total Income
$543,512
Total Expenditure
$517,475
Net Surplus
$26,037
Income Breakdown
| Category | Details | Amount ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Grants | Home Affairs | 277,073 |
| DFFH | 93,198 | |
| CGD | 25,850 | |
| DHHS | 49,500 | |
| FECCA | 5,500 | |
| City of Casey | 1,000 | |
| Education Dept | 1,100 | |
| DSS | 2,000 | |
| Total Grants | 455,222 | |
| Nawroz Festival | 58,750 | |
| Office Rent & Venue Hire | 23,070 | |
| Contribution by Other Agencies | 3,800 | |
| Other Income | 2,670 | |
| Total Income | 543,512 | |
Expenditure Breakdown
| Category | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Staff Wage | 155,689 |
| Projects | 72,693 |
| BRRP | 54,109 |
| Events | 23,565 |
| Nawroz Festival | 118,335 |
| Rent & Outgoing | 53,520 |
| Grant Writing Fees | 8,782 |
| Equipment | 6,553 |
| Sitting Fees | 4,960 |
| Office Supplies | 3,947 |
| Office Expenses* | 8,884 |
| Catering for Meetings | 3,890 |
| Fees & Charges | 1,917 |
| General Expenses | 630 |
| Total Expenditure | 517,475 |
*Office expenses include phone, internet, printing, cleaning, waste, and gardening.